SUBJECT: Jesus Christ
QUESTION: Why was Jesus Baptized?
ANSWER
What is baptism? Baptism is the washing with water in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
It signifies and seals our engrafting into Christ and
partaking of the benefits of the covenant of Grace and our
engagement to be His.
Quite simply, Jesus was baptized so he could enter into the
Melchizedek priesthood so He could be the High Priest and
offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins.
In Matthew 3:13-15
it says, "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." Jesus got baptized to fulfill
all righteousness.
Exodus 29:1-7,
"This is what you are to do to consecrate them, so they may
serve me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without
defect. And from fine wheat flour, without yeast, make
bread, and cakes mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil.
Put them in a basket and present them in it -- along with
the bull and the two rams. Then bring Aaron and his sons to
the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with
water. Take the garments and dress Aaron with the tunic, the
robe of the ephod, the ephod itself and the breast piece.
Fasten the ephod on him by its skillfully woven waistband.
Put the turban on his head and attach the sacred diadem to
the turban. Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring
it on his head."
Oil is a type of the Holy Spirit: "But you have an anointing
from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth...As for
you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and
you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing
teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real,
not counterfeit -- just as it has taught you, remain in him"
(1 John 2:20,27 ).
The Holy Spirit descended from heaven as a dove and
rested upon Jesus (Matthew 3:16).
Jesus was baptized because He had to fulfill the legal
requirements for entering into the priesthood. He was priest
after the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:8-10;
6:20). Priests offered sacrifice to God on behalf of the
people. Jesus became a sacrifice for our sin (1 Peter 2:21;
2 Corinthians 5:21) in His role as priest.
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).
Both of these were bestowed upon Jesus at His baptism.
Additionally, He may have needed to be 30 years old -
(Numbers 4:3)
Exodus 29:1 -
"This is what you are to do to consecrate them, so they may
serve me as priests:
Take a young bull and two rams without defect."
Exodus 29:4 -
"Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent
of Meeting and wash them with water."
Exodus 29:7 -
"Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his
head."
"Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing
his plan to his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). |