The gospel message is found here even in Jesus Christ’s baptism.
[13] Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. [14] John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” [15] But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. [16] And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; [17] and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
(Matthew 3:13-17 ESV)
From the witness of God the Father, and the sign of God the Holy Spirit, we know that Jesus is God the Son. He has been revealed by the Father and anointed by the Spirit to do the task set before him. Now Christ is not silent in this baptism. He too is speaking prophecy to the world. For, in baptism, he is identifying himself with sinners. Though Christ was without sin, hence, the resistance of John the Baptist to baptize him; for his righteousness is well known by others (Lk 2:52). In this instance Christ becomes like the sinner, immersing himself in water signifying death, and then rising up triumphantly to the herald of the Father and the confirmation of the Spirit. What Christ is telling us in this story is his future work for all mankind. In which he will become sin. He will die on a rugged cross. And he will rise again by the power of the Holy Spirit to ascend into heaven to the right hand of the Father. The gospel message is found here even in Jesus Christ’s baptism.
