Why was Jesus baptized by John?

[eprom]

Dr Colin Brown from Fuller Theological Seminary has written an interesting paper called

[eprom]

Lets

[wordsower]

From my website:

Just my thoughts on why Jesus was baptized:

I have heard christians discuss this topic and give all sorts of answers. I was always taught that Jesus was baptized as an example for us, and this is true, but there is so much more to it than that.

Let's back up to Joshua, who was a direct parallel to Jesus.

Hebrews 7,8 &9 explain fully that Jesus is our High Priest and He takes the place of our earthly priests. Did you know that He fulfilled the commands of the earthly priest?

Starting with the book of Joshua, you will notice that Joshua replaced Moses and was comissioned by God. Joshua's name in Hebrew is Yeshua, which is the same name of Jesus.

Looking at Joshua chapter 3 we find the miraculous crossing of the Jordan. This is the same river where Jesus was baptized (see Mark 1:9, John 1:28 Luke 3:3) Notice that in Joshua 3:16 when the waters were parted v16 "that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho" This is symbolic to Christ's first coming in that through Him the sins from Adam to present were cast into the dead sea, never to be remembered!

Now considering the transfer of the earthly priesthood to Jesus. Caiaphus was the current High Priest at the time of Jesus' death. Notice in Leviticus 21:10 The High Priest is not to tear his clothes yet in Matthew 26:65 The high priest tore his clothes. However, when the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them among themselves and said among themselves, "let's not tear it, but cast lots for it" ( John 19:24) To fulfill the prophecy in Psalms 22:18 This rending of the high priest Caiaphis' clothes nullified his priesthood and at this time Christ became our High Priest! God confirms that the priesthood was transferred at this time by rending the veil in the temple in two. (Luke 24:45)

Jesus is a new order of priest, of the order of Melchizedek, not Aaron. He did not descend from Levi but from Judah, the royal tribe instead of the priestly tribe.

David also overlapped, if you will, with the priesthood. When he took the city of Jerusalem from the Jebusites, he became the king of Jerusalem, and he established Jerusalem as the religious capital of Israel when he brought the ark and established it there. David assumed some of the roles of the Levites by arranging some of the temple worship procedures. So, he was in both the royal and the priestly roles. He was linked to Melchizedek by being both king and priest in Jerusalem (which was Salem, the city where Melchizedek was from), and he foreshadowed Jesus in the same way.

God gave us a picture of Jesus and his ministry through Israel and her kings, particularly David. None of Israel's ceremony or history was random. Everything pointed toward Jesus!

Now, for his baptism: Jesus wanted to be baptized by John the Baptist, but John tried to prevent Him saying "I have need to be baptized by You, and You are coming to me?" But Jesus answered and said, "Permit it to be so now, for thus us fitting for us to fullfill all righteousness." Matthew 3:14,15

Remember all of the ceremonial washing and cleansing necessary in the OT before the priests could come before God? (Ex. 29, Num. 8, Lev. 16) Baptism is symbolic of this in that our sins are washed away and we come boldly before the throne of God. Jesus, being our High Priest in New Covenant acted this out in His own baptism. The earthly priesthood has been transferred to Jesus. And, as Hebrews 7:12 says, "For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law."

[Khristeeanos]

It is an example that Christians must follow. Faith without obedience does not equal salvation.

[JimR-OCDS]

Jesus Baptism was actually his anointing as King.

In Matthew 3:4 we read,......."John wore clothing made of camel's hair and had a leather belt around his waist."'

Matthew points out the detail of what John was wearing, because this is the typical garment the OT prophet wore;

"Wearing a hairy garment," they replied, "with a leather girdle about his loins." "It is Elijah the Tishbite!" he exclaimed. 2Kings 3:8.

The Kings of Israel, were anointed by the prophets, as God instructed.

In the rest of the Gospels, Jesus refers to his kingdom, I believe 46 times.

Also, the place in the Jordan River, is where the Israelites crossed into the promised land. Jesus Baptism, is the establishment of the New Jerusalem, where He is King.

[eprom]

It is an example that Christians must follow.  Faith without obedience does not equal salvation.

But waht is Christ being obedient to? There's nothing in scripture for him to be obedient to, and he's the one who gave the comandment to be baptized, but three years later. What are some other options?

Some messianic schollars relate this insodent to the traditional Mikvah, which was used for personal purification and in the conversion of a gentile to Judaism, but the Mikvah is a more recient development. Some say it was a copy of the Christian ritual, and was not implimented until after the destruction of the temple. However, it is reflective of a more ancient practice of preparing Priests for their duty, and cleansing animals before their sacrifice. So the principle of cerimonial washing does hold a piece of this answer here, as Jesus was

[wordsower]

Hello.............did you read my post?

