Obedient in Baptism
Did Jesus need to be baptized?
Verse of the Day
‘But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.’
Today’s Devotional
The practice of baptism was not mentioned in the Old Testament. This was a new practice, which we first see being used by John the Baptist (hence his name). So what is baptism? According to gotquestions.org, baptism is “a physical depiction of a new believer’s old life being buried with the Lord and then raised to walk in newness of life. Jesus died, was buried, and resurrected, and the Christian identifies with Jesus by being fully immersed into the water (symbolizing death) and then being lifted out of the water to live a new life now and, one day, to live in a glorified new body in the eternal state.”
John the Baptist was trying to get people’s attention. He knew something big was about to happen. He told people to “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Matthew 3:2) He also said, “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Matthew 3:11)
When Jesus came to John to be baptized, John tried to talk Him out of it. But Jesus says, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.”
What is Jesus teaching us here? If baptism is a physical depiction of a spiritual decision, then perhaps Jesus is teaching us that we must make a decision about God and our relationship with Him. He might be teaching us that our decision to put our faith in God should be done publicly. He is teaching us that no act of obedience is “beneath” us.
After Jesus’s obedience to be baptized, we see the Father declaring His love for Jesus by opening the heavens, sending down the Spirit like a dove, and declaring, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” We are being taught that the Father delights in our obedience. Do we want to live the kind of life that brings joy to our heavenly Father?
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
What does Jesus’s decision to be baptized mean to you personally? What is Jesus teaching you?
If you have never been baptized, have you asked yourself why?
If you have been baptized, write a prayer to God thanking Him for your salvation and your relationship with Him.
How can you thank Jesus for His example to us?