This Sunday, the Church celebrates the baptism of Jesus Christ.
It's an event that is recorded in all four gospels, so we know it's important.
But there's a question that has puzzled Christians all down through the ages.
It even puzzled John the Baptist, who performed the baptism.
Why was Jesus baptized?
The Problem
We all know what baptism does.
According to the Catechism:
The fruit of Baptism, or baptismal grace, is a rich reality that includes:
- forgiveness of original sin and all personal sins,
- birth into the new life by which man becomes an adoptive son of the Father, a member of Christ and a temple of the Holy Spirit.
By this very fact the person baptized is
- incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ, and
- made a sharer in the priesthood of Christ [CCC 1279].
So, as you can see, it's quite clear why Jesus would need to be baptized. He . . . hey, wait!
Jesus didn't need to achieve any of those things!
Why, then, was he baptized?
Why did he insist on it, even when John the Baptist resisted?
The Answer
Here's a short video to explain . . .
(Click here to watch the video on YouTube.)
What Now?
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In the meantime, what do you think?
Comments
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Hi, Jimmy—great observations. I’ve also noticed a very striking resemblance to several aspects of Jewish ceremonial/ritual observance, perhaps a parallel to or typological fulfillment of “yom kippur” here as well? God bless,Deacon JR
I also think Jesus insisted on being baptized so that no ‘Bible-believing’ Christian of the 21st century could teach that baptism isn’t necessary for salvation.
Oh, wait a minute ...
Good info, Jimmy. I’ve always stumbled with this question, especially when talking with JWs who claim Jesus’ baptism is proof He was not one-in-being with the Father. Also, your beard is much cooler on the video compared to your mug shot on the website. You’re all set for a Gettysburg re-enactment. (Being from Texas, I suspect you’ll be wearing gray.)
“Be of good cheer!” (John 16:33)
www.MerryCatholic.com
Merry writes, “Jesus’ baptism is proof He was not one-in-being with the Father.”
Not the baptism itself- Jesus comments on that at Mt 3:15- but just because of the description: Jesus down here in the water; Jehovah’s voice coming from heaven; holy spirit in form of a dove on sitting on Jesus. Three separate entities recorded. Jesus may have been “one-in-being with the Father” at some point in his life, but not here.
Your Church’s “Fathers and Doctors” have their own ideas of course, but I stay with the records of Matthew, Luke, the John in the leather girdle and such. 2 Tim 3:16,17
@Doug: You are quoting Merry inaccurately. On the contrary, Merry writes that it is [“JWs who claim Jesus’ baptism is proof He was not one-in-being with the Father.”] Frankly, that would be JW’s who are in denial of the gospel to wit:
.
“I and my Father are one” John 10:30.
Thank you for this post Jimmy. The great revelation at the Baptism of our Lord, of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Glorious Trinity, Marvelous Unity!
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