I was asked to speak today on Jesus’ baptism, and its significance. Or in other words; why was it so important for Jesus to be baptized?
Often when we talk or teach about baptism, our main focus is the remission of sins. Which, by itself, is an incredible blessing; being able to completely erase our past mistakes. But if the remission of our sins was the only purpose of baptism, why would a perfect, sinless man need to be baptized? There has to be more; there has to be a bigger picture, a larger purpose for baptism.
I love Primary songs! They teach Gospel truths in simple, yet powerful ways. And the song, ‘Baptism’, helps us understand the larger purpose of baptism, and why it was important for Jesus to be baptized.
It says,
Jesus came to John the Baptist,
In Judea long ago,
And was baptized by immersion
In the River Jordan’s flow.
“To fulfill the law,” said Jesus,
When the Baptist questioned why,
“And to enter with my Father
In the kingdom up on high.”
Now we know that we must also
Witness faith in Jesus’ word,
Be baptized to show obedience,
As was Jesus Christ, our Lord.
So what is the larger purpose that we find in this song?
1) Jesus was baptized to fulfill the law
2) He was baptized in order to enter the Father’s kingdom
3) He was baptized to show us the path we must follow
So what does it mean to “Fulfill the law”? Or as stated in 2 Nephi 31:6 “...to fulfill all righteousness…”. 2 Nephi 31:6-7 states;
6 And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfill all righteousness in being baptized by water?
7 Know he not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.
In order to “fulfill the law”, or “fulfill all righteousness,” Jesus Christ needed to follow the commandments given by our Heavenly Father. In this case, the commandment of being baptized. Jesus Christ was not exempt from following the commandments; he was not given a free pass to ignore them. It would have been impossible for Him to live a perfect life if he had not followed the commandments our Heavenly Father has given to us.
While studying for the talk and pondering the Savior’s life, I came to realize that I tend to, not really forget, but maybe maybe take for granted, the fact that just like everyone else Jesus Christ had free agency. He had the ability to choose. I think sometimes I get lost in the perfectness of His life and fail to acknowledge or realize that He was perfect because of the choices he made. Jesus Christ chose to be baptized, not only because it was a commandment given by our Heavenly Father, but also to show Heavenly Father, and us, that was still willing to follow God’s plan. He was still willing to live a life worthy of becoming our Savior.
John 3:5 states:
5 Jesus answered, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Our Heavenly Father has given us a road map, or steps to follow, in order to return to live with Him in heaven. Those steps are faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. The baptismal covenant is a crucial part of our journey here on earth.
I cam across a talk by Elder Robert D Hales from the October 2000 General Conference, and I want to share a section of this talk, because I love what he says about baptism. And entering into the kingdom of heaven.
“I wish to speak on the ordinance of baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, which takes us out of the world and into the kingdom of God.
There is a familiar phrase: to be in the world, but not of the world. Our mortal existence is necessary to fulfill the plan of salvation. We must therefore live in this world, but we must also resist the wordly influences that are ever before us.
Jesus taught, ‘My kingdom is not of this world’. These words led me to ponder more concerning His kingdom. I concluded that when we are baptized by immersion by one with the proper priesthood authority and choose to follow our Savior, we then are in His kingdom and of His kingdom…..
….At baptism we make a covenant with our Heavenly Father that we are willing to come into His kingdom and keep His commandments from that time forward, even thought we still live in the world. We are reminded from the Book of Mormon that our baptism is a covenant to ‘stand as witnesses of God (and His kingdom) at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life’.
Entering into the kingdom of God is so important that Jesus was baptized to show the ‘the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which we should enter.’….
...Born of a mortal mother, Jesus was baptized to fulfill His Father’s commandment that sons and daughter of God should be baptized. He set the example for all of us to humble ourselves before our Heavenly Father. We are all welcome to come into the water of baptism. He was baptized to witness to His Father that He would be obedient in keeping His commandments. He was baptized to show us that we should receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Close quote
Throughout Jesus Christ’s life he showed us, step by step, line upon line, what we needed to do, and how we needed to live our life, in order to return to live with Him, and our Heavenly Father.
Another Primary song that has a beautiful, powerful message is, “I’m trying to be like Jesus”. It says
I’m trying to be like Jesus;
I’m following in His ways.
I’m trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say.
At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice,
But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers,
Love one another as Jesus loves you,
Try to show kindness in all that you do.
Be gentle and loving, in deed and in thought,
For these are the things Jesus taught
I’m trying to love my neighbor
I’m learning to serve my friends
I watch for the day of gladness when Jesus will come again
I try to remember the lessons he taught
than the Holy Spirit enters into my thoughts, saying;
Love one another as Jesus loves you
Try to show kindness in all that you do
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought
For these are the things Jesus taught
I’m trying to be like Jesus, I’m following in His ways. “...Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father? And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son. And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying, he that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.”
I’m trying to love my neighbor, I’m learning to serve my friends. When we are baptized we covenant with our Heavenly Father that we will keep His commandments, take the Savior’s name upon us, and that we will “...bear one another’s burdens….mourn with those that mourn...comfort those that stand in need of comfort….and stand as witnesses of God…” In return, we are promised forgiveness of our sins, we are given the gift of the Holy Ghost, and we will be able to return to live with our Heavenly Father in His kingdom.
The covenant we make at baptism is so important that we renew our promise to Heavenly Father every Sunday when we take the sacrament. Jesus Christ knew the importance of the baptismal covenant, so he set the example for all of us. I am truly grateful for Jesus Christ’s example in choosing to keep the commandments, and live a life worthy to become my Saviour, and the Saviour of all mankind.
I know that as we try to be like Jesus, and follow in His ways everyday, that we will be able to enter into our Father’s Kingdom and live with Him again.
