Jesus’ baptism shows his sinlessness. Others confess their sins at the baptism, but Jesus rises from the water with God’s heavenly approval, showing Jesus’ access to heaven, even before he is taken up into heaven. While still on earth, he receives the Spirit to enable him to suffer as a peaceful sacrificial dove.
All three persons of the Godhead are involved in Jesus’ baptism. The Spirit anointed him and the Father proclaimed that he is his Son. Two distinct but related aspects come to the fore in Matthew 3:13–17:
First, Jesus explains the meaning of this baptism. While John’s baptism is one of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, yet Jesus himself, though without sin, has entered into the human race, has taken upon himself the sins of his people, and as such carries the sins of others (Isaiah 53:11). As man he thus must receive John’s baptism, just as he is circumcised, eats the Passover, and dies—all for man’s sins—but this baptism also seals Christ’s entry into the kingdom. As an Israelite, Jesus too must enter the kingdom through baptism, which is thus also an act of confession.
As well, the baptism is joined by the anointing of the Spirit, at Jesus’ entry into public life, at his appearance as Mediator. While anointed from eternity (Psalm 2:6; Proverbs 8:23; Isaiah 61:1), he now receives the official public bestowal of the grace of the Spirit in time (John 3:34). His anointing is also the answer to the baptism, as the Father, by sending the Spirit, seals Jesus’ public acceptance of the mediatorship, and also gives his support—support that he would only lack while on the cross, though even then the anointing itself was still with him.
The entire episode of Jesus’ baptism highlights the fact that he was not a sinner. While others confessed their sins at the baptism, Jesus immediately went up from the water with the visible approval of heaven itself, which opened for him. This highlights the fact that Jesus has free access to heaven, even if he is here not yet taken up into heaven. Instead, he is left on earth, and the Spirit descends upon him to give him strength to suffer as a peaceful sacrificial dove1.
The Godhead in all three persons was involved during the baptism of Jesus. The Holy Spirit anointed him and the Father audibly proclaimed that he is his Son2.Two distinct aspects come to the fore in Matthew 3:13–17, where this episode is recorded, even if they are closely interconnected:
First, Matthew relates Jesus’ baptism. The meaning of this baptism becomes clear when we note, on the one hand, that John’s baptism was one of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, and, on the other hand, that Jesus himself, in Matthew 3:15 explains why he had to be baptized. Jesus himself is without sin, but he has entered into the human race, has voluntarily taken upon himself the sins of his people, and as such stands burdened with the sins of others (Isaiah 53:11).
In becoming man he too therefore had to be baptized with John’s baptism, just as he was circumcised, ate the Passover, and died—all for the sins of man. John’s baptism, however, also sealed Christ’s entry into the kingdom of heaven and the accompanying changes. As an Israelite, Jesus too had to enter the kingdom through baptism. His baptism was also an act of confession.
In the second place, the baptism is accompanied by the anointment of the Holy Spirit. This takes place at Jesus’ entrance into public life, at his appearance as Mediator. He is anointed from eternity, (Psalm 2:6; Proverbs 8:23; Isaiah 61:1), but Matthew here describes for us the official bestowal of the grace of the Spirit in time (John 3:34), and that in such a way that this anointing is made known. Though it stands alongside the baptism, it nevertheless serves as the answer to the baptism, as the Father, by sending the Spirit, also places his seal upon the public acceptance of the mediatorship. This was also the means of the Father’s support, which remained with Jesus—a support that he would only lack while on the cross, although even then the anointing itself remained with him3.
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.