Why was Jesus baptized?

“Why did Jesus get baptized? Some people point to His baptism as proof that baptism is required for salvation.”—Daniel

Matthew records Jesus’ words at His baptism: “ . . . it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matt. 3:15). Though the text teaches nothing about “baptism as a requirement for salvation”, it does offer several reasons for this moment.

The word for “righteousness” connotes the character of God—His judgments, truthfulness or holiness—and points to what is “right” or “just” in accordance to God’s purposes. Thus, “righteousness” is whatever has been appointed by God to be acknowledged and obeyed by man (see Matt. 5:6, 20). In His response to John, Jesus was indicating that this was just what God wanted them to do.

This event confirmed John’s prophetic ministry and his role as the forerunner of the Messiah. Jesus understood that John fulfilled the anticipated arrival of the last great prophet preceding the coming of the Lord (Mal. 4:5-6; Matt. 11:1-15). Thus, Jesus and John are linked together, an important message to the Jewish audience.

Jesus’ baptism is the inaugural act of His public ministry. God clearly declared His pleasure with Jesus who openly demonstrated commitment to the mission before Him (Matt. 3:16-17). This trinitarian picture of God’s speaking to the world of His Son, as the Spirit descended, set the stage for all that was to come.

Finally, Jesus identified Himself with those people who responded to John’s call. Jesus was not baptized because He needed to repent or to be saved—He was fully without sin. However, Jesus by His submission to this symbolic portrayal of cleansing and repentance took His place alongside sinners whom He had come to save (Heb. 4:15; 7:26; I Pet. 2:21-22; I Jn. 3:5; see Isa. 53; Lk. 19:10).