In case you missed it, on January 13, Christians celebrated the Baptism of the Lord Jesus.

So what’s the big deal? The baptism of Jesus Christ has long been discussed and debated among Christians of all denominations and sects. But before we jump into that discussion, it would probably be best if you understood a little of who Jesus was (or is, depending on who you talk to).

Jesus who?
Christianity is the largest religion in the world, so it follows that many people have at least heard of Christianity and, consequently, Christ. Jesus of Nazareth was born a Jew in a town called Bethlehem. According to The Bible (Christians’ main sacred text), he was born to a virgin named Mary. Various accounts in the Gospels (the four main books in The Bible that discuss Jesus’ life) state that Jesus was the son of God and proclaimed himself to be so as he began his ministry in his 30s. “Christ” was not his last name. “Christ” translates to “Messiah” or “Annointed One.” Christians believe him to be the long-awaited Messiah, come to deliver the Jews and all others and to save them from their sins. Such a messiah was foretold in the Old Testament (the texts of The Bible dating before Christ’s birth). In the end, at the age of 33, Jesus was crucified by the Roman government for claiming he was God (i.e., blaspheming). According to The Bible, he resurrected after being dead for three days and returned to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father.

What is baptism?
Baptism is a Christian ritual in which followers are either immersed in or sprinkled with water. It is done for a variety of reasons (again, depending on who you talk to). Some Christians believe it washes away your sins, some believe it washes away the human desire to sin, and still others believe it is just a way to publicly proclaim what you believe as a Christian.

What was Jesus’ baptism like?
Jesus was baptized by a man named John the Baptist. John had preached about judgment and sins and one who would come who was far greater than he and could save mankind. Jesus came to see John to be baptized in the Jordan River. It wasn’t the first baptism of all time – but it’s viewed as incredibly important in the Christian religion. Because of Jesus’ baptism, many Christians feel they too need to be baptized to enter Heaven and/or to be forgiven of their sins and/or to proclaim their faith.

The Big Deal Part I: Why did Jesus need to be baptized at all?
Baptism is often seen as a way to symbolically wash away one’s sins or to repent of one’s sins. Jesus is said to have never sinned. So why would he need to subject himself to a ritual to wash away sins he never committed?

One answer comes from the gospel of Matthew, in which it is said that Jesus needed to be baptized to “fulfill all righteousness.” This implies that there was a prophecy in the Old Testament that the coming Messiah would fulfill the Jewish law. And Jewish law required someone to be baptized. Others answer that Christ needed to show that he was both fully God and fully human, and thus needed to follow human laws. Still others suggest he took on the souls of the world at his baptism, showing them that he would save them all from their own sins (eventually through his death).

The Big Deal Part II: Was he the Christ before or after his baptism?
Some Christians believe Jesus was born the Messiah. In this way, he could begin his ministry at any time and could save the world at any time. But it is also said that the Holy Spirit descended into/upon Jesus at the actual moment of baptism so that Jesus could go out and begin his public ministry.

This debate has been going on for years – all the way back to the time of the early Christians. The big deal is, if Jesus was not Christ (and thus not truly God’s son and the world’s savior) until his baptism, was he born perfect? Was he God’s son at birth? Did he ever sin before his baptism? It’s controversial, for sure. Either way you look at it, it’s still a defining moment for Christians and set the stage for a ritual that continues to this day.

To learn more about Jesus or Christianity, click here.

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