Jesus' Baptism: The Differing Perspectives On What It Means

Summary

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Q: In the Bible we read that Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River. I know that Christians are baptized for the forgiveness of sins, but if Jesus was supposed to be without sin, why did he have to be baptized?

A: This question was put to me by a local religious education teacher, who in turn was given it by a student. In fact, this is a question that has troubled people since the first days of Christianity, and the answer sheds light on early Christian beliefs.

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Extract

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Jesus' Baptism: The Differing Perspectives On What It Means

The first recorded reference to Jesus' baptism in the Gospels is in the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus comes to the Jordan River. There, John the Baptist had been proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke tell us that many people came, even from the Pharisees, the tax collectors and the "multitudes."Mark, as is usual in his gospel is more sparin...

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