Divine Affirmation

“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.”” – Matthew 3:13-17 (ESV)

While the Son of God certainly didn’t require baptism for the forgiveness of sins He didn’t hold, He chose to humble Himself in the eyes of the Father, and by doing so identified Himself with the sins of humanity.  In that moment of divine humility and affirmation, He set the example for us all and began His mission and ministry of salvation.