Why Was The Messiah (Christ) Baptized?

Brief Summary

The purpose of this explanation of Holy Scripture is to explain why the Lord Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ was baptized by John the Baptist in water.

Essentially the main reasons were;

A ) to be identified and made known as the Messiah before John the Baptist and the people of Israel.

And,

B ) to obey the prophet of the LORD (John the Baptist) and recieve an instructed baptism in water that the people of Israel were to undertake out of obedience.

Baptism is another word for immersion (tevilah), which has essentially always been the way that the Law of Moses instructs a person to cleanse themselves.

John began instructing the Israelites to be baptised in an act of repentance and obedience to G-d.

This explanation is submitted out of love, and a primary reason for it being shared is due to an inaccurate interpretation of Scripture that some may currently and sadly hold – which when paraphrased, is along the lines of ‘Christ needed baptism by John for forgiveness…’.

Here we will see why such an assertion is not Scripturally true at all, and that the risen Lord Jesus Christ has always literally been without sin.

May it be fruitful.

The Messiah (Christ) Has Always Been Sinless

The King Messiah (Christ) has always been sinless. The following verse can be seen as confirmation of such;

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 NIV ^{[note; ‘same‘.]}

With this, we have another verse to confirm that the risen King Messiah (Christ) never sinned;

‘…he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.’
(Isaiah 53:8 ESV)

‘…he practised no iniquity…’
(Isaiah 53:8 Brenton Septuagint Translation).

‘…who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.’
(Hebrews 4:15 NIV)

amongst others.

What Was The Reason For The Baptism Then?

So then, why was the Lord Jesus Christ (Adonai Yehoshua HaMoshiach) baptised then, if John the baptist’s baptism was for repentance? – it says;

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.
Matthew 3:11 ESV ^{[also see John 1:27]}

And on those grounds righteous John said to the Lord Jesus Christ;

‘…“I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 
(Matthew 3:15 ESV)

 The reason for the Messiah’s (Christ’s) baptism could be described as ‘to make the Messiah (Christ) known’ – as it says;

‘…among you stands one you do not know,’
(John 1:26 ESV)

and,

³¹ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
³² Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.
³³ And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
³⁴ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
John 1:31-34 NIV

John the baptizer was instructed to baptize with water for repentance, but he was also baptizing to make the Messiah (Christ) known.

John was in turn following an instruction from God – fulfilling a prophesy also (Isaiah 40:3). 

Christ Was Also Baptised To Obey A Commandment of God; 

Because baptism was an instruction from the Lord GOD, the Lord Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ in turn certainly obeyed, and upheld the Law of Moses in the process by listening and doing – where Deuteronomy speaks of appointed servants/prophets;

The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.
Deuteronomy 18:15 NIV

 A person might say that John the Baptist never claimed that he was a prophet (ref. John 1:21) – to which the following is humbly submitted;

13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,
14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
Matthew 11:13-14 ESV
^{(Elijah being a righteous prophet).}
&
But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet.
Luke 7:26 NASB

 One ‘golden rule’ verse again for confirmation with the interpretation of Holy Scripture in this instance is;

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 NIV ^{[note; ‘same‘.]}

Therefore, Christ (Messiah);

‘…had no sin…’
(2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV)

Shalom, shavuah tov (great week ahead), and may Hashem (G-d) bless you beyond maximum; believing in His risen Son the Lord Jesus Christ (Adonai Yehoshua HaMoshiach). Amen.