Week 21 Matthew 3
Jesus’ baptism was different from everyone else’s.
Jesus didn’t need to a) repent for his wrongs or b) confess his sin or c) change his behaviour. He told John his reason: it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.
I checked a few other versions. Most agree with the expression fulfill all righteousness. The phrase is a bit vague. Other versions use expressions like do everything righteousness requires or do all things that are right or do all things that are God’s will. But they don’t make things perfectly clear either.
And that first phrase – it is proper – is a bit hazy too:
It is fitting
It becomes us
It is right.
I know that on the one hand there are things that are mandatory – they’re crystal-clear. For instance in Alberta I’m currently not allowed to murder my neighbour. It’s non-negotiable – doesn’t say it’s not suitable or fitting or appropriate to kill. Language like that isn’t strong enough. Softer language is for softer mandates.
And that’s why the flexible & less-pressured language used by the Lord makes baptism sound more like a recommendation than a command. It’s as though Jesus’ baptism was a good thing…but not absolutely required. Even so Jesus said that by getting baptized he was (in some way) completing or topping-up righteousness. Baptism was a good thing to do. So he went ahead with it.
Note: quote from Matthew 3:15 (NIV & CJB DRA ICB NCV ESV KJV NET)