The Pursuit - 12 WeeksSample

If anyone didn’t “need” to be baptized, it was Jesus. He was sinless, the very Son of God. Yet in Matthew 3, we read that he went to John the Baptist to be baptized in the Jordan River. John was shocked: “I’m the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said (v. 14). But Jesus insisted, saying it was the right thing to do.

Why would Jesus be baptized? Not because he needed cleansing, but because he wanted to fully identify with the people he came to save. He was stepping into our story, showing humility and obedience to the Father’s plan. And when he came up from the water, heaven opened, the Spirit descended like a dove, and a voice declared, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy” (v. 17).

Think about that moment. Jesus’ baptism was the launching point of his public ministry. Before he healed the sick, fed the hungry, or preached to crowds, he first stepped into the water. In doing so, he modeled for us the importance of baptism. If the Son of God humbled himself to obey the Father in baptism, how much more should we?

When you’re baptized, you’re walking in Jesus’ footsteps. You’re declaring your obedience, your willingness to publicly identify with God’s family, and your desire to follow the path Jesus walked. You may not hear a voice from heaven, but you can be sure God delights in your obedience.

Reflection:

If Jesus — who never sinned — chose to be baptized, what does that say about how seriously we should take this step?