Why was Jesus baptized?

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Fundaamental

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2023
3,289
421
83
#21
Baptism was required for a priest, consecrating him in preparation
for service to the Almighty, taking on the sins of his people.


See Exodus 29:4; 40:12-15; Leviticus 8; Leviticus. 16:23; Exodus 30:17-21, for e.g.

Once a year, on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the high priest entered the temple enclosure known as the Holy of Holies to burn incense and sprinkle the blood of a sacrificial animal on the mercy seat of the Ark. By doing so, the high priest atoned for his own sins and those of the people. The Holy of Holies was separated from the rest of the tabernacle/temple by the veil, a huge, heavy drape made of fine linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn and embroidered with gold cherubim. This is the veil that was torn as Jsus died on the cross. As our high priest, Jesus was to atoned for the sins of the whole world.
This is interesting,
I know about the scapegoat or where the sins of a whole tribe was passed through a priest into an animal befor being sacrificed.

But is it possible all people John the Baptist was baptising,

Did John the Baptis recieve all those sins but then passed them on to Jesus, did Jesus take them sins all away from John the Baptist, But John the Baptist was blissfully unaware of that.

As it says Jesus bore the sins of the whole world, but he not a Scape goat, he still bores them but can't be weighed down by them.
 

FlyingDove

Senior Member
Dec 27, 2017
1,274
436
83
#22
Baptism represents the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

Mat 3:16 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:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Baptism washes away our sins, however Jesus was sinless.

Jesus' ministry begins with 40 days of fasting, then Satan tries to tempt Him.

Why did Jesus start His earthly ministry by being baptized by John the Baptist who was a Levite?

Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Was the LORD GOD revealing a secret at the baptism of Jesus?

Are there any Torah or other scriptures from the Old Testament that suggest the answer?
Only priests were allowed in the Holy Place.

Luke 1:5 John the Baptist's father, Zechariah, belonged to the priestly division of Abijah/Abia. (1 Chron 24:10) The 8th division/course rotation to serve 8 days Sabbath to Sabbath. A pure blooded priest, a cohanim to the house of Aaron

Luke 1:8-13 Zechariah was performing his priestly duties in the temple, at the alter of incense. When the angel Gabriel appears & tells him this wife Elizabeth (to old for childbirth) would have a son & they will call him John

Scripture proclaims John the Baptist was a prophet & much, much more:

Matt 11:9 Jesus asked, what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
(MY NOTE: Jesus says; John the Baptist was a prophet & MORE)

Luke 7:26 Jesus asked, what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
(MY NOTE: Jesus said; John the Baptist was a prophet & MUCH MORE.)

Here the Lord is instructing Aaron His Chosen High Priest:

Lev 10:9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
(MY NOTE: Priests of the Levitical order were not to drink wine nor strong drink, throughout their generations)

Here an angel of the Lord is giving Zacharias instructions regarding John the Baptist:

Luke 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
(MY NOTE: John shall drink neither wine nor strong drink & shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.)

God ordained/chose (Ex 28:1-2) Aaron, Moses elder brother. As High Priest (Num 17:7-8) & had him offer Two sacrifice's of atonement, on the 10th day of the 7th month, the Day of Atonement. So the yearly sins of Israel could be covered (not taken away Lev 16)

Only the High Priest could transfer/impute sin

God specified that the sacrifice's of the Day of Atonement could only be offered by Aaron & the succeeding High Priests among his descendants. Two sacrifices were offered. A lot was drawn, one was sacrificed to the Lord. The other (Azazel Scapegoat) was then sent into the WILDERNESS. Carrying away all the people sins imputed onto it. (Lev 16:8-10, 21 & 22). The people could SEE their sins being carried away.

Lev 16:21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away into the wilderness:(see Lev 16:8,9,10,21 & 22 on transfer process).

John the Baptist confessed/announced: Behold the Lamd of God, that TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD. John then layed his hands on Jesus & baptized Him.

Where did Jesus go immediately after His baptism? Answer: The WILDERNESS! (Mk 1:12) Only the High Priest could inact this sin transfer process. (see scapegoat Lev 16:10)

Jesus was both sacrifices! People are free to draw their own conclusions, I believe, like Aaron (the 1st), John was chosen by God as (the last) earthly High Priest.
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#23
Why did Jesus start His earthly ministry by being baptized by John the Baptist who was a Levite?
As a testimony and witness of His Deity to all, straight from the Father...

Mat 3:16 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:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,650
5,906
113
#24
Baptism represents the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

Mat 3:16 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:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Baptism washes away our sins, however Jesus was sinless.

Jesus' ministry begins with 40 days of fasting, then Satan tries to tempt Him.

Why did Jesus start His earthly ministry by being baptized by John the Baptist who was a Levite?

Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Was the LORD GOD revealing a secret at the baptism of Jesus?

Are there any Torah or other scriptures from the Old Testament that suggest the answer?
“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:44-45‬


“Now 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.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭3:21-22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭4:17-19, 21‬ ‭

The Old Testament is prophetic regarding the New Testament jesus was baptized to fulfill prophecy about the messiah he would receive the spirit of God and God would declare “ this is my son I am well pleased in him “

“Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, When his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭2:6-7, 12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

it was what happened as Jesus was baptized that’s significant

“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.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1:31-34‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As John was baptizing when he baptized Jesus the heavens opened and Gods spirit lit upon him. This was the king appointed day that salvation was to be announced by the messiah who agod declared to be his son

The messiah was to live as a man perfectly then at the appointed day would be annointed to preach the gospel by the Holy Ghost

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭42:1, 3-4‬ ‭KJV‬

“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: and the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭11:1-5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the messiah was baptized to fulfill prophecy regarding the announcing of salvation a long promised day that had finally come

in fact everything in the gospel is fulfillment of the promises regarding the messiah in the law and prophets the Old Testament declares it and the New Testament fulfills it he was baptized to fulfill the prophecies in the ot about the messiah coming after John and receiving the spirit and preaching the gospel healing the sick and raising the dead dying willingly for sin raising up to life again and ascending to the right hand of God

everything jesus accomplished was written beforehand and that’s why it happened to fulfill Gods prophetic words of salvation to the world
 

Webers.Home

Well-known member
May 28, 2018
5,893
1,084
113
Oregon
#25
.
John the baptizer's mission had a special purpose.

Mal 4:5-6 . . See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and
dreadful day of The Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to
their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will
come and strike the land with a curse.

John wasn't the actual Elijah in person, but he was close enough.

Matt 11:14 . . And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was
to come.

Now according to Luke 2:51, Jesus was a good son; so he didn't need
correction in that area. His reason for submitting to John's baptism was
different. He submitted to John's services simply because, at that particular
time in Israel's history, it was the right thing to do.

Matt 21:25 . . John's baptism-- where did it come from? Was it from
heaven, or from men?

Well from Heaven of course, and I'm pretty sure that's at least one of the
reasons why Jesus got in on it.

Matt 3:13-15 . .Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be
baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying: I need to be baptized by
you, and yet you are coming to me? Jesus said to him in reply: Allow it now,
for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.

Elsewhere:

Luke 2:22-24 . . When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him
to The Lord, just as it is written in the law of The Lord, "Every male that
opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord," and to offer the sacrifice
of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate
in the law of The Lord.

The birds were for Jesus' mom. Some folks try to use that passage to prove
that she was a sinner, but that's kind of a reckless assumption seeing as
how whether she was a sinner or not, the birds still had to be offered
because it's a requirement, i.e. the right thing to do.
_