The Baptism of Jesus Christ

Why was John hesitant to baptize Jesus Christ?

In Matt 3:13-17 You read about the account where Jesus Christ is baptized.
He goes to John who wants to turn him down saying " I have need to be baptized of thee".
What John was essentially saying is that he knew that Jesus Christ was perfect. He was clean.  John could not understand why someone who has never sinned would ever have a need to be baptized when baptism is to wash away sin.  John's statement admitted how imperfect he is and his desire to become like Christ.

I love that Jesus used this opportunity to teach.  To explain how important baptism really is.
In verse 15 Jesus responds to John by saying: "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." That is a powerful statement."...To fulfill all righteousness".  
Think about this;  "If Jesus Christ, being perfect had need to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness, how much more need we being imperfect to be baptized?"  
So what did John do? He suffered him (or in other words, he baptized Jesus Christ).

Verses 16 and 17 finish off the chapter by stating that:

16 And Jesus, when he was ^abaptized, went up ^bstraightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the ^cSpirit of God descending like a ^ddove, and lighting upon him:

 17 And lo a ^avoice from heaven, saying, This is my ^bbeloved ^cSon, in whom I am well pleased.

What is taught here about the Holy Ghost?
 "‘The sign of the dove was instituted before the creation of the world, a witness for the Holy Ghost, and the devil cannot come in the sign of a dove."   Now when you read of the dove you know that it is an emblem representing the Holy Ghost.

Continued revelation explains to us that "The Holy Ghost is a personage, and is in the form of a personage. It does not confine itself to the form of the dove, but in sign of the dove. The Holy Ghost cannot be transformed into a dove; but the sign of a dove was given to John to signify the truth of the deed, as the dove is an emblem or token of truth and innocence.” It thus appears that John witnessed the sign of the dove, that he saw the Holy Ghost descend in the ‘bodily shape’ of the personage that he is, and that the descent was ‘like a dove.’” (McConkie, DNTC, 1:123–24.)

Three reasons why Jesus Christ said that he must be baptized to "fulfill all righteousness"
 (2 Nephi 31: 6-11) :


#1 Humility:  "...notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be ^aobedient unto him in keeping his commandments."

#2 Demonstrate And Set The Example:  "And he said unto the children of men: ^aFollow thou me." 
#3 To Establish the Importance:  of being baptized  of water and receiving the Holy Ghost. 
" Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the ^aform of a dove.



This section of scripture also teaches about the relationship of God, Jesus Christ and The Holy Ghost.
The following are a few of the many evidences.

Evidence that The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost are three separate and distinct beings:

#1  The way that Christ refers to God as Father.


"But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be ^aobedient unto him in keeping his commandments."

#2  The Holy Ghost descended upon Christ

#3  The way that God refers o his son.

 "And lo a ^avoice from heaven, saying, This is my ^bbeloved ^cSon, in whom I am well pleased."


We are so blessed to have God who is our eternal heavenly father, his son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost who love us and desire our success in this life.  Our progression is their goal.  This is beautiful.