The Baptism of Jesus Christ inaugurates his public ministry as an adult. It is recorded in all three synoptic gospels.[1] Matthew's infancy narrative has established Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, Son of David and King of the Jews. Matthew's description of John the Baptist explains that John preached repentance before the coming judgment, baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and the imminent arrival of one far greater than himself. In doing so he was preparing the way of the "Lord" and eagerly anticipating the coming after him of the "mightier" one.[2]

As an adult, Jesus comes to the Jordan River to seek his own baptism from John the Baptist. Matthew's gospel uniquely includes a conversation between Jesus and John.John humbly objects to baptizing Jesus, insisting instead that Jesus baptize him. John's concern seemed to be twofold: (1) John baptized others for repentance and forgiveness of sins, something the sinless Jesus did not need; (2) John's ministry included the coming of one "mightier" than he who would bring a better baptism—not only with water but with the Holy Spirit and fire. Jesus persisted and John acceded to administer Jesus' baptism. In accepting John's baptism, Jesus is seen as identifying with and expressing his full solidarity with sinful humankind, though according to the New Testament he himself was sinless.[2] [3]

Jesus inaugurated his public ministry by stepping into the place of sinners with their guilt on his shoulders and carrying it down into the depths of the Jordan. His baptism by John marked his acceptance of death for the sins of humankind; his coming up out of the water depicted his resurrection.[4]

In what may be termed an adult epiphany, Jesus' baptism by John is concluded by images of the heavens opening with the dove-like descent of the Holy Spirit. A voice from Heaven speaks in the third person singular: "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."[Mt 3:17] [Mk 1:11] [Lk 3:21-22] The voice combines key phrases from the Old Testament: "My Son" (the Davidic king as God's adopted son in Psalms 2 and Psalms 10, "beloved" (Isaac in Genesis 22), and "with whom I am well pleased" (the servant of God in Isaiah 42:1).[2]

After his baptism by John, Jesus then goes into the wilderness where the devil tempts him, and when he returns he begins his public ministry. In the Gospel of John, John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God[Jn 1:29] and the Spirit in the form of a dove descends on Jesus,[5] but there is no mention of Jesus' baptism.

Most Christian groups view the baptism of Jesus as an important event and a basis for the Christian rite of baptism (see also Acts 19:1-7).

In Eastern Christianity, Jesus' baptism is commemorated on 6 January, the feast of Epiphany. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, and some other Western denominations, it is recalled on a day within the following week, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. In Roman Catholicism, the baptism of Jesus is one of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary. It is a Trinitarian feast in the Eastern Orthodox Churches.