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Why was Jesus baptized? For this answer we must go back to the beginning.
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 fulfil all righteousness.” Then he consented.
16 And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him;
17 and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
The baptism of John was for repentance for the remission of sin[1]. The Lord Jesus though was born sinless without any need for repentance. Actually, it is written that Jesus was tempted in every way and yet without sin.[2] What would be the reason that Jesus came to be baptized?
John was wondering the same thing and asked the Lord Jesus this.
To understand the answer, we must look at the Old Testament and the story of the Fall of man.
I will highlight Genesis chapters 1-3, regarding this subject. Please read these chapters, they are extremely important chapters to be versed in.
In the beginning, God created all that we see. He created the earth perfect for sustaining life and most importantly to be the perfect home for His crowning creation: humanity. He then created Adam and placed Him in the Garden of Eden. God gave authority to Adam over the earth and told Him and Eve to be fruitful and multiply.
God gave Adam and Eve one commandment. Love always comes down to free will. Love must be a choice to be authentic. The commandment was to not eat from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Adam and Eve did not know what it was to fear. They did not know manipulation or war. They did not know heartbreak or pain. Suffering was not something that we as humans ever had to know. And yet, Satan tempted Eve. She wanted to know. Adam should have kicked Satan out immediately, but he failed to do so. Both Adam and Eve ate of the fruit and broke their trust in God.
The consequences were immediate, and fear gripped their hearts. Death came into this world and with it suffering.
12 Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned.
Adam’s sin affected him and all his children. We are all affected by his sin. Jesus Christ came to undo all that was done through Adam. Adam’s disobedience brought death and Jesus’s obedience brings life. Sin and unrighteousness came through Adam; Righteousness and justification come through Jesus.
15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.
16 And the free gift is not like the effect of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification.
17 If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
18 Then as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men.
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
Why was Jesus baptized? So that righteousness would be available to all.
8 “Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may sprout forth, and let it cause righteousness to spring up also; I the Lord have created it.
How beautiful. The baptism of John was for the remission of sin, yet Jesus was without sin, but do you know who had sin?
Me.
And you.
The baptism of Jesus was the first step of our redemption that Jesus was to accomplish. The baptism is intrinsically connected with the crucifixion of Jesus. He took our place on the cross, for we deserve death, and He took our place in the Jordan River that day.
Adam’s disobedience brought death into the world; the obedience of Christ brings life into the world. The Lord Jesus was sinless and had no need of baptism. He was baptized because we need redemption.
Live repentance. Be zealous. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
June 18, 2025, Wednesday Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time, St Ephrem of Syria
[1] Luke 3:3
[2] Hebrews 4:15
Be Zealous 
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