Matthew 3:13-17

v. 13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
v. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee,
  and comest thou to me?
v. 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now:
  for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
v. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water:
  and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him,
  and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
v. 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying,
  This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.


Was Jesus baptized because of any sin in His life?
  John's baptism had to do with confession and repentance of sin.
A second question: why did Jesus pray while on the earth, if He was God Himself?


John insisted that he himself was in need of repentance and baptism,
  knowing that he was mere flesh, while Jesus was evidently God come in the flesh
    John 1.14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us
    Matt 1:23 they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
  it was obvious to John that Jesus was divine
    the presence of God is discernable, and we are to walk softly in His presence

baptism speaks of death, burial and resurrection
  Romans 6:2-4 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ
    were baptized into his death?
  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:
    that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
    even so we also should walk in newness of life.

  Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:
    but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

  Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;
    fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence,
    and covetousness, which is idolatry:

  1Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us
    (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh,
    but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

baptism is a symbol and testimony only; baptism cannot save: it's a post-conversion event
  some churches teach baptismal regeneration, some tie it to church membership, etc.



look at the record in John's gospel (John 1:15-36[,37...])



* to fulfill all righteousness *

* priestly washing during consecration
  Exodus 40:12-13 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door
    of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.
    And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him;
    that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
  both Jesus and John were priests: John a Levitical, and Jesus the order of Melchizedek
    Luke3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age,
      being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son [in law] of Heli,

* Christ = Messiah = anointing
    Jesus Christ = the anointed saviour
    the great sign of the baptism in the Holy Spirit... for us, but also for Jesus
      Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them,
        commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem,
        but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
      Jacob's ladder: Genesis 28:12
        And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth,
        and the top of it reached to heaven:
        and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
      Luke presents Jesus as a man filled with the Spirit
        and anointing disciples and others to minister (chapters 9 and 10)

* forsaking dependence upon the flesh (Jesus is 100% man, and 100% God)
    Jesus performed miracles and righteousness not by virtue of being God
      but by depending upon the Holy Spirit's power
    again, why did Jesus, who is God, pray to God the Father? dependence and submission

* the approving voice of God the Father from heaven
    heard during Moses's time
    and on the Mount of Transfiguration
    and John 12:28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven,
      saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.