We close out the week with a question from Bob, a podcast listener who writes and asks

a simple question, but a very good question as well.

Simply put, why did Jesus insist on being baptized by John the Baptist?

Pastor John, what would you say?

The fullest description of the baptism of Jesus is given in Matthew's gospel, chapter

3.

Let's let Matthew guide us in answering the question, why did Jesus insist on being

baptized by John?

There are at least two things that Matthew makes plain about John's baptism, which are

relevant for why Jesus would insist on submitting to this baptism.

First, Matthew says in verse 6.

Chapter 3, that people were coming to be baptized, confessing their sins.

And then he quotes John in verse 11, I baptize you with water for repentance.

So Matthew was making plain that the purpose of John's baptism was to provide an occasion

for Jewish people to confess their sins and repent and get right with God.

That's the first thing.

Second, John makes clear that his baptism of repentance is bringing into being a people

of God for the coming Messiah and that he's bringing this people into being with an identity

that is not identical with their Jewishness but with their repentance.

We see it in verse 9.

He says to the Pharisees who had come out to the river and do not presume to say to yourselves,

we have Abraham as our Father.

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