Why Did Jesus Need To Be Baptized?
MATTHEW 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Why did Jesus need to be baptized? John is baptizing to prepare the people for repentance because their sins have kept them in spiritual exile. But Jesus isn’t sinful, and in fact, John is troubled when Jesus approaches for baptism: “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
John misunderstands the nature of Jesus’s mission and ministry, for Jesus is the fulfilment of Israel’s story and their representative who is taking their covenant responsibilities on himself. He is the Davidic king who intercedes for the people.
“Jesus submits to baptism not because he has sin to confess and repent of, but because it is God’s will that Jesus identify with the people in their need so as to deliver them. Ironically, in this act of identification with sinners Jesus demonstrates his righteousness, for the divine declaration of approval comes immediately in the wake of Jesus’ baptism.” —David Bauer, The Gospel of the Son of God
And it is after the baptism that God himself confirms both Jesus’s act and his identity. It is after he identifies with sinful Israel that Jesus is vindicated.
(We’ll see this pattern reoccur later at the Crucifixion and then Resurrection.)
There is something particularly close to the heart of God when God’s people intercede for those who don’t deserve it—when they step into the gap, so to speak. This was always God’s intention for Abraham and his family (see Abraham’s intercession for Sodom, in Genesis 18:16-33, e.g.), and when God’s people actually do it—when they intercede for others, when they stand in the gap—blessing is released. Jesus is the ultimate example of this, of course, but the same applies today for the followers of Jesus.
For whom can you intercede today? How can you stand in the gap for someone who doesn’t deserve it?
NOTE: We have been reading through Psalms, and until we get to Psalm 150, I’m going to keep posting at the bottom of each Matthew post daily commentary on that day’s psalm. (On the weekends, it will just be that day’s psalm by itself.) If you’ve read this far, you are an over-achiever. —AF
The St. Francis Psalm! - Psalm 148
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!
3 Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created.
6 And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word!
9 Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the Lord!
I love the hymn attributed to St. Francis, “All Creatures of our God and King.” The words of that hymn remind me of Psalm 148, which calls on every part of Creation to praise the Lord.
Be a part of the choir today, and praise the Lord!