It was so that all things would be fulfilled and a new order of priests could come in.

[other one]

Jesus told us that he only did the things that the Father told him to do. So I would say that he did it because the Father told him to.

SE

[jmwhalen]

Matthew 3:15: The Lord Jesus Christ's "baptism"

submitted by John M. Whalen

1. The only "priesthood" on earth that was(past tense)ever recognized by the LORD God was the Levitcal priesthood after the order of Aaron. The Mosaic law requires ministers of the Aaronic order to be descendants of Levi, and the high priest to descend from Aaron. You had to be born into the tribe of Levi to become a priest, and you had to be a male. If you do not meet both of these requirements, you are disqualified( Another result of failure to rightly divide-the RCC priesthood).

2. The only mediator recognized in this dispensation is the Lord Jesus Christ: "There is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus"-1 Tim. 2:5). Furthermore, his priesthood is in heaven("For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest..."-Hebrews 8:4) not earth,after the order of Melchizedek, which necessarily set aside the Levitical order. The Levitical priests were ordained of God under the Law. Their work was merely symbolic and typical of the true priestly work of the Lord Jesus Christ, our great high priest.

3. The only priesthood that will be recognized in the future on earth, during the millennial kingdom, will be from the nation of Israel-this has no reference to the Body Of Christ in this dispensation:

" And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." Exodus 19:6

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5

""But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light...." 1 Peter 2:9

"But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves." Isaiah 61:6

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." Revelation 1:6

"And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." Rev. 5:10

"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." Rev. 20:6

And point 3, by the way, explains "what was happening" when John the Baptist was baptizing:

John's baptism was not something new-rather it was a ceremony thoroughly understood by those to whom he ministered.

Water baptism did not begin with John the Baptist. When we turn to the Scriptures to trace its development we quickly learn that water baptism is a ceremonial cleansing that pertains to the kingdom promised to the nation Israel.

In Exodus 19:5,6-at the very giving of the Mosaic Covenant-God's purpose in giving birth to the nation Israel is clearly revealed.

God's stated purpose concerning the nation Israel is that she is to be "a kingdom of priests and an holy nation," through whom the Gentile nations will draw nigh to God. This is what Isaiah refers to when he writes:

"But YE SHALL BE NAMED THE PRIESTS OF THE LORD: MEN SHALL CALL YOU THE MINISTERS OF OUR GOD" (Isaiah 61:6).

Ultimately this will, of course, be accomplished during the kingdom reign of Christ when Israel is dwelling in her land and the nations find salvation and blessing through her instrumentality. This explains Zech. 8:23-Israel will be a nation of priests, the channel for blessings to the world:

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you."

All of this awaits Israel's redemption. The "If ye will obey...then ye shall be" principle of the law assured that the "knowledge of sin" would abound. Because of her failure, the nation Israel soon found herself in need of a Redeemer. Thus while the hope of Israel looked to the promised coming kingdom, the need of the nation for cleansing must first be faced.

With this in mind it is important to remember that of all the people or things to be baptized, it was the priest who stood foremost. Exodus 29 sets forth the procedure for induction into the priest's office. Two very important steps of consecration are included:

First must come cleansing-a washing with water:

"And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and SHALT WASH THEM WITH WATER" (Exodus 29:4).

Second there was the anointing with oil:

"Then shalt thou TAKE THE ANOINTING OIL, AND POUR IT UPON HIS HEAD, AND ANOINT HIM" (Exodus 29:7).

Just as the sons of Aaron were the priests through whom the people of Israel could approach God, so the nation Israel itself will one day be "a kingdom of priests and an holy nation," through whom the Gentiles will draw near to God (Genesis 12:1-3; 22:17,18, Isaiah 60:1-3, Zechariah 8:20-23). It is in this light that John the Baptist appears on the scene preaching his "...baptism of repentance to all the People of Israel" (Acts 13:24).

In other words, John's "baptism Of repentance for the remission of sins" (Mark 1:4) was a means of national repentance and preparation to be the kingdom of priests God ordained that favored nation to be. Matthew 3:1,2 is important here:

"In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

"And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

And how were they to thus prepare for the coming kingdom?

"Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

"And WERE BAPTIZED OF HIM IN JORDAN, CONFESSING THEIR SINS" (vs. 5,6).

And:

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" Mk. 1:5.

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