Why did Jesus need to be baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit?

Why would the Son of God need to be baptized? He is sinless! Isn’t baptism a symbol of repentance? Let us explore through God’s Scriptures 8 reasons why it was important for Jesus to be baptized.

1. His baptism was exemplary.

Jesus’ baptism was an example to us of what we should do. If He did it, and assuredly he didn’t need repentance as He never sinned (See Heb 4:15), the more reason that we should follow His example.

1 Cor 11:1 “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” NIV

1 Peter 2:21 “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” NIV

2. Jesus’ baptism is a pledge of our adoption into the family of God.

Eph 1:5 “Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ.” (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Gal 4:6 “You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!” (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

3. His baptism was a confirmation that he was the One send from heaven.

Not only that, He is the One who will baptize His followers with God’s Holy Spirit, who will guide them in all truth!

John 1:33-34 “I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” NIV

4. His baptism showed His dependence on God, just as we should be depended on Jesus.

Matt 3:16-17 “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” NIV

John 5:30 “By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” NIV

John 5:19 “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” NIV

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” NIV

5. His baptism validated John the Baptist’s ministry and vice versa.

Matt 21:23-27 “Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” They asked. “And who gave you this authority?” Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism-where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men’-we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” NIV

6. Through his baptism He identified Himself with the sinners

As we have seen he didn’t need to be baptized, as he had never sinned. The baptism of repentance is only for sinners. He was baptized, though, because He identified Himself with the sinners and came to carry our penalty of the sin until His death on the cross.

Isa 53:4-5 “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” NIV

Isa 53:12 “Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” NIV

John 1:29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” NIV

7. His baptism indicated the beginning of His public earthly ministry and ended with His baptism on the cross.

John 1:31 “I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” NIV

Mark 10:38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” NIV

Luke 12:50 “But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!” NIV

8. His baptism fulfilled all righteousness.

Matt 3:13-15 “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.” NIV

My friend, are you tired of leading a life in pursuit of happiness, but happiness seems always to be out of your reach? Stop my friend, and take some time to know the One who will help you experience true happiness. Only Jesus can help you with this. He paid the price on the cross so that you could experience true freedom. Why don’t you come to http://www.answers2prayer.org/saviours_call.html and open the doors to your heart to Him. He will help you reach those goals.

Rob Chaffart

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Simply put Jesus was baptized so he could become the high priest and sacrifice himself for our sins! Scripture to refer to is Psalm 110:4, Hebrews 5:8-10, and 6:20.

To be consecrated as a priest, He had to be:

– washed with water Leviticus 8:6, Exodus 29:4, Matthew 3:16

– Anointed with oil Leviticus 8:12, Exodus 29:7, Matthew 3.16.

DeeDee