I was asked to speak today on Jesus’ baptism, and its significance. Or in other words; why was it so important for Jesus to be baptized?
Often when we talk or teach about baptism, our main focus is the remission of sins. Which, by itself, is an incredible blessing; being able to completely erase our past mistakes. But if the remission of our sins was the only purpose of baptism, why would a perfect, sinless man need to be baptized? There has to be more; there has to be a bigger picture, a larger purpose for baptism.
I love Primary songs! They teach Gospel truths in simple, yet powerful ways. And the song, ‘Baptism’, helps us understand the larger purpose of baptism, and why it was important for Jesus to be baptized.
It says,
Jesus came to John the Baptist,
In Judea long ago,
And was baptized by immersion
In the River Jordan’s flow.
“To fulfill the law,” said Jesus,
When the Baptist questioned why,
“And to enter with my Father
In the kingdom up on high.”
Now we know that we must also
Witness faith in Jesus’ word,
Be baptized to show obedience,
As was Jesus Christ, our Lord.
So what is the larger purpose that we find in this song?
1) Jesus was baptized to fulfill the law
2) He was baptized in order to enter the Father’s kingdom
3) He was baptized to show us the path we must follow
So what does it mean to “Fulfill the law”? Or as stated in 2 Nephi 31:6 “...to fulfill all righteousness…”. 2 Nephi 31:6-7 states;
6 And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfill all righteousness in being baptized by water?
7 Know he not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.
In order to “fulfill the law”, or “fulfill all righteousness,” Jesus Christ needed to follow the commandments given by our Heavenly Father. In this case, the commandment of being baptized. Jesus Christ was not exempt from following the commandments; he was not given a free pass to ignore them. It would have been impossible for Him to live a perfect life if he had not followed the commandments our Heavenly Father has given to us.
While studying for the talk and pondering the Savior’s life, I came to realize that I tend to, not really forget, but maybe maybe take for granted, the fact that just like everyone else Jesus Christ had free agency. He had the ability to choose. I think sometimes I get lost in the perfectness of His life and fail to acknowledge or realize that He was perfect because of the choices he made. Jesus Christ chose to be baptized, not only because it was a commandment given by our Heavenly Father, but also to show Heavenly Father, and us, that was still willing to follow God’s plan. He was still willing to live a life worthy of becoming our Savior.
John 3:5 states:
5 Jesus answered, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Our Heavenly Father has given us a road map, or steps to follow, in order to return to live with Him in heaven. Those steps are faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. The baptismal covenant is a crucial part of our journey here on earth.
I cam across a talk by Elder Robert D Hales from the October 2000 General Conference, and I want to share a section of this talk, because I love what he says about baptism. And entering into the kingdom of heaven.
“I wish to speak on the ordinance of baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, which takes us out of the world and into the kingdom of God.
There is a familiar phrase: to be in the world, but not of the world. Our mortal existence is necessary to fulfill the plan of salvation. We must therefore live in this world, but we must also resist the wordly influences that are ever before us.
Jesus taught, ‘My kingdom is not of this world’. These words led me to ponder more concerning His kingdom. I concluded that when we are baptized by immersion by one with the proper priesthood authority and choose to follow our Savior, we then are in His kingdom and of His kingdom…..
….At baptism we make a covenant with our Heavenly Father that we are willing to come into His kingdom and keep His commandments from that time forward, even thought we still live in the world. We are reminded from the Book of Mormon that our baptism is a covenant to ‘stand as witnesses of God (and His kingdom) at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life’.
Entering into the kingdom of God is so important that Jesus was baptized to show the ‘the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which we should enter.’….
...Born of a mortal mother, Jesus was baptized to fulfill His Father’s commandment that sons and daughter of God should be baptized. He set the example for all of us to humble ourselves before our Heavenly Father. We are all welcome to come into the water of baptism. He was baptized to witness to His Father that He would be obedient in keeping His commandments. He was baptized to show us that we should receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Close quote
Throughout Jesus Christ’s life he showed us, step by step, line upon line, what we needed to do, and how we needed to live our life, in order to return to live with Him, and our Heavenly Father.
Another Primary song that has a beautiful, powerful message is, “I’m trying to be like Jesus”. It says
I’m trying to be like Jesus;
I’m following in His ways.
I’m trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say.
At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice,
But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers,
Love one another as Jesus loves you,
Try to show kindness in all that you do.
Be gentle and loving, in deed and in thought,
For these are the things Jesus taught
I’m trying to love my neighbor
I’m learning to serve my friends
I watch for the day of gladness when Jesus will come again
I try to remember the lessons he taught
than the Holy Spirit enters into my thoughts, saying;
Love one another as Jesus loves you
Try to show kindness in all that you do
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought
For these are the things Jesus taught
I’m trying to be like Jesus, I’m following in His ways. “...Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father? And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son. And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying, he that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.”
I’m trying to love my neighbor, I’m learning to serve my friends. When we are baptized we covenant with our Heavenly Father that we will keep His commandments, take the Savior’s name upon us, and that we will “...bear one another’s burdens….mourn with those that mourn...comfort those that stand in need of comfort….and stand as witnesses of God…” In return, we are promised forgiveness of our sins, we are given the gift of the Holy Ghost, and we will be able to return to live with our Heavenly Father in His kingdom.
The covenant we make at baptism is so important that we renew our promise to Heavenly Father every Sunday when we take the sacrament. Jesus Christ knew the importance of the baptismal covenant, so he set the example for all of us. I am truly grateful for Jesus Christ’s example in choosing to keep the commandments, and live a life worthy to become my Saviour, and the Saviour of all mankind.
I know that as we try to be like Jesus, and follow in His ways everyday, that we will be able to enter into our Father’s Kingdom and live with Him again.