John the Baptist’s testimony about himself (John 1:19-28) presents some remarkable facts about how baptism is understood during the time of Jesus. The line of questioning in those verses reveals how the Jews understood who can only administer baptism: the Messiah, Elijah or any of the prophets. Granting that he was given the freedom to exercise such “ministry” unopposed (by the religious powers that be), why did John the Baptist baptize Jews knowing fully well that such practice was exclusively administered to “converts” (Gentiles converting to the faith)? Jews already belong to God and so they did not need to be “cleansed.” Gentiles had to be immersed in water through baptism if they are to belong to the chosen ones of God. Astounding! But what is even more remarkable is Jesus’ decision to submit Himself to this baptism.
Jesus is a Jew. As the unblemished One, He has no sins to repent of. That baptism was unnecessary as far as Jesus, the only begotten Son of God (thus, the sinless one) and Son of Mary (thus, a Jew) is concerned.
His baptism, therefore, should be understood in a different light. For Jesus it was a baptism that ushered in His public ministry. It was His commencement exercise. After that He would go full blast in attending to the affairs of His Father.
By virtue of His baptism, man is able to begin his ascent to God. And Jesus, being true man, identifies with man in this journey of turning away from sin and turning to God. His baptism introduced Him to the ones He would save. Just as His Father laid claim on Him, His real identity was revealed as the Father’s “beloved Son on whom He was well pleased.”
Because of that baptism, we now fully see how God marvellously commenced His redemptive work for man — how He, the Emmanuel, is truly with us in our journey towards the Father and how we are to accept our Lord who has been revealed to us, no less, by His and our Father.
