Why did John baptize God?

Answer 1

Because Jesus came to earth as a man and The Bible said that we must be baptized.

NKJV

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"

15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.

16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He[c] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." ----------------------------------------------------------- Another possible answer from another representative of WikiAnswers.com: The baptism of Jesus, by John, was a fulfillment of a prophesy or two which were made in multiple parts of the Old Testament, but specifically in a few parts of Isaiah and Malachi. I, myself, am not too good at finding and deciphering prophesy in the Bible, but you may find the following helpful: Malachi 4:5 and Mathew 11:14. These verses and the surrounding verses are pretty clear in prophesying the coming of John the Baptist to make way for the Lord, and to help Him to fulfill the other prophesies involving Himself. Aside from being a fulfillment of prophesy, Jesus's baptism was also an act of humility. He is often referred to as the "Lamb of God," and sometimes the "Servant King," which are to mean that he lowered himself to our level, and therefore became just as much in need of such things as baptism. There are two ways to take this, which are very important to consider. In some churches, such as the Church of Christ, and I think the Methodist Church, it is believed that there is no salvation without baptism, because they believe that baptism is a remission of sins and the flesh and is necessary to receiving the Holy Spirit. They would say that Jesus was baptized to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to enact the required remissions of his flesh so that he could be saved. However, in other churches, such as the Baptist church and I think the Lutheran church, baptism is an external statement of salvation. It is only to show others that we have been saved by the Holy Spirit, and though we are commanded to do so towards the end of Romans, it is not necessary to get into Heaven. In terms of prophesies again, you might want to look at this web-site: http://www.cynet.com/Jesus/PROPHECY/ntquoted.htm There is a list of several prophesies in the old testament regarding Jesus and how they were fulfilled. I hope this helped

Answer 2

That was his life work-- to preach of the Messiah and to baptize.

Answer:

John's baptism was "prophecy being fulfilled" before the eyes of that generation.

"...Behold, I send My messenger before thy face, which shall prepare the way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

"John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

"And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and all were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins." (Mark 1:2-5)

Most people, today, fail to understand what an exciting time it was throughout the land of Judaea, then. John had a large following of thousands of people... waiting for him to point out to them the prophesied "MESSIAH" [the Christ].

By the thousands, people rushed to him to have their sins "buried" in the Jordan river... to have them "washed away"... and to be ready when the Christ finally appeared, to cast out the Roman armies, save them, and restore the kingdom of Israel to their land.

John's baptism of repentance was a "prophetic sign" to the people of that time that the Christ was coming soon.

And it was John's baptism of Jesus that revealed to him that He was the Messiah:

"...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 Spirit. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God." (John 1:32-36)

It was John's commission to baptize that eventually revealed to him the One whose way he was preparing. And when John finally revealed it to two of his disciples the next day... the days of his baptizing diminished... and the ministry of the Messiah began.

"...the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith, BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD!

"And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. (verses 35-37)

And from there, the news spread: "...One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, WE HAVE FOUND THE MESSIAS, which is, being interpreted, the Christ." (verses 40-41)

This "baptism of repentance for the remission of sins" whereby John was commissioned to prepare the way of the Lord, is still the first step to salvation, whereby a person might then receive the "Lord's baptism" of the Holy Spirit:

"...Peter said unto them, REPENT, and BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU in the name of Jesus Christ FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, and YE SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT." (Acts 2:38)

John's baptism started the ball rolling. It was an exciting time that didn't turn out like the people thought it should. Their "Messiah" was killed... and hopes were dashed.

But, with the resurrection from the dead of the Messiah who now sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven, the call for and the preaching of "repentance and the remission of sins" still goes out today, as fresh and vital as ever, generations later, to those whom God is calling.

"...Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name AMONG ALL NATIONS, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things." (Luke 24:46-48)

John's baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, that once prepared the way of the Lord, is now done in the name of the Lord [the ONE WHO HAS THE POWER TO TRULY BLOT OUT SINS].

That's why John baptized. He prepared the way for the Lord:

"The Word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (He is Lord of all:) that Word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with Power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil; for God was with Him.

"Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel [good news] of the Kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: REPENT ye, and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15)

John's voice still cries out in the computerized wilderness of our generation, to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. For the Messiah is coming again.

