{"id":514,"date":"2025-10-15T03:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reflectivebiblestudy.com\/gospeladventure\/?p=514&2025"},"modified":"2025-10-13T18:00:05","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T00:00:05","slug":"backwards-baptism-matthew-3-13-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reflectivebiblestudy.com\/gospeladventure\/backwards-baptism-matthew-3-13-17\/","title":{"rendered":"Backwards Baptism: Matthew 3:13-17"},"content":{"rendered":"
Focus Passage: Matthew 3:13-17 (NASB)<\/div>

13<\/sup>\u00a0Then Jesus *<\/span>This word is present tense in the Greek, but it has been translated as past tense to conform to modern usage.<\/span>arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming<\/em> to John, to be baptized by him. 14<\/sup>\u00a0But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” 15<\/sup>\u00a0But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it<\/em> at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”<\/span> Then he *<\/span>This word is present tense in the Greek, but it has been translated as past tense to conform to modern usage.<\/span>permitted Him. 16<\/sup>\u00a0After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and<\/em> lighting on Him, 17<\/sup>\u00a0and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is *<\/span>Or My Son, the Beloved<\/em><\/span>My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” <\/p>

Read Matthew 3:13-17<\/a> in context and\/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!<\/p><\/div><\/div>\r\n

When I read the details surrounding Jesus\u2019 baptism, one thing I am amazed by is the reaction John the Baptist gives Jesus when He comes to be baptized.<\/p>\r\n

It is one thing for a pastor or leader to push back on a baptism request because of something they see in the individual or in the request itself, but in John the Baptist\u2019s case, he is presented with a unique problem.<\/p>\r\n

If baptism is simply a public symbol of washing one\u2019s past sins away, then Jesus would have had no reason to go into the water. In this respect, John the Baptist is completely justified in his response, \u201cJohn tried to prevent Him, saying, \u2018I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?\u2019<\/strong>\u201d (v. 14)<\/p>\r\n

But when we look at Jesus\u2019 response, we see an interesting idea presented. Jesus answered John\u2019s pushback by saying, \u201cPermit\u00a0it<\/em>\u00a0at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.<\/strong>\u201d (v. 15) In Jesus\u2019 response, it is like He is saying, \u201cLet\u2019s do it this way so I can be an example for others to follow.\u201d <\/p>\r\n

John was justified in his pushback. Of everyone who has ever lived, Jesus was the One person who did not need baptism, but at the opening of His ministry, Jesus chooses to be baptized, and one of the reasons for this is because He came to be our example. Jesus became our ultimate example in baptism even though John was technically correct that Jesus should be baptizing him.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus<\/strong> \u201cReflective Bible Study\u201d package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here<\/a> and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!<\/em><\/p>

Subscribe<\/a> to this blog and never miss an insight.<\/em><\/p><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When I read the details surrounding Jesus\u2019 baptism, one thing I am amazed by is the reaction John the Baptist gives Jesus when He comes to be baptized. 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