038 - Why did Jesus have to be baptized?

Why did Jesus have to be baptized?

INTRODUCTION

No one better than Jesus to answer this:

• " And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him." (Matthew 3:15).

The particle “us” include, not only Jesus e John the Baptist, but the totally of all that the Eternal One is, to wit: He, the Father (as Creator of all) and the Holy Spirit (as He who works the hearts).  This also can see in the excerpt below:

• “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.” (John 3.11).

On the one hand, John refuse himself to baptize the Pharisees because they were generation of vipers. After all, although they were anxious for the coming of Christ, they refuse themselves to prepare the heart for this (Amos 5.18-20). The Pharisees (Matt 3.7-12) desire the coming of Christ only to flee of the forthcoming wrath.

On the other hand John also refuse himself to baptize Jesus because He is pure and owner of superior baptism.

John the Baptist, who at first thought it absurd, when he heard this, he agreed.

Come the question: but what did Jesus mean by fulfill all justice?

MEANING OF JUSTICE

First, you must understand what the righteousness of the Eternal One means. Here, in particular, justice is the Holy Scripture. It was necessary fulfill all justice that there is in the law and in the prophets. See this example:

• “Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, and said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13.7-10). 

Did you see the ligation between “righteousness” and “right ways of the Lord?”.

Unlike the righteousness of man who compels the sinner to pay for their sins, Jesus is the own righteousness of the Eternal One, the body that He provided for Himself in order to pay for our sins (2Cor 5.18-20).

That is why John the Baptist declared:

• " The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29).

And what kind of Lamb was Jesus?

• " Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:" (1Corinthians 5.7).

Jesus is the Passover Lamb. And as Jesus is the Lamb who would die for the sins of the whole world (see John 3:16), it was soon necessary for the nation of Israel to be identified with the Messiah:

• " If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him." (Leviticus 1,3,4).

The act of laying the hand on the head of the holocaust implies that the offerors is identified with the offering so that it may be accepted in favor of him.

Likewise, in order for Jesus to be accepted as an offering for the sin of all mankind, He had to identify with the human being in the presence of the Eternal One (to wit, identifying with Him also).

• “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2Cor 5.21).

Comes the question:

WHAT DID THE ETERNAL ONE DO TO IDENTIFY HIMSELF WITH THE HUMAN BEING?

 

First: He prophesied of His coming in the flesh:

• " The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: and the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: the grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!" (Isaiah 40.3-9).
• "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. " (Malachi 3.1).

Second: He brought John the Baptist to life and prepared a body for Himself (Hebrews 10.5-9) to fulfill the prophecy. It is well to remember that only five individuals were born by promise of the Eternal One: Isaac (Genesis 18.10,14), Samson (Judges 13.3), the son of the woman who hosted Elisha (2Kings 4:16), John the Baptist (Luke 1:13-15), and Jesus (Luke 1.30,31).

• “And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; as it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Luke 3.3-7).

Jesus should come after John had prepared the way, not only with the message and the baptism of repentance, but giving place to He manifest Himself:

• “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1.17).

Through the baptism, John opened to Jesus the Kingdom of Heaven. A kingdom settled in the wilderness (see Ezek 20.35; Matt 11.7), not in a palace (as it was with a king) or in a temple (as it was with the high priest).

And in order that there would be no doubt that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of prophecy, the Spirit of the Eternal One touched in his heart that he lived in a manner completely consistent with the Testament of the Law.

 

·        “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.” (Matthew 3.1-4).

 

Many masters of the law, to discredit him, said that this was by virtue of demonic possession:

 

·        “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.” (Matthew 11.18,19).

 

However, John the Baptist also identified with the Eternal One in the fact that he baptizes in the water to repent of sins. 

John the Baptist was representing the law (water baptism) and the prophets (message of repentance) and preparing the way for the Messiah to demonstrate His greatest proof of love to the entire universe.

From all this, it is possible to see why Jesus said that among the women born there is no greater than John the Baptist (Matthew 11.11).

Third: after no possibility of doubt that John the Baptist was the "voice of one crying in the wilderness", so it was already obvious that the Messiah was there. It was enough to identify Him with Jesus.

What better way to do this than to lead Jesus to be baptized by John? 

It comes the question:

HOW DID THE BAPTISM IDENTIFY JESUS WITH THE MESSIAH?

Beyond the reason shown above, there is a detail being observed: was rightly there in Jordan river that the Eternal One began magnify Joshua before all Israel, confirm him as Moses’ successor (Joshua 3.7).

Similarly, when Jesus started the ministry, nothing more suitable for Him than be recognized by Eternal One as one who would take punishment necessary to restore our peace with the Eternal One (Isa 53.4-6). For this, He made Jesus be baptized by John to repentance of sins. As He had no sin, therefore it was our sins He was carrying.

Also, it is noteworthy that when Jesus came out of water, the Eternal One proclaimed from heaven about Jesus what was registered in Holy Scripture: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt 3.17).

 

·        “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” (Psalms 2.7).

·        “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.” (Isaiah 42.1).

 

And the fact of Jesus be the one who received this voice coming from heaven confirms the dignity of Jesus as the only and true Messiah. The Eternal One was showing that the baptism of Jesus was not like that of anyone (which had by purpose demonstrate repentance), but that of a righteous identifying Himself with the sinners for love them.

This remember what happened in:

 

·        “So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.” (Judges 7.5-7).

 

In other words, Jesus was not to John the Baptist for curiosity, need or embarrassment (obliged by someone).

After this occur, John the Baptist might testify with full conviction:

 

·        “And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.” (John 1.34).

 

Hereby it is possible to see

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BAPTISM IN THE APOSTLE’S AGE

·        “And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.” (Luke 7.29).

 

That baptism in water was important at the time of Jesus, this there isn’t what discuss. So much so that the Pharisees found absurd John baptized because he wasn’t prophet (at least, it is what he said- John 1.25)? This because, if he was not prophet, he would be instituting a ritual had nothing to do with Holy Scripture, what is wrong!

Although the baptism of John may have similarity with some rites of Old Testament, still it was a unique unprecedented act. After all, it is not in vain that John became known as John the Baptist (i.e., one who baptizes).

In that Jesus accepted to be baptized with baptism of repentance intended to sinners, He was fulfilling the requirement established by father (showing that even He not having sin, as He was in sinful flesh, He preferred, lest give scandal, to fulfill the law intended for sinners - Matt 17.25-27; see 1Cor 9.12):

Jesus fulfilled all the law (Matt 5.17) in order to show us that if He, that it is the model, fulfill the law, let alone we can. That is, Jesus not came to cancel the law, but so that, in Him, by His Favor, each precept of the law were to be fulfilled in us (Rom 8.3,4).

Jesus fulfilled the law, even when He did not need this, only not to exalt on men (Phil 2.5-8). Even John saying that He did not need to be baptized, yet He did not want to give up anything that any sinner have to do to please the Eternal One.

If Jesus that is God, never invoked this prerogative to get some privilege, who are we to wish to be like God and go over the right or obligations of others?

If Jesus, who had no sin had to be baptized in repentance, there is no reason for us be exempt.

Furthermore: if even He who is the Holy Spirit Himself had to be anointed by Holy Spirit before starting His ministry, what about us?

Besides, as the baptism with the Holy Spirit reminds the anointing with oil of the high priest, many end thinking: after all, John applied water in Jesus or Jesus in water?

In any case, at the moment that Jesus received the baptism of John, besides confirming that this baptism was indeed moved by the Holy Spirit, He gave occasion for the Eternal One to confirm Jesus as the Messiah sent after the voice of the cry of the desert:

 

·        “And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.” (John 1.31-33).

·         “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3.16,17).

 

Jesus did this so that all people who wished could recognize Him, and thus, He could be accepted by people as their substitute for the forgiveness of sins. As it is through the testimony of two or three witnesses that one truth is confirmed (Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1Timothy 5:19, Hebrews 10:28), Jesus was confirmed as the Messiah:

·         In the land, by John the Baptist moved by Holy Spirit;

·         In the heaven, by Eternal One;

·         And through the Spirit of the Eternal One manifesting in physic form coming down the heaven, doing the bridge between the physic and the spiritual.

Unfortunately, His own did not receive Him:

·         "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." (Jo hn 1:11)

On the contrary: they preferred to remain plunged in darkness, attached to them:

·        " He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (John 3.18,19).

WHY DID THE ETERNAL ONE CHOSE THE BAPTISM AS WAY OF MANIFESTING JESUS TO THE WORLD?

Repentance and conversion were the basis of the messages of the Old Testament prophets. And the act of baptizing in water reminded of the act of washing which was imposed on all priests (hence the bronze sink), especially on the day of atonement:

• "He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on." (Leviticus 16.4).

Before anointing, was indispensable the washing or immersion:

• “And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water. And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod: and thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre. Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.” (Exodus 29.4-7).
• “And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.” (Exodus 40.12).
• “And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.” (Leviticus 8.6).

As well as the high priest was the first washed  to be anointed after, Jesus first was baptized in the water. Only after it He received the triple anointment of the Holy Spirit, wiz., as prophet, high priest and king.

It also reminds us of other passages relating water to purification;

 

·        “Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water.” (Numbers 31.23).

·        “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.” (Zechariah 13.1).

·        “And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.” (John 2.6).

 

It also recalls the purification that the Eternal One did:

a)   on earth after the rebellion of Ha-Satan and his demons:

·        “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Genesis 1.2).

b)   on earth for the occasion of deluge:

·        “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:” (1Peter 3.18-21).

 

c)    In favor of Israel, as he was leaving Egypt and being led by the desert:

·        “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” (1Corinthians 10.1-4).

 

Furthermore, with regard to this last item, what we conclude is that when we are being led by the Eternal One, we are disregarding our inner greed (we are being kept pure).

It comes the question:

WHY COULD JOHN ONLY BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AFTER ALL JUSTICE BE JUSTICE?

As Jesus came to fulfill all the law and this law was established by Eternal One through John, therefore Jesus had to fulfill this ritual that was part of the Eternal One’s legal justice. It was necessary to fulfill all righteous law.

