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plt said:
Please, let me start by saying that I am trying to understand Christianity in general and that I do not wish to ever suggest or imply that your faith is in error when I post questions. If, at any time, I write anything that is improper or offensive, please let me know that I have stepped out of bounds!
One of the several reasons that Jews reject Jesus as the Messiah is that it is claimed that He is without sin, yet he was baptised. Could someone explain why that was necessary? TIA
Patty

Hi Patty,

Jesus was sinless, that is true, and John the Baptist recognized it. When Jesus came to John to be baptized, John said, "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" John objected because baptism signifies purification from sin, but Jesus needed no such purification. However, Jesus answered, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matt. 3:14-15). What was His intention?

Let us first consider what happened in Jesus' baptism. Matthew writes, "After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased'" (Matt. 3:16-17; cf. Mark 1:10-11, Luke 3:20-22, John 1:32-34).

Two things here. First, in His baptism, Jesus received the anointing of the Holy Spirit in full measure, to strengthen Him as He began His gospel ministry. With the power of the Spirit, Jesus would resist Satan's temptations in the wilderness, preach the Word of God with power and authority, cast out demons and heal the sick, endure the terrible suffering of the cross, and rise from the dead. Second, this anointing was from God, who declared publicly that Jesus was His chosen Messiah (Anointed One): "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."

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<p align="center">from Psalm 2

[1] Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
[2] The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
[3] "Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!"

[4] He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
[5] Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
[6] "But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain."

[7] "I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
He said to Me, 'You are My Son,
Today have I begotten You.
[8] 'Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
[9] 'You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.'"

So, Jesus was baptized to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and to be declared publicly as the Messiah. However, there is more. The height of Jesus' messianic ministry is His death on the cross. In His baptism, Jesus was confirming His calling and commitment to be "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Commenting on Matthew, William Hendriksen writes,

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It was right that he who had promised to offer himself as a ransom for many ratify this promise by means of submitting to baptism, thereby reaffirming his desire and decision to take upon himself the sin of the world. The water of baptism signifies and seals the washing away of sin, and Jesus by means of this sacrament reveals himself as the Sin-bearer.

In His baptism, Jesus was identifying Himself with the sinners He came to save. Their sins and uncleanness were imputed to Him, and He defeated and destroyed their sins by His death on the cross, rising again the third day in victory. "Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4).

I hope you find this helpful!

Kyle

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified.