Q. Where did John the Baptist get the idea of water baptism? I see it mentioned in the O.T. regarding leprosy, but don’t see in the O.T. water baptism for repentance. Also, why did Jesus agree to John’s baptism? Just to set an example? But that would make it seem that He too was in need of repentance, wouldn’t it? Which of course is not the case.
Biblical scholars generally agree that the roots of water baptism are in the requirement in the Law of Moses that people bathe with water to return to a state of ceremonial cleanness after some uncleanness infraction. This applied not only in the case of skin diseases such as leprosy, as you noted, but also in a wider variety of matters, such as eating certain kinds of unclean food and even taking the scapegoat out into the wilderness on the Day of Atonement. Since being ceremonially clean meant being able to participate in good standing in the worship of God, it was a natural development for John to apply the practice of washing to a more profound sense of being “clean,” that of being genuinely repentant for one’s sins.
As for why Jesus wanted to be baptized even though he had no sins to repent of, we need to realize that John’s baptism was not an end in itself. It was a means to an end. John’s message was, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” John didn’t want people to repent and be baptized just because they were sinful. He wanted them to do that because God was breaking into the world in a new way, and he wanted people to be able to join in what God was doing.
So, in effect, John was saying, “Anyone who wants to be part of what God is doing, come and be baptized.” The implicit assumption in the case of most people was that this would involve forsaking sins and having a new orientation in life. But for someone like Jesus, who already had the right orientation—he always wanted to be doing what his Heavenly Father was doing—and who had no sins to repent of, it was still appropriate for him to make the public gesture that John was calling for.
I think that is why Jesus told John to go ahead and baptize him “to fulfill all righteousness.” John was saying, “If you want to be part of the new thing that God is doing, come and be baptized.” By being baptized, Jesus was saying, “Yes, I want to be part of the new thing that God is doing!” He didn’t need to have sins to repent of in order to make that public declaration.
Good Question 
I think it’s marvelous to realize the symbolism of Jesus’ baptism too. Others had been cleansed of their sins but Jesus, having no sin, was bathing in the sins of others; taking on the sins of those who would enter into this “new thing that God was doing.”
As I’ve checked I don’t see “the Law of Moses that people bathe with water to return to a state of ceremonial cleanness after some uncleanness infraction.” If so, wouldn’t I find a direct command like if I ate unclean food, I should clean my body with water before going to the temple to worship? I’m not finding this, but that doesn’t mean they may have practice this cleaning – don’t know.
Leviticus 17:15 says, “Anyone, whether native-born or foreigner, who eats anything found dead or torn by wild animals must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be ceremonially unclean till evening; then they will be clean.”
Leviticus 16:26 says, “The man who releases the goat as a scapegoat must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may come into the camp.”
Leviticus 22:6 says that a priest who touches anything that makes him unclean “will be unclean till evening. He must not eat any of the sacred offerings unless he has bathed himself with water.”
Similar requirements for bathing with water to return to a state of ceremonial cleanness are in Leviticus 14:8-9 and in multiple places in Leviticus 15.
I agree, many instances God speaks of cleansing with water.
I even remember God saying in the old testament about unfaithful Israel coming back to him and him sprinkling her head with water in order to cleanse her.
There is so much mention of it that it is quite elementary that John would get this revelation from God. Was there not a new thing happening at that time? Was not the groom finally arriving? And only those who would embrace this new “way” were cleansing themselves from their old way.
Obviously John received the revelation from God but also the scriptures paved the way unto God’s mindset….
Jesus himself had to be baptized for he himself was tasked to usher in the new testament of salvation. Love your blog!
There is a lot going on in the Baptism of Jesus and his ministry than many discuss. Consider the parallel nature of Jesus life with the old testament requirements: From thirty years old up to fifty years old, you shall list them, everyone who can come on duty, to do the service of the tent of meeting(Numbers 4:30). This was the age he approximately began his ministry.
Leviticus 16 has a lot of what the blog author mentions like, “He shall put on the holy linen coat and shall have the linen undergarment on his body, and he shall tie the linen sash around his waist, and wear the linen turban; these are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water and then put them on. And he shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering” (Leviticus 16:4-5). Chapter 16 culminates with, “And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments (32).
Moses washed the priests to anoint them for service, “And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water” (Leviticus 8:6). He also consecrated them for service by sprinkling, “Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. And he sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its utensils and the basin and its stand, to consecrate them. And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him” (Leviticus 8:10-12).
Thus, we have a strong connection to the baptism of Jesus being related to his earthly anointing for priesthood and service in the temple. You can verify this by reviewing each gospel and noticing Jesus movement to the temple flowing shortly thereafter in which he turns over money tables and is recorded to have”… went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all” (Luke 4:14-15).
Jesus baptism was much more than a symbolic gesture for us to follow but the work of a perfectly obedient high priest in the order of Melchizedek.