Biblical Accounts of Jesus Christ’s Baptism
The water baptism of Jesus Christ is recorded in Matthew 3:13–17, Mark 1:9–11, Luke 3:21–22, and John 1:32–34. Many people point to Jesus’ baptism as the primary reason they choose to be water baptized themselves.
This raises an important question: Does Scripture command believers to follow Jesus Christ’s example by submitting to water baptism? To answer that, we must carefully consider what the Bible says concerning the baptism of Jesus Christ.
The Baptism of Jesus Christ
The Gospel accounts highlight several important truths connected with Jesus Christ’s baptism. Together, these passages show that His baptism was not merely a public ceremony, but a significant moment in which His identity and mission were openly confirmed.
Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Mark 1:9-11
9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Luke 3:21-22
21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
John 1:32-34
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
Christ Was Baptized to Fulfill All Righteousness
Jesus Christ’s water baptism was a specific requirement under the Mosaic Law for the consecration of priests. Just as the Law required priests to be washed with water at age 30 before beginning their service (Exodus 29:4; Numbers 4:3), Jesus underwent this ceremonial washing to identify Himself as the Great High Priest to the “kingdom of priests” (Israel). This act fulfilled the legal righteousness required for His ministry to Israel.
From High Priest for Israel to High Priest for All
Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was the fulfillment of the entire sacrificial system for Israel. As the sinless Lamb of God, He made the ultimate atonement. In the book of Hebrews, we learn that Christ’s priesthood is after the order of Melchizedek (meaning “King of Righteousness”). This priesthood existed before the Law (Genesis 14:18) and was not limited to one nation, therefore its benefits extend to all people who believe in Him, both Jew and Gentile.
Hebrews 6:20 “Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”
Our Apostle Paul tells us that Jesus Christ is the one mediator between God and all mankind.
1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
A Timeline of Baptism
Baptism Under the Law
When water baptism was practiced by John the Baptist and the Twelve, it was to manifest Christ to Israel (John 1:31).
John 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
When Jesus Christ was water baptized, it was to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:15).
Matthew 3:15 “And Jesus answering said unto him, suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.”
On Pentecost, Jesus Christ baptized the Eleven with the Holy Spirit, which fulfilled the promise that Jesus Christ made to the Eleven (Acts 1:4-5).
Acts 1:4-5
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
On Pentecost, those of Israel who believed in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Messiah, repented of their sin of crucifying Jesus Christ, obeyed the command to be water baptized, and were then baptized by Jesus Christ with the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:36-38).
Acts 2:36-38
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Baptism Under Grace
We who are under grace and obtain our salvation by our belief of the gospel of the grace of God (I Corinthians 15:1-4), are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ, when we put our faith and trust in the finished cross work of Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 12:13).
I Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Romans 6:3-5 explains what it means to be spiritually baptized into Jesus Christ. It describes the spiritual reality that occurs the moment a person trusts in Christ: the Holy Spirit unites (or “immerses”) the believer into Christ Himself—specifically into His death, burial, and resurrection.
Romans 6:3-5
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.
Galatians 3:27 states that those “baptized into Christ have put on Christ,” indicating a total identification with Him.
Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Ephesians 4:4-6 explains the spiritual unity of the body of Christ (the church in this present dispensation of grace) and identifies the one baptism as the Holy Spirit’s work of placing every believer into that body at the moment of salvation through their faith in the finished cross work of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 4:4-6
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Jesus Christ – Jesus Christ was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. Christ’s baptism also marked the official start of His public ministry. Immediately after His baptism, the heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended on Christ like a dove, and the Father’s voice declared, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16–17; Mark 1:10–11; Luke 3:22). This was the public revelation and anointing of Israel’s Messiah (echoing Isaiah 11:2; 42:1; Psalm 2:7).
Israel – On Pentecost, Peter preached to the house of Israel: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). The 3,000 who “gladly received his word were baptized” and were “added” to the Jerusalem church that day. It was the same message as John the Baptist’s (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3; Matthew 3:11). It was required as part of genuine repentance for Israel’s national sin of rejecting and crucifying their Messiah.
Body of Christ – Our spiritual baptism under the gospel of the grace of God is totally different from the baptism of Jesus Christ, and those 3,000 who were baptized on Pentecost.
In this age of grace, God does not impute our sins (II Corinthians 5:19), we are saved and spiritually baptized into the body of Christ at the exact same moment that we by trusting faith believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures (I Corinthians 15:1-4).