Why Did Jesus Need To Be Baptized?

# 220 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 1:9 “It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.”

Why was Jesus baptized? In Matthew’s gospel, we read that John even tried to prevent the baptism, but Jesus said, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

The baptism of Jesus was fitting. The Greek Word for “fitting” here is the idea of something being conspicuous, like a tower. It was to stand out. For what reason was it to stand out? To fulfill, (to fill up) all righteousness.

The righteous requirements of God are met (filled up) in baptism. Jesus didn't need to be baptized to meet God's righteous requirements, (He is God!) but He did need to be baptized for the sake of those who weren't, because according to Mark 16:16, baptism is a requirement for righteousness. (salvation)

To understand this, we must first understand the circumcision of Jesus. Why was it necessary for Jesus to be circumcised? It was necessary because the Old Testament Law required circumcision for salvation. “Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.” (Gen 17:14)

Jesus didn't need to be circumcised for His sake. He is God! But in His circumcision He fulfilled that necessary part of salvation for all who have put their trust in Him and were not circumcised.

Because He was circumcised, and because we have put on Christ in our baptism, we receive everything that He has done for us, including the Old Testament righteous requirement of circumcision.

The Bible tells us in Mark 16:16, that baptism is necessary for salvation. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” Well what of all the Old Testament believers who had faith in Christ, but were never baptized? What about the thief on the cross? How can they meet this righteous requirement of salvation?

They meet it because they were connected to God and all He has done for them through faith and circumcision. And in Christ, the requirement for “righteousness” as spelled out in Mark 16:16, was fulfilled for them.

That doesn’t mean we can ignore baptism today. This is the new sign of the new covenant, and God has commanded it as a means of washing away our sins, and delivering the Holy Spirit. Col 2:11 says, “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”

The baptism of Jesus then “stands out” as a way to fulfill righteousness for those from Abraham to the thief on the cross, and any others who have had faith but have not been able to receive baptism.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.