We cannot forget us that the ministry of the Holy Spirit was to confirm all that Jesus did and spoke (John 16.13-15). Therefore, while Jesus had not lived all law, the Holy Spirit would not have what confirm in the life of who was guided by Him. The Holy Spirit don’t go to empower nobody separated from Christ, but prove the efficacy of the lifestyle of Christ.

And if John had refused to accept baptized Jesus? In this case, as there wasn’t another that had authority to baptize, then the Scripture would fail.

After all, was precisely for that time John went baptizing:

 

·        “And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.” (Jo 1.31).

 

Hence John consent in stop being baptized with the Holy Spirit and continue baptizing with water until all Holy Scripture were fulfilled.

But after all:

WHY DID JOHN THE BAPTIST WISH SO MUCH TO BE BAPTIZED?

First of all: if what identified Jesus was the descent of the Holy Spirit in baptism, as John could know before the baptism, who was Jesus?

John was filled with the Holy Spirit belly since the womb (sure the Holy Spirit show him who was Jesus). By the way, this is one of the reasons for John have been the greater man born of woman.

But then, why he needed be baptized by Jesus (Jo 1.15)? Why did he do so question about this?

Therefore, one thing is the internal anointing of the Holy Spirit and another, the external covering enabling to be used by the Holy Spirit in signs, wonders and marvels.

Now do you understands

WHY JOHN THE BAPTIST CONSIDER ABSURD JESUS ASK TO BAPTIZE HIM?

John the Baptist perceived that this baptism, itself, not meant nothing:

 

·        “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: ” (Lucas 3.16).

·        “And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; he it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.” (João 1.25-27).

 

YOU CAN QUESTION: WHAT ABOUT THE EXCERPTS BELOW?

·        “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2.38). – The Holy Spirit, using Peter, said to all being baptized in Christ (i.e., be covered of Him – Gal 3.27) in His name (instead of aiming their own interests, as Simon, the mage – Acts 8.18-23). However, the apostles understood wrong, assuming that they should baptize in water, as seen in the examples below:

 

·        “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” (Acts 10.47).

·        “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22.16).

·        “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.” (Acts 8.36-39).

 

However, is not in vain that Jesus came in flash:

 

·        “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.” (Hebrews 10.5-9).

 

After all, the essence of the kingdom of Eternal One don’t consist in making sacrifices to forgiveness of the sins of the soul, but sacrifice it in benefit of Jesus and His truth.

 

BAPTISM, HOWEVER, ONLY POINT TO THE TRUE PURIFICATION TO BE BROUGHT BY JESUS

That the baptism was a symbol of purification of the flesh, here is the proof:

 

·        “After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into prison. Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.” (John 3.22-26).

 

However, it is good to remember that baptism was only a figure of physical salvation that water operated in all these cases. However, in none of these cases was salvation effected inwardly. After all, salvation comes through the blood of Christ acting from the heart of every member of the Church and becoming known to all (see Ephesians 3:8-10). It develop itself in our feeling and mind:

 

·        The more the love of Jesus is developed in us, the more we clinging to all that Jesus is, to the point of any suffering in this world seem small compared to all that His presence is in the life of that who believe in Him, as well as the immense greatness of His virtue;

·        The more the mind see that only Jesus and His way is perfect, the more who believes is convinced that there is no other alternative else forsake any other suggestions of success that come to meet.

 

Baptism in water, as last ritual of Old Testament, served as a demonstration outside of the repentance occurred in mind. Today is the new life completely controlled by Jesus that admits that really we trust in heart in Jesus’ victory over death (Rom 10.8,9).

And it is the manifestation of Jesus amidst of His chosen  that will allow the angels see the effectiveness of Jesus and His word. After all, since Ha-Satan sin, stay the doubt about the effectiveness of Jesus and His word.

Besides, is good to remember that the baptism of John was to repentance. It comes the question:

WHAT, TRULY, IS REPENTANCE?

Repentance is not something we do before going to Jesus (like an isolated act), but what features walking with Christ. Repentance is not sentimental sensation or mere change behavior. First of all, implies a change of place.

For example: does not have as you be in two cities at the same time. For you go to one, it is necessary to get out of another one.

Similarly, there is no way to be in the kingdom of heaven and in the kingdom of this world at once. To go to the kingdom of the Eternal One, we have to abandon sin and selfish life (such attempt is religion).

We do not repent before going to Jesus (as if this was a requirement to seek Jesus). It is our meeting with Jesus that lead us to regret and convert (see 2Cor 5.14).

WHY DID THE HOLY SPIRIT MANIFEST HIMSELF LIKE DOVE?

1º - Dove reminds His purity. Dove does not lands instead dirty (see Gen 8.7-12). He just found rest in the head of Jesus.

2º - Dove reminds His gentleness and simplicity (Matthew 10.16). Hence He subject Himself to come as a man.

3º - Dove reminds harmless animal. That's how He won the perverse one in their aggressive attitudes to resolve the things.

4º - Dove reminds love.

5º - Dove is an animal that groans when suffers (Num 2.7; Isa 59.11; Nahum 2.7; Isa 53.7; Ezek 7.16). Jesus was anointed by the sin of the others.