By Rev. Fr. Petros Mwale (Mzuzu Diocese – MALAWI)
INTRODUCTION
“Fr. Petros, the Church teaches that baptism removes Original Sin, actual sin and incorporates one into the Mystical Body of Christ – the Church. Why did Jesus need to be baptized? We are told he was sinless, please help” – Immaculate (Chipata Diocese, ZAMBIA)
RESPONSE
Dear Immaculate, Jesus did not need to be baptized. The baptism by John the Baptist was a baptism of repentance, and the sacrament of baptism removes original sin. Since Jesus had neither original sin nor actual sin, he did not need to undergo baptism. However, Jesus also had no need to be born, to suffer, or to die as a man. He did so out of love for humanity.
John the Baptist appears to recognize the strangeness of Jesus asking to be baptized (Matt. 3:14) yet obeys Jesus’ request.
THE MEANING OF HIS BAPTISM
- The baptism of Jesus began his public ministry and gave the first example that we are to follow. For if Jesus, who had no need of repentance or cleansing, humbled himself, then we all the more need to humble ourselves.
- Fathers of the Church commented that in the baptism of Jesus the sacrament of baptism was born. It was a symbolic action that, though the grace of Christ, was changed into an ontological action. When we receive a sacrament, the grace flows to us from the sacrament, but in the baptism of Jesus the grace of Christ flowed into the sacrament.
JORDAN RIVER: VERY SYMBOLIC
In salvation history, the Jordan River was very important. It was through the Jordan River that Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land. Jesus chose this spot to be baptized so that through his immersion and emergence from the Jordan River all humanity could be led to heaven.
CONCLUSION
The reason Jesus chose to be baptized in the Jordan by John was not for him but for us. The Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord is a great reminder of this.
Receive my Priestly Blessings from St. Cecilia Catholic Parish (Mzuzu Diocese – Mpherembe)
Rev. Fr. Petros Mwale – Feedback: +265884150185 (WhatsApp only)
SOURCES
Craig A. Evans, Studying the Historical Jesus: Evaluations of the State of Current Research by Bruce Chilton, Amsterdam University Press, 1998.
Catholic Doctrines 