This coming Sunday in the Baptism of the Lord. It is interesting to note that Luke relates no encounter between Jesus and John. In fact, before we are told about Jesus’ baptism, we are informed that John has been put in prison (3:20)! A traditional way of understanding this order of events is that Luke (the rhetorical historian) divides history into three separate and distinct eras. The first is the time of the prophets, which includes John the Baptist. That era ends with the imprisonment of John. John will no longer be in the picture. After that, the time of Jesus begins with a statement in our text about: (1) the opening of heaven, (2) the coming down of the Holy Spirit in a visible form (dove); and (3) heavenly speech. This era of Jesus ends with his ascension — related only in Luke & Acts. Jesus will no longer be in the picture. After that, the time of the Holy Spirit (or the Church) begins with a statement in Acts 2:1-4 about (1) something coming “from heaven,” (2) the coming down of the Holy Spirit in a visible form (tongues of fire), and (3) heavenly speech.

For Luke, the movement from an old era into a new one required a break from the old – John is put in prison – Jesus ascends into heaven. Yet, at the same time, there are common elements in all three periods, such as the fulfillment of promises/prophecies and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The fact that we are living in the third era sometimes needs to be emphasized. There are those whose faith is so centered on the historical Jesus, that they can’t live their lives in the new period under the power of the Holy Spirit. If all we do is talk about the historical Jesus, e.g., arguing about the virgin birth, the miracles, the physical resurrection – we may be making faith nothing more than believing historical events really happened, i.e., a history lesson. While such teachings are certainly part of our Christian confession of faith, it is clear that for the early believers described in the Book of Acts, faith was relying on the power of the Holy Spirit for life today. They recognized that Jesus had left this earth. In order for the ministry of Jesus to continue, it would have to be done by all the believers who had been filled with the power of the Holy Spirit – not by Jesus nor by particular Spirit-filled people, i.e., the prophets – but all believers.

Why was Jesus baptized by John?

This is a question that has been the subject of much theological reflection. In Luke’s Gospel (Luke 3:21-22) and the other Synoptic Gospels, Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist is presented as a pivotal moment at the start of His public ministry. There are several key reasons often proposed for why Jesus underwent John’s baptism, despite His sinlessness and lack of need for repentance:

Identification with Humanity: Jesus’ baptism demonstrates His solidarity with humanity. By undergoing baptism, He identifies with the sinful people He came to save. This act foreshadows His ultimate identification with humanity’s sin on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Validation of John’s Ministry: by being baptized by John, Jesus affirms and validates John’s role as the forerunner of the Messiah. John’s ministry was to prepare the way for Jesus, and Jesus’ baptism publicly acknowledges this.

Fulfillment of Righteousness: In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells John that His baptism is necessary “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). This suggests that Jesus is committed to fulfilling God’s will in every respect, including participating in the rites that symbolize repentance and dedication to God.

Revealing His Identity: The baptism is a moment of divine revelation. After Jesus is baptized, the Holy Spirit descends on Him in the form of a dove, and a voice from heaven declares, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22). This event publicly reveals Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God, marking the beginning of His ministry.

Foreshadowing His Death and Resurrection: Baptism, symbolizing death to sin and rising to new life, foreshadows Jesus’ own death and resurrection. By being baptized, Jesus symbolically enters into the human condition and anticipates His redemptive work.

Empowerment for Ministry: The descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus at His baptism signifies His anointing and empowerment for the mission ahead. This aligns with the prophecy of the Spirit-filled Messiah (Isaiah 61:1-2).

Jesus’ baptism wasn’t about repentance for His own sins but was an act of humility, solidarity, and obedience to the Father’s will. It inaugurated His public ministry and affirmed His identity and mission. Through this event, Jesus provides a model of submission to God’s plan, even when it may seem unnecessary from a human perspective.

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Image credit: Baptism of Christ |Pietro Perugino, 1482 | Sistine Chapel, Vatican City | PD-US