Why was Jesus baptized?

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.  And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:9-11 NIV).

   I use to daydream about teaching the New Testament Survey course at Colorado Christian University when I was a student there.  I loved that class.  Contemplating what textbook I would use, I never landed on a sure choice until now.  A book I am currently reading by Dr. Robert Stein is Christ-centered, academic, and reads smoothly.  I think the book has a shortcoming, yet overall I think it is a classic.
   The big question so poignantly raised by Dr. Stein is: Why did Jesus need to get baptized if He is without sin?  Dr. Stein stated repentance and baptism go hand in hand, and I agree, based on verses such as Mark 1:4 -  “And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (NIV).  Dr. Stein gave the explanation that the baptism of Jesus was unique, serving the purpose of kicking off His messianic mission.  I agree, yet I think there is even more to His baptism.
   Dr. Stein makes the observation that Mark uses the same term to describe the opening of heaven after the baptism of Jesus as he used to describe the ripping of the veil in the temple after the death of Jesus.  That fact became the connection for me in answering the question.  I think the reason Jesus demanded baptism was that as He was “fulfilling all righteousness” as is recorded by Matthew, he was repenting on behalf of people.  Now His baptism was not vicarious as His atonement on the cross was.  Rather it was a repenting of sins in conjunction with people.  He who had no sin was identifying with our sins.  It was an act to start His ministry on earth which would lead to His taking the sins of people upon Himself and becoming the sacrificial atonement on the cross.  He was not getting baptized for Himself.  He was getting baptized for us.
   Think about it: Jesus, who was without sin, got baptized, and then heaven was torn apart and God spoke in an audible manner.  Repentant people were blessed to hear the voice of God the Father, and to learn that Jesus was the Son of God.  A special interaction with God and people had begun.  About three years later, Jesus was the substitute for sins, dying on a cross.  After the Atonement was made, the curtain which separated the Most Holy Place, where the presence of God was signified over the Ark of the Covenant, and the Holy Place, was torn in two.  That torn veil symbolized that people now could be united with God.  That was the messianic mission from the beginning.
   I add that some people base their theology regarding water baptism based on the details of Jesus baptism.  Jesus commanded that believers be baptized (Matthew 28:19).  But Christ’s baptism, and Acts 2:38, are reasons a number of Christians think that in order to get baptized with the Holy Spirit a person first needs to be baptized by water.  Yet we should not take our baptism doctrine from this great event, because Jesus’ baptism was unique.  He who had no sin was confessing sins on behalf of humanity, and as Dr. Stein explains, it was the monumental occasion when the Anointed One was anointed with the Holy Spirit to carry out the messianic mission. (1)  In order for a person to be baptized by Jesus with the Holy Spirit, a person needs to believe in Jesus, the Anointed One, who took the consequences of sins and spiritually and physically died in our place.
Hunter Irvine

(1) Robert Stein, Jesus the Messiah: A Survey
of the Life of Christ (Downers Grove: InterVarsity 
Press, 1996), 97 and 100.