Jesus’ Baptism
One day when John was baptizing in the Jordan, a man came who was different from the rest.
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. (Mt 3:13-15)
Why did Jesus want to be baptized by John? What did he mean by “it is fitting to fulfill all righteousness?”
In Catholic teaching, Jesus' baptism by John signifies His total identification with sinful humanity, taking our place to fulfill God's will and inaugurate His mission, even though He was sinless, foreshadowing His death and resurrection for our salvation, allowing us to be sacramentally reborn in our own baptism. He freely chose to go through everything sinners would have to go through.
By entering the sinful waters, Jesus unites Himself with us, symbolizing the washing away of sins and the new life He offers, opening the heavens for us to become God's beloved children. His acceptance of John's baptism (which was for repentance) shows His profound solidarity with sinful humanity, as He is "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). And by submitting to the baptism to "fulfill all righteousness," He embraces God's saving plan for humanity, which includes accepting the consequences of sin.
It should also be noted that John the Baptist was a Levite and a prophet. Jesus was the Son of David’s kingdom, the heir to his kingdom. King David and all the kings after him were anointed by Levites; a Levite would also baptize Jesus.
“After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mt 3:16-17)
The dove reminds us of the dove that Noah sent out after the Flood. Like the flood, Baptism is a new creation. We also can recall in scripture the kings who were anointed by Levitical priest. When Saul was anointed, “the spirit of God came mightily upon him” (1Sm 10:10). When David was anointed, “the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward” (1Sm 16:13). The Gospel writers are showing us that Jesus himself was the perfect Anointed One.
CCC 536: “The baptism of Jesus is on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God's suffering Servant. He allows himself to be numbered among sinners; he is already "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world". Already he is anticipating the "baptism" of his bloody death. Already he is coming to "fulfill all righteousness", that is, he is submitting himself entirely to his Father's will: out of love he consents to this baptism of death for the remission of our sins. The Father's voice responds to the Son's acceptance, proclaiming his entire delight in his Son. The Spirit whom Jesus possessed in fullness from his conception comes to "rest on him.” Jesus will be the source of the Spirit for all mankind. At his baptism "the heavens were opened"— the heavens that Adam's sin had closed — and the waters were sanctified by the descent of Jesus and the Spirit, a prelude to the new creation.”
The Father's proclamation and the Spirit's descent mark the beginning of Jesus' public ministry as God's beloved Son. Our own baptism becomes a participation in His death and resurrection, allowing us to "walk in newness of life" and become children of God. Jesus’ baptism wasn't for His own cleansing but as a radical act of love, entering into our sinful condition to redeem us, a theme echoed throughout His life. Through this act, Jesus set the example for all believers to follow, inviting them to share in His divine life through their own baptism.
—Dn. Gerry Flamm
Conversion is also a frequent message of Our Lady, because it presupposes weak or no faith in the people of today. And without it, it is impossible to gain peace. True conversion is to "cleanse the heart" (Jer 4:14), because a corrupted heart creates and supports bad relationships and social systems, unjust laws, and oppressive regimes. Without a radical change in the heart and its conversion, there is no peace. Therefore, Our Lady constantly demands frequent confession. The demand is addressed to all people without distinction, because "there is no one righteous... All have gone astray, they have all alike become corrupt" (Rom 3:11-12).