Scripture passage: Matthew 3:13-15
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”
Then John consented (NIV).
Luke clearly states the mission of John the Baptist: “He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3:3). John himself stated: “I baptize you with water for repentance” (Matthew 3:11). Preparation was necessary for the Messiah, and that preparation included repentance.
By pursuing and accepting the baptism of John, Jesus was repenting. Yet Scripture clearly states Jesus was sinless (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). So why would Jesus insist on being baptized by John? The answer is: Jesus was submitting to a baptism of repentance not for His own sins, rather for the sins of the world. Jesus was taking the responsibility for the sins of people upon Himself on behalf of all humanity! Jesus was repenting of sins as a representative of people before the Holy Father. And Christ’s public sign of repenting on our behalf would lead to being crucified on a cross as the substitute for our sins.
I add that Christian baptism has a fuller meaning. Jesus would later instigate a water baptism in the name of the Triune God, symbolizing death to sin and new life in Him!
I had numerous great classes at Colorado Christian University, and I am thankful I studied there. I still think it is ironic my favorite class was my first semester. The class was my favorite subject, and the adjunct professor made it fun and engaging. And I remember one day when Professor Tafoya asked the class, “What was it that Jesus did with the Law?” (He was referring to the Mosaic Law.) Students remained silent. I waited a bit, yet then I said, “He fulfilled it.” That was the correct answer. And the Messiah also fulfilled God’s promise to Abraham and the promise to David.
And fulfillment of the Mosaic Law, and the promises to Abraham and David, required the fulfillment of the promise made to Joseph that Jesus would save people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). By even repenting for the sins of people, Jesus did fulfill all righteousness, since that was the beginning of His ministry which would culminate in Him being the atonement for sins.
With forgiveness received, a believer is declared righteous by the Messiah, and is baptized with the Holy Spirit who will be with that person forever. He or she is adopted as a child of God. And he or she has entered, upon believing, the New Covenant, which is an eternal covenant indeed.
The only way a person can be righteous forever in the sight of God is to gain the righteousness of God, which is available only from Jesus, and which is offered by Jesus even today.
Hunter Irvine
