John recognizes Jesus as the Messiah (John 1:33)

Jesus explained that it was necessary “to fulfill all righteousness.” What did Jesus mean by this? Some have said that Jesus needed to be forgiven, but that contradicts the teaching of 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:14-15, and Hebrews 7:26 that Jesus never sinned. He was sinless. He did not need to be baptized. Others believe that Jesus had to fulfill every command in the Old Testament. However, the Bible never gives us any such clue. Some have stated that Jesus needed to be cleansed with water just like the Old Testament priests were at the beginning of their ministry. Since the Old Testament never required that of the priests, that view is incorrect.

Why did Jesus say that they needed “to fulfill all righteousness”? Notice that Jesus included John when He said, “us” in Matt. 3:15. Both of them together would “fulfill all righteousness.” The answer to our question is found when we ask the following question, “What would have happened if Jesus had ignored the forerunner?” What would have happened if the Messiah had ignored the forerunner? The answer is - then John would have really been all alone and his ministry would have been meaningless. If Jesus had ignored John, John’s baptism of repentance would have been meaningless. But there is more.

What problem would have occurred if Jesus had never been baptized by John? The answer is found once again in John 1:33 where John was told how he could recognize the Messiah.

“I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’” (NASB) John 1:33

God had told John to look for a man upon whom the Spirit of God descended and remained. He would be the Messiah! If Jesus had never been baptized, John would have never known that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus and John together fulfilled a promise that God had made personally to John.