Question to Ponder...Jesus' Baptism

[Diplomat]

A question was asked of me recently, and I am posting it here to to get the opinions of others on the matter.

In Mark 1:3-5,9 we read: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins....And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan."

Question: If Jesus had no sin, why did He come to John to be baptized?

[Guest]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Baptism

I've always viewed baptism as identifying yourself as a child of God.

[Diplomat]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Baptism

Originally posted by Compry:
I've always viewed baptism as identifying yourself as a child of God.

Are you saying that Jesus was baptized to be identified as such?

[Dailybread]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Baptism

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] Question: If Jesus had no sin, why did He come to John to be baptized? [/qb]

1. Because he was born from a woman who was born into sin.
2. To become the example that we are to follow.

[Guest]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Baptism

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb]

Originally posted by Compry:
I've always viewed baptism as identifying yourself as a child of God.

Are you saying that Jesus was baptized to be identified as such? [/qb]

Yes, it was to identify Him as the Son of God. Matthew 3:16-17  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.

[Diplomat]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Baptism

Originally posted by Dailybread:
[qb]

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] Question: If Jesus had no sin, why did He come to John to be baptized? [/qb]

1. Because he was born from a woman who was born into sin.
2. To become the example that we are to follow. [/qb]

Regarding (1), don't you think Mary would have had to be baptized for the remission of her own sins? Regarding (2), I am tempted to think He would have made that quite clear if such was the case. Bear in mind that in his argument to persuade John to baptize Him, Christ said: “...thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness” (Mt. 3:15), and that righteousness in this sense means the commandments of God (Psalm 119:172).

[Guest]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Baptism

Another question to ponder: Does baptism prevents you from committing sin?

[Dailybread]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Baptism

Originally posted by CEW:
Regarding (1), don't you think Mary would have had to be baptized for the remission of her own sins?

The scriptures does not mention her being baptized. Being that Mary and Elizabeth were pregnant around the same time that's a hard call to make.

Regarding (2), I am tempted to think He would have made that quite clear if such was the case. Bear in mind that in his argument to persuade John to baptize Him, Christ said: “...thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness” (Mt. 3:15), and that righteousness in this sense means the commandments of God (Psalm 119:172).

I must admit I'm a bit lost. However, Chirst came to be an example to us by words and action. So Him being baptized was in accordance with the Word.

[Diplomat]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Baptism

Originally posted by Compry:
[qb]

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb]

Originally posted by Compry:
I've always viewed baptism as identifying yourself as a child of God.

Are you saying that Jesus was baptized to be identified as such? [/qb]

Yes, it was to identify Him as the Son of God. Matthew 3:16-17  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. [/qb]

Some would argue that was the time of His anointing. I do disagree however that it was to identify Himself as a child of God seeing He was already the Son of God.

[Diplomat]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Baptism

OK...from all my research on the subject at the time the question was asked, here is a summation of what I came up with.

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; Heb. 5:8-10; 6:20). Priests offered sacrifice to God on behalf of the people. Jesus became a sacrifice for our sin (1 Pet. 2:21; 2 Cor. 5:21) in His role as priest.

To be consecrated as a priest, He had to be:
- washed with water (Lev. 8:6; Exodus 29:4, Matt. 3:16).
- Anointed with oil (Lev. 8:12; Exodus 29:7; Matt. 3:16).

Both of these were bestowed upon Jesus at His baptism.

Additionally, He may have needed to be 30 years old. According to Num. 4:3, "From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Interestingly, Jesus was in fact about 30 years old when He came to be baptized. This suggests He knew the requirements for His priestly role. I am just about convinced this is the reason He made reference to fulfilling the commandments (all righteousness) in His conversation with John as to why He should be baptized.

[Guest]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Baptism

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] Some would argue that was the time of His anointing. I do disagree however that it was to identify Himself as a child of God seeing He was already the Son of God. [/qb]

Fair enough...I'm glad you disagreed because that prompted me to do a bit of research myself and I came across this link. Why was Jesus Baptized

[Diplomat]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Baptism

Originally posted by Compry:
[qb]

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] Some would argue that was the time of His anointing. I do disagree however that it was to identify Himself as a child of God seeing He was already the Son of God. [/qb]

Fair enough...I'm glad you disagreed because that prompted me to do a bit of research myself and I came across this link. Why was Jesus Baptized [/qb]

I read that link previously and nothing the author says satisfied my curiosity as it relates to what commandments were being fulfilled by Jesus' baptism. I would suggest that you have to read a number of sources and different arguments, and then flesh them all out to see which ones satisfies the conditions. Those conditions, in this case, relates to understanding Matt 3:15, "And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." Again the question from my point of view, what commandments were Jesus referring to?

Edited to add: I do think there will be a significant number of opinions on this issue, and all holders of an opinion is entitled to it. As indicated earlier, I have taken a position I am comfortable with, based on my understanding of the scriptures.

[Guest]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Baptism

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb]

Originally posted by Compry:
[qb]

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] Some would argue that was the time of His anointing. I do disagree however that it was to identify Himself as a child of God seeing He was already the Son of God. [/qb]

Fair enough...I'm glad you disagreed because that prompted me to do a bit of research myself and I came across this link. Why was Jesus Baptized [/qb]

I read that link previously and nothing the author says satisfied my curiosity as it relates to what commandments were being fulfilled by Jesus' baptism. I would suggest that you have to read a number of sources and different arguments, and then flesh them all out to see which ones satisfies the conditions. Those conditions, in this case, relates to understanding Matt 3:15, "And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." Again the question from my point of view, what commandments were Jesus referring to?
[/qb]

OK

[Guest]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Baptism

Question: If Jesus had no sin, why did He come to John to be baptized?

John 3

5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.


Up till he was baptized by John and recieved the Spirit He was no more able to enter heaven than anyone else. God's attribute of justice at work here. What He expected of others He had to first apply to Himself.

[Guest]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Baptism

Originally posted by Jedi l:
[qb]

Question: If Jesus had no sin, why did He come to John to be baptized?

John 3

5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.


Up till he was baptized by John and recieved the Spirit He was no more able to enter heaven than anyone else. God's attribute of justice at work here. What He expected of others He had to first apply to Himself. [/qb]

Very interesting Jedi. Let's face it He did become man.