Baptism

"Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15)

This is the first verse uttered by Jesus, the Bible records. He spoke to John the Baptist when he objects Jesus against taking baptism from him. But we can see that Christ here wantedly insists John to allow him to baptize so as "to fulfill all righteousness". If we see who this John is, we can understand that (1) he was filled with the Holy Spirit right from the womb (Luke 1:15); (2) Jesus certifies that John is greater than anyone that are born of woman (Matthew 11:11); and (3) He also certifies that John is His messenger who was sent to prepare His way (Matthew 11:10). Now, can we say that whether John the Baptist is greater than Jesus or, in other words, is it necessary for Jesus to take baptism from John (see Matthew 3:14 – John himself says this). We can, here, conclude that Jesus persuaded John to allow him to baptize just to fulfill all righteousness.

Then what righteousness needs to be fulfilled here, as mentioned by Jesus?

We may wonder how taking baptism with water, though is not under any of the laws or statutes given by God to His people, will help fulfill all righteousness. The answer is simple. To understand this, we should first know why John was giving baptism to people in River Jordan. In the gospel of John, chapter 1, he clearly says that the mission for which God has sent John as a forerunner, or a messenger, to Chirst is to prepare the way. John still continues to testify for what he has been sent as "... He who sent me to baptize with water..." So we can be assured that baptizing with water is a precept of God given as a mission to John. That is why Jesus, in order to fulfill "all" righteousness (not only the God-given laws or statues to His people, but also the wider range of righteousness), persuaded John to allow Him to be baptized.

Dear beloved of God, one of the many questions we think is that "Is it that necessary to be baptized with water?" I say that it is mandatory for us to be baptized as how Jesus underwent so as to fulfill the precept of God. One more very important eason is that Jesus himself says that "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdome of God." So if you have not yet been baptized "with water", please visit a near-by church and ask the pastor to let you know about salvation and to give you immersion baptism – "... buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life" (Romans 6:4). And to conclude it is a commandment given by our dear Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:19 as "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit".