When Jesus was 30 years old, the time came for His earthly ministry to begin. It was time for Him to share His hope with a lost and hurting world and rescue the world from sin. He could have begun His ministry immediately. Instead, in humility, He went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist, a man who even declared that Jesus should be the man baptizing Him.
The Book of Matthew records the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. John the Baptist was Jesus' relative whose purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus. He warned people to repent of their sins and to get ready for the coming Messiah. Matthew 3 reveals that Jesus went to John the Baptist one day and asked John to baptize Him. This shocked John the Baptist. He said to Jesus in response to His request, "I am the one who needs to be baptized by you…so why are you coming to me?” (verse 14). Finally, John agreed to baptize Him. Scripture tells us that "as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on Him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy’” (verses 16-17). What a remarkable moment! God the Father was pleased with Jesus. This baptism signified the start of Jesus’ ministry.
Jesus was baptized to signify that His ministry would begin soon. His baptism also serves as an example for us. You see, when we commit our lives to Christ, we are called to be baptized. This baptism is only the beginning. You see, after we are baptized, our calling is to live for Christ and show others that we are Christ’s followers through our actions. Following Him by our actions means obeying Him, telling others about Him, and spending time with Him through prayer and reading Scripture. May the people around us know Christ through everything we say and do.
If you have committed your life to Christ, have you taken the step to be baptized? If not, are you ready to take that step to follow Jesus' example? Sign up to be baptized here. If you have been baptized, does your life reflect that decision you made to follow Jesus? Can others look at the way you live and know that you follow Jesus? Is there anything that you need to stop or start doing to live a life that points to Christ? Stop or start doing that thing today! Let’s live that point others straight to Christ.
1In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, 2 “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” 3 The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
Clear the road for him!’”
4 John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. 5 People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. 6 And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? 8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 9 Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 10 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”
The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”
15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.
16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
