Why did Jesus get baptized? Was it a fulfillment of prophecy?

[yak]

My bible study could not come to a conclusion about this. We are more interested in if it was a fufillment of prophecy or not! I have been unable to find any such reference on the internet and was wondering if anyone here knows.



Thank for your help.

 

[Dad Ernie]

My bible study could not come to a conclusion about this. We are more interested in if it was a fufillment of prophecy or not! I have been unable to find any such reference on the internet and was wondering if anyone here knows.

I typed in "why Jesus baptized" on Google.com and came up with many references, the first was at:
http://www.carm.org/questions/Jesus_baptized.htm

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

 

[thereselittleflower]

Here is a view point on this:

http://www.nccatholic.org/faith_alive/2003/faith_alive_10/BIBLE.HTM


Peace in Him!

 

[duster1az]

My bible study could not come to a conclusion about this. We are more interested in if it was a fufillment of prophecy or not! I have been unable to find any such reference on the internet and was wondering if anyone here knows.



Thank for your help.

Christ said, "...for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matt. 3:15).

Since Christ's earth-life was lived under the law that Jehovah established, it's my belief that His baptism was in relation to His office as Priest. According to Mosaic Law a male child was not eligible to enter the priesthood until age thirty (Num. 4:3). It's significant that when Jesus came to be baptized Scripture declares, "And when He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age...(Luke 3:23). Surely this detail is not added without reason. In keeping with Mosaic Law every priest must be ordained and Christ, being a Priest (Heb. chpts. 5-10), was no exception. His compliance constituted the fulfilling of all righteousness.

In Christ,
Tracey

 

[lands21]

I have also heard the theroy that Jesus did not know fully who he was until this time. This was when the Holy Spirit came on to Him. They would also say that only Jesus heard the voice and saw the dove.

Not sure I agree with the first part, but interesting none the less.

 

[Oblio]

Christ was Baptised to reveal for the first time to His fallen creatures the Mystery of the Holy Trinity. He was Baptised not that the Holy Spirit may be imparted upon Him, for He was God in His Mothers womb, but rather to Sanctify the waters that we may all be Sanctified in the Mystery of Holy Baptism.

 

[Oblio]

Two of the hymns the ancient Church sings on the Feast of Theophany (Baptism of Christ)

Troparion in tone 1

When You, O Lord were baptized in the Jordan
The worship of the Trinity was made manifest
For the voice of the Father bore witness to You
And called You His beloved Son.
And the Spirit, in the form of a dove,
Confirmed the truthfulness of His word.
O Christ, our God, You have revealed Yourself
And have enlightened the world, glory to You!

Kontakion in tone 4

Today You have shown forth to the world, O Lord,
and the light of Your countenance has been marked on us.
Knowing You, we sing Your praises.
You have come and revealed Your-self,
O unapproachable Light.

 

[Oblio]

As usual, the Holy Fathers of the Church speak to these issues more accurately and eloquently than we can:


Discourse On the Day of the Baptism of Christ - St John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople (4th c)

 

[pmarquette]

to fulfil the prophecy .... elijiah will return first to prepare the way
John wore the mantle of elijiah , which was imparted to Jesus
by the Holy Spirit during the baptism of John

Mat 17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
Mar 9:12 And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

Mar 9:13 But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

 

[reformedfan]

This is straight out of Jay Adams, "The meaning & Modes of Baptism" pamphlet, I think it makes Biblical sense.
Why was Jesus baptized? In order to keep the law. People in the OT were baptized, so Jesus had to be too. John the Baptist didn't invent baptism. Look at the Pharisees encounter with John the B. in John 1:25. They say, "then why do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" If baptism were some new invention, they wouldn't question his authority, but his practice.
Later on, Christ asks the Pharisees by what authority John baptized, and they said nothing. They didn't argue over if such a thing was allowed or not, they just discussed if he had the authority to do it, not if such a thing existed.
And what duster 1az said is right, too.,

 

[Heartman]

God came to earth as a man. Jesus was both 100% God and 100% man. As a man He followed the law, and for some reason for Him to be Baptised was so all things would be properly done for the rituals of the time, or as a symbol of both John the Baptist's theological message at the time, and its fulfillment by Jesus. There are a few things we do not understand about the various relationships of the various movements and counter movements within Judiasm in that period. This may be significant to the reason.