Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus, the sinless Son of God, voluntarily came to John the Baptist to be baptized, not because He needed cleansing, but to "fulfill all righteousness." This shows His deep humility and His commitment to honoring God's ordained means and aligning Himself with humanity, even in His unique calling.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus, now around thirty years old, leaves his quiet life in Nazareth to seek out John the Baptist, who is drawing crowds by the Jordan River. This moment marks Jesus' public emergence, not for personal repentance, but to publicly identify with John's divinely appointed ministry and begin fulfilling all righteousness, a crucial step before he launches his own mission. His arrival isn't seeking special treatment but a humble inclusion among those responding to John's call, setting the stage for God's affirmation of his Son.
Jesus, who knew no sin, came to John for baptism. What was the point if He didn't need repentance?
Jesus's baptism wasn't about personal cleansing from sin, as He was sinless. Instead, it served several crucial purposes:
Jesus spent nearly 30 years in Nazareth before this public step. Why the long wait, and what does His arrival signify?
The Gospel writers emphasize that Jesus came from Galilee, specifically Nazareth, after living in relative obscurity for about 30 years. This wasn't a hasty move but a deliberate waiting for the appointed time:
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c. 4 BC
Jesus returns to Nazareth
Joseph, Mary, and the infant Jesus return to their hometown of Nazareth in Galilee after fleeing Bethlehem to escape Herod the Great's decree.
c. AD 26-27
John the Baptist begins ministry
John begins his public ministry in the wilderness of Judea, preaching repentance and baptizing crowds near the Jordan River. His message gains widespread attention.
c. AD 27-28— this verse
Jesus travels to the Jordan River
Jesus, now about thirty years old and having lived a private life in Nazareth, travels south to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.
c. AD 27-28
Jesus is baptized by John
Jesus submits to John's baptism, an act of obedience to God's will and a symbolic dedication to His public ministry. This event is immediately followed by the heavens opening and the Holy Spirit descending.
This passage directly connects John the Baptist's recognition of Jesus as the Lamb of God to the moment just after Jesus' baptism, highlighting the significance of this event in John's ministry and Jesus' identity.
Romans 6:3-4This passage explains the symbolic meaning of baptism as dying to our old selves and being raised to new life in Christ, which parallels Jesus' own symbolic transition into His public ministry through this ordinance.
Philippians 2:7-8This passage describes Jesus 'emptying himself' and taking the form of a servant, which is beautifully illustrated by His humble submission to John's baptism, even though He was sinless.
Hebrews 4:15This verse emphasizes Jesus as a high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses because He was tempted in every way, just as He was like us in His experience of baptism, despite His sinlessness.
Luke 3:21-22This parallel account describes the heavens opening and the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus during His baptism, providing a fuller picture of the divine affirmation that followed this act.
bensonMatthew 3:13: "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him."
Matthew 3:13 . Then cometh Jesus — Who was now about thirty years of age, from Galilee — Where he had long lived, in a retired manner, unto John, to be baptized of him — Not in testimony of his repentance, or for the remission of sins, for, being without sin, he neither needed repentance nor remission; but that he might honour John’s ministry, and acknowledge his commission to baptize, and might confirm t…
barnesMatthew 3:13: "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him."
Then cometh Jesus - The Saviour is now introduced as about to enter on his work, or as about to be solemnly set apart to his great office of Messiah and Redeemer. The expression "cometh" implies that the act was voluntary on his part; that he went for that purpose and for no other. He left the part of Galilee - Nazareth - where he had lived for nearly 30 years, and went to the vicinity of the Jordan, wher…
Jesus, the sinless Son of God, voluntarily came to John the Baptist to be baptized, not because He needed cleansing, but to "fulfill all righteousness." This shows His deep humility and His commitment to honoring God's ordained means and aligning Himself with humanity, even in His unique calling.
Jesus, now around thirty years old, leaves his quiet life in Nazareth to seek out John the Baptist, who is drawing crowds by the Jordan River. This moment marks Jesus' public emergence, not for personal repentance, but to publicly identify with John's divinely appointed ministry and begin fulfilling all righteousness, a crucial step before he launches his own mission. His arrival isn't seeking special treatment but a humble inclusion among those responding to John's call, setting the stage for God's affirmation of his Son.
Jesus, now around thirty years old, leaves his quiet life in Nazareth to seek out John the Baptist, who is drawing crowds by the Jordan River. This moment marks Jesus' public emergence, not for personal repentance, but to publicly identify with John's divinely appointed ministry and begin fulfilling all righteousness, a crucial step before he launches his own mission. His arrival isn't seeking special treatment but a humble inclusion among those responding to John's call, setting the stage for God's affirmation of his Son.
"Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him." — Jesus, the sinless Son of God, voluntarily came to John the Baptist to be baptized, not because He needed cleansing, but to "fulfill all righteousness." This shows His deep humility and His commitmen…
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Last reviewed October 2026