Why Was Jesus Baptized?

The Importance of Baptism

Baptism is an important and central aspect of the Gospel message. It is the process by which one is joined with the blood of Christ; the process by which one conforms to His death, burial, and resurrection; and the process by which one is joined to the body of Christ. However, when one studies the subject of baptism in detail, one discovers that Jesus Christ Himself was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River (Mat. 3:15, NASU). For what purpose did this baptism take place? In order to understand this question it is important to first look at the differences between Christian baptism and the baptism of John.

Ignorance is Not Bliss

A Common Expression

The phrase “ignorance is bliss” is commonly used to refer to the situations in life where some things are better left not known. For instance, knowing the process by which food is processed and handled at a fast food restaurant might leave one with little appetite. Witnessing a surgical operation is not as important as knowing a surgeon that can perform one.