Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Matthew 3:13-15
Jesus grew to adulthood in the obscure village of Nazareth in the northern part of Israel. In those years, He did not attract any attention, preach any sermons or perform any miracles. He no doubt learned the trade of a carpenter from his step-father Joseph, as was the custom for Hebrew young men to learn a trade from their fathers. When the time came for Him to begin His public ministry, Jesus did not start out by performing great miracles to attract attention or preaching powerful sermons. Instead, Jesus made a long trip, some ninety miles, from His home in Nazareth to the southern part of Israel where John the Baptist was preaching and baptizing those who repented. Even though Jesus was the perfect Lamb of God who had no need for repentance, He insisted on being baptized.
Jesus did not “need” to be baptized, but He was setting an example for us to follow. This act of obedience brought public approval and recognition from His Father in Heaven. “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17). But Jesus set another example for us here as well. Despite the obstacles and difficulties that it entailed, He was willing to pay the price of obedience. In light of all that God has done for us, nothing that He commands is too much. Hardship and sacrifice are never reasons for disobedience.
