The Baptism of Our Lord

A common question is why Jesus was baptized since he was sinless and already had the holy spirit. To understand this, it is important to understand what Jesus really came to do and who he was and what baptism is. For this we must begin in the old testament.

After sprinkling blood over the tabernacle and its furnishings to cleanse and consecrate it, a goat was brought to Aaron. He laid his hands on its head and confessed all the sins of the people. Thus he was anointed to die for sins that were not his own. The goat was then led out to the wilderness and left to die, bearing the sins of the people. Thus it was called the scapegoat. 

This looks forward to Jesus work, but also his baptism. Holy Baptism washes away sins and actually gives you the Holy Spirit. Since Jesus was perfect and sinless and already had the Holy Spirit, he had no need. And yet he fulfilled all of the law, from circumcision, to baptism for us. Only by fulfilling all righteousness could he be the scapegoat. In our baptism, the water that washed away our sin, and became dirty with it, was used to baptize Jesus. Having no sins of His own, in his baptism, he was soaked with all the sins of the world. John anoints Jesus to die for our sins.  And like the type before Him, Jesus is led out into the wilderness. He is led out to be tempted by the devil, to be accused and slandered for your sin. But, having overcome the devil, Jesus is again cast out into the wilderness to die. And He does, bearing your sin.

At Jesus’ baptism the descent of the Spirit and the voice of the Father, the Christian sacrament of baptism is instituted, and it shows us the trinity in who's name we are to be baptized.  This also fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah 42:1: “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.”, proving Jesus to be the messiah. Once Jesus is anointed to die and identified as the messiah, he begins his ministry.  The descent of the spirit also allowed him to use more of his divinity and perform miracles.