"And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preachedin ALL THE WORLD FOR A WITNESS UNTO ALL NATIONS; and THEN SHALL THE END COME." (Matt.24:14)

"John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit [unto salvation] and with fire[unto Judgment]: whose fan is in His hand, and He will purge His floor, and will gather the wheat into His garner; but the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable." (Luke 3:16-17)

John didn't just "baptize" -- he "preached," too.

Answer also: About six months before Jesus was baptized, John the Baptizer went preaching in the wilderness of Judea saying: "Repent for the kingdm of the heavens has drawn near." (Matthew 3:1,2) People heard what John said and took it to heart. They openly confessed their sins, repented of them, and then came to John to be baptized by him in the Jordan River. See Luke 1:13-16, Acts 13:23,24. More information can be found on Jehovah'/ Witnesses official website.

Answer 3

so that the prophecy of the prophets would be fullfilled .. Jesus came to the world to fulfill the promises of the Father ... in other ways he have to be baptized so that baptism could have its validity ..

Answer 4

Another answer from our community:

Jesus wanted to be baptized so that He could be an example to us that we should be baptized.

Matthew 3:13-15 "Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted Him."

Answer 5

First and foremost, Jesus was a teacher. As most earthly parents know, learning by example is a powerful lesson. He wanted us to follow his example. Just as, shortly before his death on the cross, He washed the feet of his disciples. He humbled Himself as an example for the world. The last (or least important) on earth will be first in Heaven. He was teaching the world humility, by word and deed. Jesus put on the flesh of those he went to, being in the likeness of those he went to. Though he was in a high place, he lowered himself to be as like us for the possibility, (just for a might), that he might reach us and so allowing us to be one with himself. He considered himself not to be greater than anyone else. He wanted all to have the life that he had. For none of you are any greater than any other and if you think you are worthy of the kingdom of God and yet Love not all other as your self, you will not have that inheritance. lower yourselves and create the chain that will lift others up. For the first shall be last and the last shall be first. Jesus lowered himself into the waters of Johns world and in doing so, he was able to better understand John and to be beside John and trusted by John and find that good that was in john in order to guide him in the right direction. For it must be ...this way, first you must baptize me and later I will come to baptize you. In order to pick some one up, we must stoop down below them and then we can raise them above ourselves, holding up them things that are good within that person and sending them on up then chain of our fellow Christian workers. We are to lift people up not pull them up. It is like indirect teaching. We are not giving them laws to follow or telling them what they must do. Rather we are setting up a way for them to see things on their own and helping them up to the next stage and from their one of our fellow workers in Christ shall water that seed and do the same. For that which someone finds on their own, they will hold more dear and true than that which was given to them. In this way as they start to run because of what they are learning, they will most likely run as if on fire and run to win the race. We are to set ourselves up in many offices in this manner in Christ, all working together as one but in many different positions lifting people up to one another and setting them on fire for Christ, that they will become one with us in God-speed and join with us in this work. Or we can just keep doing what we have been doing and continue to lose all the world and no one inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus told us what to do. And the time is hand.

Answer 6

Technically it was not Jesus who baptized those coming to Him, but His disciples.

And the disciples were baptizing these people, as a sign of their repentance from sin and a turning to God.

Answer 7

The gospels say that John baptised for the remission of sins. The first-century Jewish historian Josephus says that he baptised, not for the remission of sins but for the purification of the body. We know that cleanliness and the purification of the body were important motifs in first-century Judaism, so the explanation that Josephus gives seems very credible.

Answer 8

In the synoptic gospels John the Baptist baptised for the remission of sins, and the question is why Jesus would have been baptised if he was free of sin, an issue that actually exercised the minds of at least two of the gospel authors.

The original gospel, Mark, simply has John baptise Jesus as a matter of course, as also does Luke.

Matthew established a clear sense of precedence by having John argue that it should be Jesus who baptised him.

John was the only New Testament gospel to claim that Jesus was divine, but he also said that Joseph was his earthly father. John the Baptist baptised to announce the coming of Jesus, but there is no mention in this Gospel that he sought repentance or remission of sins. Nor is there mention of the baptism of Jesus, although prior knowledge of the synoptic gospels means we assume this to have occurred. Even without the remission of sins, John seems to have felt it was inappropriate for the divine person of Jesus to be baptised by John the Baptist.

Answer 9

John baptized Jesus because He told him to do it. This can be read about in the Bible in Matthew 3:13-17.

Answer 10

Jesus insisted on being baptised as an example.