DAY 2 of #100daysofJesus - Jesus' Baptism

 

DAY 2 of #100daysofJesus

We often think of baptism as an ordinance performed for the remission of sins, which is true; however, Jesus lived a sinless life. So, why was he baptized?

Jesus told John he needed to be baptized "to fulfil all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15). Jesus would later teach Nicodemus that baptism was a requirement to "enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).

Nephi, a prophet in the Book of Mormon, prophesied and taught of Christ's baptism as well. He taught that Christ humbled himself out of obedience to God and to show us (yes, you and me) the "straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which [we] should enter, he having set the example" (2 Nephi 31:7-9).

Jesus' baptism is full of symbolism as well. For example, according to John 1:28, the baptism took place at Bethabara, which means "house of the crossing" and likely refers to the Israelite crossing over into the Promised Land, led by the prophet Joshua (Jesus is the Greek name for Joshua). Of this symbol, Russell M Nelson postulated:

"Could it be that Christ chose this location for His baptism in the River Jordan as a silent commemoration of the crossing of the faithful Israelites under Joshua’s direction so many years before (see Josh. 3), as well as a symbol that baptism is a spiritual crossing into the kingdom of God?"

Jesus clearly taught through both his words and also his example the criticality of baptism. As we follow his example, this becomes our first step towards the Promised Land each of us seeks!