Baptism of Jesus

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 fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.  16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;  17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

These four verses are a goldmine.  It's like gems of theology and the gospel all in one. Allow me to give 10 reasons Jesus' Baptism is so important.

Reason 10.  Jesus' baptism acknowledges his approval of John's ministry, John as his forerunner, and John as the Baptist.

Reason 9.  Jesus' baptism establishes that John publicly acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah. The exchange between these two cousins in verses 14-15 sheds so much light on how John saw Jesus and vise versa.

Reason 8. Jesus' baptism marks the beginning of his ministry.

Reason 7. Jews were baptized as a sign of repentance. Jesus' baptism illustrates that although he is sinless, he still identifies with sinners.

Reason 6. Jesus' Baptism shows that John also acknowledged Jesus' righteousness and sinlessness by saying it was Jesus that should baptize him.

Reason 5. Jesus' Baptism expounds on on the holy trinity. God the Son comes up from his baptism, God the Spirit comes down, and God the Father speaks.

Reason 5. Jesus' Baptism, the appearance of the Holy Spirit and The Father's words show us that all three persons of the God of Abraham are in agreement with the work of Jesus on earth.

Reason 4. When we repent, receive Christ as our Savior, and give him our hearts, the same righteousness John saw on the day of Jesus' baptism, now covers us!!!! Jesus' righteousness covers us white as snow.

Reason 3. Jesus' Baptism is part of his love story for you and me. It is part of the work he did and is doing within us.

Reason 2.  Jesus' Baptism was a public testimony of his faith and commitment to the Gospel.

Reason 1. Jesus' Baptism is an example for us to follow.

Four verses, ten reasons, and an eternity we can spend worshiping the Holy of Holies!  I pray that our love for our Lord and his Word grow with every breath we take.

Love you fam!

Grace