7/28/2019 why was jesus baptized

1/2

Why Was Jesus Baptized?Why did Jesus consent to be baptized?

FIRST, HE DID IT AS AN EXAMPLE FOR US.

Jesus entire life is an example for us of how to be human and how to follow God. His will wasthat people would repent of their sin and be baptized by John as a sign of their commitment tofollow God. As a result, Jesus decided to be baptized, to show us how important it is to convertour hearts and make a public act of faith.

SECOND,JESUS' BAPTISM ANTICIPATES WHAT HE DID FOR ALL MANKIND ON THE CROSS.

Pope Benedict XVI, in his book Jesus of Nazareth, gives us another reason. He says that Jesus baptism

anticipates what He did for all mankind on the cross:

The act of descending into the waters of this Baptism implies a confession ofguilt and a plea for forgiveness in order to make a new beginning. In a worldmarked by sin, then, this Yes to the entire will of God also expresses solidaritywith men, who have incurred guilt but yearn for righteousness.

The significance of this event could not fully emerge until it was seen in light ofthe Cross and Resurrection. Descending into the water, the candidates forBaptism confess their sin and seek to be rid of their burden of guilt.

What did Jesus do in the same situation? Luke, who throughout his Gospel iskeenly attentive to Jesus' prayer, and portrays him again and again at prayer --in conversation with the Father -- tells us that Jesus was praying while he

received Baptism (cf. Lk 3:21).

Looking at the events in light of the Cross and Resurrection, the Christianpeople realized what happened: Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind's guiltupon his shoulders; he bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. Heinaugurated his public activity by stepping into the place of sinners.

His inaugural gesture is an anticipation of the Cross. He is, as it were, the trueJonah who said to the crew of the ship, "Take me and throw me into the sea"(Jon 1:12).

The whole significance of Jesus' Baptism, the fact that he bears, "allrighteousness," first becomes known on the Cross: The Baptism is anacceptance of death for the sins of humanity, and the voice that calls out "Thisis my beloved Son" over the baptismal waters is an anticipatory reference tothe Resurrection. This also explains why, in his own discourses, Jesus uses theword baptism to refer to his death (cf. Mk 10:38; Lk 12:50). (p. 17-18)

This is

such aprofound

insight

http://phatcatholic.blogspot.com/2010/01/for-feast-of-baptism-of-lord.htmlhttp://phatcatholic.blogspot.com/2010/01/for-feast-of-baptism-of-lord.htmlhttp://phatcatholic.blogspot.com/2010/01/for-feast-of-baptism-of-lord.html

7/28/2019 why was jesus baptized

2/2

By descending into the waters of the Jordan, Jesus takes the place of all sinners, who were being

called by John to do what Jesus was doing. He does the same thing on the Cross, where Hepays the price for all mans sin.

His going under the water is symbolic of burial and the destruction of sin that will take place onthe cross. We see this purpose for water in the flood of Noahs day, which buried and destroyed

all the sin in the world.

His rising out of the water is symbolic of His resurrection. The dove that rests above Him andthe voice that cries out from the heavens point to the glory that will be His once His work isfinished.

ST.THOMAS AQUINAS GIVES US YET A THIRD REASON.

He says that the baptism of the Lord points to our Christian sacrament of baptism. The baptismof St. John the Baptist was merely symbolic. It was a way to publicly profess ones commitmentto conversion and repentance.

It did not actually forgive sin or make one a member of the family of God like our sacrament ofbaptism does. But, when Jesus received the baptism of John, He consecrated it so to speak,

just as His presence at the wedding feast of Cana is seen as Gods blessing over matrimony.

In other words, when the baptism of John is imbued with the presence of Christ, it becomeswhat we celebrate today, and in the baptism of Jesus, we see glimpses of our sacrament. Thewater signifies the cleansing that takes place. The descent of the dove signifies the reception ofgrace and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The divine voice -- which cries out, This is my belovedson, in whom I am well pleased-- signifies our adoption as beloved sons (or daughters) ofGod.