Why Would Jesus be Baptized if He was Without Sin?

The many amazing manifestations of God that we celebrate during this short Christmas season culminates this weekend with the great Solemn Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. It is not the end for us but a beginning; just as was our own baptism. New beginnings happen because God chooses them, not us, so it is imperative that we are looking out for what God is doing by the working of the Holy Spirit. The following excerpt might help answer the question of why Jesus was baptized:

Many theologians have struggled to make sense of Jesus’ baptism by John in the Jordan. The general question they debate is this: If Jesus is the Son of God, was it necessary that he be baptized? In some ways, John's own words in the first two verses of this Gospel reading would suggest that the answer to this question is no, as he is quite clear that the power and the authority of the one who is to come after him are far greater than his own. However, it is necessary to acknowledge the nature of the baptism performed by John. He ought to prepare hearts for the coming of God’s kingdom; thus, his baptism was a visible means of sealing conversion. While Jesus may not have needed any sort of conversion, his willingness to be baptized represents his total allegiance to the kingdom. In the water, Jesus himself becomes the very sign of the dawning of the kingdom. What John has been pointing to has now been fully revealed in Jesus.

For this reason, the Holy Spirit plays a particularly important role at the baptism of the Lord. First of all, John states in verse 8 that “he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” This suggestion of the Spirit as the gift of baptism must be connected to what Jesus experiences in the Jordan. As he emerges from the water, he sees the Spirit descend upon him and he hears an heavenly voice declare: “You are my Son, my beloved; with you I am well pleased.” The seeing of the Spirit and the hearing of the voice ratify this relationship. It is not the sealing of conversion, but the acknowledgment of love. This moment in Jesus’ life reassures him that everything he does from this point forward in making God’s kingdom a reality, he does not do alone. This is what makes John’s prophetic words about Jesus baptizing with the Spirit so true; the mission of Jesus is not simply to convert hearts but to establish a relationship in which his followers believe themselves to be beloved by God.