23.1 John the Baptist had an itinerant ministry. That means that he traveled from place to place. The Bible says that he went into all the region around the Jordan river. (Luke 3:3) Because of this we cannot say exactly where Jesus was baptized. However it does seem likely that he was baptized somewhere near the southern end of the Jordan, near the province of Judea. There are three reasons for believing this. The first is that just before Jesus was baptized, the Jews in Jerusalem had sent priests and Levites to John asking him if he were the Messiah. The Apostle John records that this was near a place called Bethabora. (John 1:28) Bethabora is located on the map just a few miles north of the Dead Sea. The second reason to believe that Jesus was baptized at or near Bethabora is that immediately afterward the Spirit of God led Him into the wilderness. This "wilderness" was probably on the Judean coast of the Dead Sea. Jesus could have been led into this wilderness immediately after he was baptized because it was so close by. See map. Thirdly, tradition says that Jesus was baptized close to Bethabora.
23.2 Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Matthew 3:4
23.3 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. Matthew 3:5-6
23.4 I don't believe John would have baptized anyone unless they confessed their sins. When the Pharisees came to be baptized he rejected them calling them a "brood of vipers" probably for this reason. "But when He saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" John knew their hearts were not right because they did not ask what they should do, as the soldiers and the publicans had.
23.5 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to stop him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me? Matthew 3:13-14
The gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus was about 30 years old at the time of his baptism. Luke 3:23 This is important information. The Jews had a custom that any male over 30 years of age could speak in their synagogues. Jesus had to wait until he was 30 before he could take advantage of this custom. On Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays the Synagogues were open. Luke tells us that Jesus "taught in their synagogues being glorified of all". Luke 4:15 This was a large part of Jesus' plan of evangelism.
23.5 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. Matthew 3:15
Why would Jesus, who was sinless, want to be baptized by John the Baptist, who was a sinner? John could not understand this and said that it should be the other way around. But Jesus insisted. Jesus was just beginning his ministry. It was to be the ministry of redeeming mankind from their sins. So Jesus identified with sinful man by being baptized by John. John's baptism was for sinners, and although Jesus did not need it, he chose it, in order to identify with us!
23.6 When he had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:16 see
When Jesus walked down into the water to be baptized by John, he was taking upon himself the work of redemption. When he walked up out of the water, the Spirit of God came down upon him like a dove, and a voice was heard from heaven, signifying that God the Father had accepted Jesus, (ordained him), and anointed him for this work. This was the beginning of Jesus' ministry. He would finish it on the cross. From beginning to end, Jesus identified himself with sinful man.
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Auxiliary 23: The Trinity