The baptism of Jesus
Mat. 3: 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"
15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.
16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Many questions arise concerning baptism:
Why did John baptise?
Why did the Jewish leaders expect the prophesied prophet to baptise?
John 1: 24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, saying, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"
Is there an Old Covenant basis for New Covenant baptism?
Why did Jesus require baptism when John's baptism was unto repentance?
A useful starting point for a study of baptism is Hebrews 9:
9:10 only in victuals, and drinks, and different baptisms, and fleshly ordinances -- till the time of reformation imposed upon [them].(Young)
Hebrews proceeds to detail some of the different baptisms in the following verses: the red heifer ritual, (Num. 19), the Old Covenant blood (Ex. 24) & general tabernacle sprinklings.
These were called baptisms, because baptism means dipping, & those baptisms were carried out by dipping & sprinkling.
Thus were work of the messenger was to purify the sons of Levi (Mal. 3:3) and purification was by washing & anointing with oil. (cf Lev. 8) Under the Old Covenant rituals, this took place at age 30 (Num. 4) The prophet Ezekiel prophesied cleansing with water & a new spirit. (36:25ff)
As we take these Scriptures together we can see a pattern emerging:
Water replacing blood for cleansing;
The Holy Spirit replacing oil for anointing;
The spiritual realities replacing the Old Covenant types;
The Messiah fulfilling the Old Covenant & ushering in the New.
We also see in Zechariah 6:11ff a Priest-King prophesied, Joshua, the Branch. Hitherto, no king could be a priest. In the prophesied Joshua, Priest & King were combined in One, Judah & Levi came together. (cf Jer. 33:19ff, Rev. 5:5-6)
When Jesus was challenged concerning his authority to cleanse the temple, he appealed to his baptism by John. (Mat. 21:23ff, Luke 20:1ff.)
Thus the baptism of Jesus:
Was at the age of 30 as he began his High priestly ministry;
Was the required ceremonial washing by a priest;
Was owned by the Father by anointing him with the Holy Spirit rather than with oil;
Was uniting the offices of King & Priest as the son of David became in effect a son of Levi;
Gave him legal authority to do all he did in his earthly ministry.
Jesus' baptism, & the outpoured Holy Spirit on him did not change him, or increase his knowledge, it was the clear visible owning by the Father of his Son to undertake his saving ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit.
This baptism was the commencement of Jesus' public ministry. He had another public baptism to undergo, on the cross, (Luke 12:50) so that his own High Priestly blood could be shed for sin & to redeem sinners. The wrath of God against sin & sinners was poured out on him, and his sacrificial, cleansing blood is represented by the water of baptism immersing or poured out on the repentant sinner.