THE BAPTISM OF JESUS:
(We have considered the principles of baptism in the first lesson: The Need For Baptism.)
When John the Baptist was ‘sent by God’ to prepare the was of the Lord, he also preached “the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins”, Luke 3:3. While he was at the Jordan, Jesus came to be baptized. When John asked him why he needed to be baptized, Jesus himself gives the reason: “To fulfill all righteousness”, Matthew 3:15. The institution of baptism is God appointed! After Jesus was baptized and came out of the water, John saw and testified that when the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus, this confirmed that he was the Christ, John 1: 31-33. It was at this time that God declared: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased”, Matthew 3:17. When Jesus returned from 40 days and nights in the wilderness, John proclaimed to all who would hear: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”, John 1:29. The necessity for baptism of all believers is later endorsed by Jesus Christ after his resurrection: Mark 16:15,16.
Baptism is the means by which Jesus was identified as God’s beloved son! It is by baptism that all the children of Go are identified as God’s children. Believers understand and accept that they need to be “baptized into Christ”, Romans 6:3, Galatians 3:27.