John the baptist baptizing jesus

Jesus Christening

Jesus was baptized at the age of 30 in river Jordan by John the Baptist to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus being baptized came out of the water and prayed and lo the heavens were opened and Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a Dove and God spoke from Heaven saying “This is my beloved Son in whom I’m well pleased”. This is the Christening of Jesus, the baptism of christ in the Holy Spirit post the water baptism. Later he would also receive power of the Holy Spirit once he overcomes the temptations.

Types of Baptism

Jesus was not baptized with John’s baptism of repentance of sins. In the bible scriptures there are various baptisms mentioned and the doctrine of water baptism is a required fundamental knowledge for christians. In this page though I’m presenting the Water Baptism of Jesus Christ of the 3 categories of people getting water baptism differed by their essence. The three categories of people are the Israelites during the period of Jesus, Jesus himself and Christians. Below table provides various types of Baptisms mentioned in the bible. So quickly, lets understand as to What is Baptism? The word Baptism has two meanings, one is in reference to a commission: “a person’s initiation into a particular activity or role” and the other one is “immersion into something”, which is by default understood as Water Baptism in christian context.

John’s water BaptismThis is John’s Baptism by the act of confession of Sins for repentance to be ready for the coming Christ. It is no longer valid.
Water Baptism of JesusThis is the Water Baptism of Jesus given by John to Jesus to fulfill all the righteousness.
Christian Water BaptismThis is the Baptism of Believers by confession to submission to Christ’s Lordship and signifying their participation in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, an act of putting away old self physically.
Jesus ChristeningThis is the Holy Spirit Baptism of Jesus Christ when Holy Spirit descended on Jesus and abode on him.
Jesus Baptism for deathThis baptism is the commission of Jesus Christ to fulfill his destiny by death as a sacrifice.
Holy Ghost BaptismIn this baptism Holy Ghost (Spirit of Jesus) comes upon believers so that they are then born again and they become the sons of God and then he lives in them. (He overshadowed in Jesus birth Luke 1:35)
Fire BaptismIn this baptism a christian is anointed with or given the zeal to serve master Jesus to build the Kingdom of Heaven.
various baptisms mentioned in the bible scriptures with their uniqueness

John’s Baptism at the time of Jesus

John the baptist was baptizing in river Jordan when the people were repenting for their sins and confessing them and as an act or evidence of this were getting baptized. So this was the water baptism of repentance to make themselves ready for the one who is coming, about whom John was preaching.

John baptizes Jesus

John the baptist was baptizing in Bethabara. At that time came Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee to Jordan to be baptized of him. During the baptism it was the custom to confess their Sins and Jesus being without Sin had nothing to confess. At this John must have pondered in his heart to if he was the one to come or he understood that he was greater than him as he was without sin, so forbade him. But Jesus said “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness”, then john baptizes jesus.

Why John Forbad Jesus from Baptism

As John’s baptism was with confessions of sins, so, when Jesus came to John, John as per the process asked him for the confession of Sins. And Jesus being without Sin have told about him being Sinless. That must have triggered John’s humility and he thought that he was greater than him in Kingdom of God. And immediately John forbad Jesus and asked Jesus to baptize him. Of course, until now its not confirmed to him that he was the one to come as the Spirit has not descended and stayed upon Jesus. Later his speech would change once he sees the spirit descended, which can be seen in John 1:26 (there stands one among you).

Why was jesus baptized

John forbad Jesus as Jesus was sinless and his baptism was the baptism of repentance. At this Jesus replied saying “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness” in Matthew 3:15. So lets understand as to what that meant for us.

  1. In simple meaning it meant that Jesus being the one to fulfill the Word of God and Scriptures, he must go through that process and fulfill all righteousness.
  2. He was setting an order that everyone must be baptized with water and later he says so in John 3:5 “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”.
  3. This act of Jesus confirmed that John’s baptism was from God.

Deeper mystery in the baptism of christ

Now let’s look at the water baptism of christ from God and Jesus’ perspective, for that let’s go to this story: Israel coming out of Egypt crossed the Red Sea waters and then were wandering in the wilderness for 40 years which was supposed to be a 40 days Journey. In it they failed to trust god, follow his ways and were far from him in their hearts. Now the old testament is also a shadow of things to come and is also a law that must be fulfilled. Jesus by this act of Water baptism, Holy Spirit baptism and by overcoming the temptations he has received power from God and has also fulfilled in which Israel failed to do that God might establish his people and Kingdom on the earth. All of this was necessary for Jesus that he should please God by his obedience and also overcome the Satan that he might receive power of God to fulfill his commission.

Now when christians gets water baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, they are also pleasing God and overcoming the Kingdom of Darkness to enter into the Kingdom of God, receiving the right to become Sons of God gradually. Christians are not following the baptism of the lord which he encountered with John, even though the state of both are sinless at that point. The essence or attitude is changed now as Christ is risen from the dead and the Holy Ghost is poured out now.

Jesus baptism scripture

Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan by John the Baptist by immersion into the water and when Jesus came out of the water, he prayed. And the Holy Spirit came descending like a dove upon him, thus receiving Holy Spirit baptism and also God the Father to was present there and said from heaven saying “This is my beloved Son in whom I’m well pleased”. Thus Jesus was Christened at the age 30 by the Holy Spirit at the will and presence of YHWH.

Matthew 3:13–17Then 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. 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.
Mark 1:9–11And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Luke 3:21–23Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age.
John 1:29–34The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
in the bible: baptism of jesus scriptures

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