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SubjectFree lesson

The baptism of Jesus Christ

ClassNotes Team 3 MIN READUPDATED 5 JUL 2026

Christian Religious Studies SSS 3 First Term

Week 1

Topic: The baptism of Jesus Christ

Performance objectives

The student should be able to:

1. Explain the meaning and purpose of baptism.

2. Purpose and synoptic account of the baptism of Jesus

Content

Meaning of baptism

Baptism is the practice of the Christian church; it is the dipping into the water completely (immersion) or more usually the pouring of water by the priest on the person who is receiving baptism.

This is a sign of washing away of sins and shows that the person has become a member of the church, which makes the transition into a new kingdom.

The baptism of Jesus Christ  https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcQ4pZBUiDvr9N9Y13AzrftjEuEEyHNmlRh5pw&usqp=CAU

                                                        A baby being baptized

Purpose of baptism

1. It is to prepare Jesus for his early ministry and also to mark the beginning of his public ministry on earthly.

2. Baptism identifies the believer with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection

3. Baptism is an act of obedience for the believer.

4. It is to show God’s visible sign and blessing on Jesus. 

The synoptic account of baptism of Jesus Christ.  (Mattew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22)

The accounts are similar but with a few variations. Matthew alone reported that John did not want to baptize Jesus, rather he preferred Jesus to baptize him. In his account after Christ had been baptized and he was praying, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in a bodily form like a dove. Apart from these few variations, the narrations of the synoptic gospels are virtually the same. For this topic, we would base our discussion on the account of Matthew.
According to Matthew, Jesus Christ came from Galilee to Jordan to be baptized by John. When John saw Jesus, he hesitated to baptize 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 befitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Based on this statement, John consented to baptize Jesus. After Jesus has been baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and a lighting on him. Immediately, a voice came from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased”.

The Significance of the Baptism of Jesus

1. The baptism by John the Baptist was for the forgiveness of sin. Christ was without sin, yet he went to John to be baptized to show the believers (that is the church) that baptism is necessary for the new life that we would live in Christ and that it is divinely necessary to fulfill all righteousness.

2. The baptism marked the call to his earthly ministry and it was equally a way of identifying with the sinners whom he came to redeem. It was also intended to show the public that John’s baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin was necessary for everybody who wished to live a new life in Christ. The essence of John’s activities was to prepare the way for Christ hence, John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus Christ.

3. Christ said in John 3:5 “unless a man is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God”. The reason is that it is the Holy Spirit that enables a man to do the will of God which qualifies him to enter the kingdom of God.