Reflections In Mark: Why Did Jesus Have To Be Baptized?

On By joshnnomiIn Uncategorized
The question has to be asked right? Why in the world does Jesus have to be baptized? If he is God in the flesh, why does he come to John to get baptized? Especially, since John’s baptism is a baptism unto repentance, what does a sinless Jesus need to repent of? John recognized this, we read John saying in Matthew, ” I need to be baptized by you”.
It is Jesus response to John where we discover the answer of why Jesus needed to be baptized.

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

John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. – Matthew 3:13-15

What did Jesus mean here? What does Jesus mean to “fulfill all righteousness”?

Identifying

When Christ is baptized, even though he is sinless, Jesus is choosing to symbolically identify with sinful men by submitting to John’s baptism. This is one of the first acts of love and redemption, a sinless redeemer identifying with a people who have no righteousness.

Obedience

Just like we say Jesus died for me, we can also say Jesus lived for me. In theology we talk about Jesus’ active obedience and this is what I believe Jesus is referring to by fulfilling all righteousness. Jesus not only had to die in your place but he also had to live in your place. Jesus had to be a sinless saviour, walk in complete faithfulness to God and his righteous requirements.
Why?
So that when we place our trust in Christ there is an exchange, a transaction, our sin for Christ righteousness. Look at these passages of scripture,

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. – Isaiah 53:11

3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. – Romans 8:3-4

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. – 2 Corinthians 5:21

God is so good, not only did He send His Son to be the sin offering for our sin, he sent his Son to live the perfect life that we cannot live. When we respond to his saving call through repentance and faith our sinful deeds are nailed to a cross and Christ righteousness is placed on us like a royal robe.
Until Next Time
Solo Del Gloria

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