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Now we know from scripture that Jesus was without sin. (1 Peter 2:22, 1 John 3:5, John 8:46) ...

So why was Jesus baptized?

I think there are several reasons why, but I would like to focus on just one: Identification. Jesus came to earth, in part, to identify with us humans. He came down from heaven to walk on this earth in a body like ours. God came down to earth to live like us and with us. (John 1:14) Jesus willing submitted himself to a ceremony that was designed to signify a change in one's life a change he did not need but one that is critical for us.

In baptism Jesus identified with us. At the cross Jesus also identified with us. Accepting a penalty or a punishment for another person is the ultimate form of identification. Substitution takes identification to the highest level. Most of us only desire to identify ourselves with people for good and positive things. But at the cross Jesus identified himself with our failure.

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