The Baptism of the Messiah

Chapter 3: 13-17

The importance of baptism

Jesus worked with his father Joseph, who was a carpenter in Nazareth of Galilee. Apparently, Joseph died before the event registered here, and Jesus took over his business having under his care his mother Mary and his half-brothers James, Joseph, Judas and Simon, and his half-sisters (Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3).

At thirty years of age, when all the people were being baptized, Jesus came from Galilee also to be baptized by John, traversing a distance of almost 100 kilometers.

It was an important step in His life, because he left his secular work and soon after began his three-year ministry to the people of Israel. This ministry ended when He gave up his life on the cross, as the Lamb of God for ransom of the sins of all who accept him as their personal Saviour, Jews and Gentiles.

The baptism of John was a symbol of repentance of sins and dedication of the people to God. It was a public statement whereby the people declared their conversion, leaving their sinful behaviour to perform the righteousness of God.

When Jesus appeared, John immediately exclaimed, for the knowledge of the people, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). However, when Jesus also asked to be baptized, John was surprised a lot, since He had no sin from which to repent, having always been in complete obedience to His heavenly Father.

John was opposed to the request, arguing that it was he who should be baptized by Jesus. John did not understand that the baptism of Jesus had a much deeper meaning than the baptism of the people. This was not the occasion to give a full explanation, so the Lord said to him simply: "permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" (v.15).

John was satisfied with this response, and obedient to the Messiah, baptized Him in the waters of the river Jordan.

The meaning

As the explanation was not given at the time, let us see what we can understand by the righteousness of God. The following motives can be given for the baptism of the Lord Jesus:

SOLIDARITY - according to the studious of the subject, baptism done by immersion in the water (which is the meaning of the word), was not an innovation in those days. Some sects of the Jews practiced baptism as a ceremony for the admission of new followers, whereby they identified themselves with the sect. The baptism of John also had the sense of solidarity with the rest of the converts, who repented of their sins with his preaching. All were fulfilling the righteousness of God, through which God accepts the sincere repentance of the sinner to grant him forgiveness of his sins. Receiving the baptism of John, the Lord Jesus was giving His approval to those repentant sinners. According to the prophecy of Isaiah (53:12), he was “numbered with the transgressors ".

IDENTIFICATION -a rightful king is part of the people over which he rules. The baptism was not only repentance from sin, but consecration to God. Through baptism, the Lord Jesus publicly dedicated himself to God like the rest of the people, who would become subjects of His kingdom, which is not (yet) of this world.

A SYMBOL OF HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION -immersion in the water was a symbol of death. In the case of Jews baptized by John, and of believers baptized in Christ, it represents a spiritual fact that happened in their life. In the case of the Lord Jesus, it represents a natural and spiritual fact that would happen at the end of his Ministry: "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). There was no sin in Him, but sin was placed on Him. He took our sin so that we became sinless, righteous. This is the "baptism" which saves us (Peter 3:21). Through the Holy Spirit we are identified with the redemptive work of Christ: material baptism by water is our public testimony of spiritual baptism whereby we die to ourselves and resurrect for a new life in Christ (Romans 6:3-11).

The Anointing

Before assuming His position, a priest in Israel had to go through a ritual of consecration, which consisted of seven steps: he was washed with water, dressed in priestly robes and anointed with the oil of anointing; the four other acts were different kinds of sacrifices (Exodus 29). Washing with water represents the same as baptism: it typifies spiritual regeneration; the robes typify the exchange of sinful nature for a new character obedient to God; the anointing oil represents the Holy Spirit of God.

At the consecration of the Son of God to His priestly ministry here on Earth, only two steps were taken: His baptism, whose meaning we have just considered, and his anointing. He did not have to change His clothes, because He never had our sinful nature, nor would it make sense for Him to offer sacrifices because He was himself the Son of God. On the cross of Calvary He offered His body as a sacrifice for the sin of the world once only, forever (Hebrews 10:12,14).

A man of God also anointed the Kings of Israel to consecrate them in their high position over the people of God. Again, the oil represents the Holy Spirit, indicating that the anointed one had been approved by God and to give him power to govern. So were anointed Saul, David and Solomon (1 Samuel 10:1, 16:13, 1 Kings 1:39). The Lord Jesus is the rightful King of Israel, although his people rejected him in His first coming. His Kingdom is still not of this world, but will be when He comes the second time.

Finally, the prophets were also anointed (1 Kings 19:16; 1 Chronicles 16:22; Psalm 105:15), indicating divine approval and the direction of the Holy Spirit over their word. The Lord Jesus would also start his ministry on Earth as the Messiah, the Messenger of God.

The Lord Jesus was not anointed symbolically with oil, but the heavens opened after He came out of the water, and the Holy Spirit Himself came upon him in the same way as a dove. Furthermore, a voice was heard from heaven saying: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (v.17).

At this moment, we have the manifestation of the divine Trinity - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, witnessed by John the Baptist and the whole crowd that was there.

The Messiah was identified, and began the new phase of His life here in this world as Prophet, Priest, and King. As a prophet, He would bring the message of God to us, as a priest He would give His life in propitiation for our sin, and as King he would receive into his Kingdom all who receive Him as Lord and Saviour, a task that still is being accomplished through His body, His church.

R David Jones

3 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.

14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"

15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.

16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.

17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Matthew chapter 3, verses 13 to 17