Matthew 3:14-15 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

This is of course a very famous scene, and it’s significant for a number of reasons. First of all, it marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. It’s important to specify public, because every moment of Jesus’ life was ministry, as it should be for every believer. Catholic mythology notwithstanding, there is no reason to think Jesus worked miracles as a child, and real reason not to, (John 2:11) but that doesn’t mean He didn’t minister to His family and friends. However, the time was ripe for Him to be clear about who He was to the general public, and this was the first step. John already knew Jesus, since they were relatives, and he had every reason to demur at Jesus’ request, because his was a baptism of repentance, and he knew Jesus had nothing of which He needed to repent. That’s where the second point of major significance comes out. Jesus’ response was that they needed to “fulfill all righteousness,” that is, do everything that was right. That should be sufficient reason in itself for every believer in Jesus to be baptized! Jesus wasn’t going to skip any steps, because He knew how important it would be for those who believed in Him to make a public commitment through baptism. We don’t know how much John grasped at this time, but it is interesting that the mention of fulfilling righteousness was sufficient to get him to agree to baptize Jesus. I personally think that it was precisely because Jesus exercised the humility of going through baptism that the Father was so pleased with Him. Obedience, doing what is right, is always the best course, even when we don’t see why it’s necessary.

I was baptized at age 7 by a very clear choice of my own which I remember very well, even though my memory of the baptism itself is very hazy. My spiritual growth from that point was spotty at best, to the point that when I had a rather dramatic encounter with the Lord at age 24, when I was already married and a father, in my repentance for my pride and presumption I requested, and received, baptism a second time. From my current perspective I’m not at all certain it was necessary, but it was a lesson in humility, and that was very good. As a pastor I have baptized quite a few people. For some it has been as life-changing as hoped, and it would seem that some just got wet. I am to be as careful as I can be to confirm repentance and faith before baptism, but I don’t see inside people’s hearts the way God does. I am to do all I can to nurture and teach those baptized so that they may grow spiritually better than I did after my first baptism, but ultimately it must be a work of the Holy Spirit, with me as His tool. I am to apply myself faithfully, but know that the wisdom and power are His.

Father, thank You for the picture and act of baptism, and for the privilege of baptizing people into Your family. I pray that everyone who is baptized in this church would be born again indeed, to grow strong as Your child, Your representative, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!