Fulfilling All Righteousness

Matthew 3:13–17 ESV

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

John’s ministry of preaching and baptizing: “Repent!”

John knows the reign of heaven is near: God is at work!

He speaks as a prophet with authority

He is preparing the way of the coming reign

John preaches a message calling unfaithful Israel to turn back to their God

He points them to the hope of salvation

They confessed their sins from which the coming Messiah would save them

John also knows that the Messiah, who is much greater than he, is coming

He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire

John is not worthy to untie his sandals

So, John was preaching and baptizing for repentance and confession of sins, in anticipation of the coming Messiah

Jesus: the reign of God has come

Jesus comes to the one who has been anticipating and proclaiming his coming

He legitimates John’s message

He shows that the reign of God has broken into the world

Jesus comes to be baptized by John

This will be how he fulfills God’s promise of salvation

In his baptism, sinless Jesus stands in place of sinful humanity

John’s response: I need to be baptized by you!

Jesus comes not with fire or power, but in submission to John’s baptism

John, who has proclaimed that he is unworthy of this Savior, consents to this baptism

So, Jesus comes in humble submission and obedience to his Father’s plan of salvation, standing in the Jordan in place of sinful human beings. He will save the people from all the sins that they have been confessing by taking them upon himself, being crucified in our place, and being raised so that we may have new life. In his ministry, Jesus fulfills all righteousness, God’s promised salvation.