Quote
xyz said:
Quote
Boanerges said:

Jesus had to be baptized because it was a requirement of God to Israel
Can we have chapter and verse, please?

Matthew 3:13-17 (NKJV)

John Baptizes Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”
15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He[a] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

John was reluctant to baptize Jesus because he recognized that Jesus was the person who had no need for repentance. But in order for "all righteousness" to be fulfilled, Jesus had to be identified with His people as the bearer of their sins (2 Cor.5:21). Ultimately John's baptism pointed to Jesus, for only Jesus' death on the cross, which He called a "baptism" (Luke 12:50), could take away sins. Jesus' identification with His people included His baptism and death, His anointment with the Spirit, and His victory over temptation.

There is continuity between John's baptism of repentance (Mark 1:4) and the trinitarian baptism instituted by Jesus (Matt. 28:19). Both were symbols of cleansing, and had remission of sins in view (Mark1:4; Acts 2:38). But they were not identical.
Those baptized by John needed Christian baptism as well (Acts 19:5). Christian baptism is a sign of initiation pointing to a relatonship with the Christ who has come; John baptism was a preparatory rite, signifying readiness for the coming of Christ and His judgment (Matt. 3:7-12; Luke 3:7-18; Acts 19:4).

Jesus insisted that John, His cousin, must baptize Him, overriding John's protests (Matt. 3:13-15. In His role as Messiah, "born under the law" (Gal.4:4), Jesus had to submit to all God's requirements for Israel, and identify with those whose sins He had come to bear. His baptism proclaimed that He had come to take the sinner's place under God's judgment. It is in this sense that He was baptized to "fulfill all righteousness" (Matt. 3:15 cf. Is.53:11).


Wes

When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died, my richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride. - Isaac Watts