Matthew 3:13–17 (ESV)
The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then
Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus
answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were
opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
If Jesus is without sin, then why does he need to be baptized? Well, he is without sin, but I see a two-fold process going on. First, he is teaching us to be baptized.
Second, this is like a coronation to the beginning of Jesus ministry. What happens when he is baptized confirms who He is! The Trinity is present. The voice of the Father, the Holy Spirit descending, and Jesus the Son. All three.
God the Father said: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. The Lutheran Study Bible states: “Because Jesus is our substitute, we need not fear God’s wrath and punishment for our sins. We are washed clean by the blood
of the Lamb (Rv 7:14), who prepared the waters of Baptism for us.”
I pray: Lord Jesus, You stood next to sinners in the
waters of the Jordan. Stand with me now, and wash away my sins. Amen.
Engelbrecht, E. A. (2009). The
Lutheran Study Bible (p. 1582). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.