Right with God

Matthew 3:14-17 "But John tried to deter Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let is be so now, it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented."

There seems to be a lot of hubbub and confusion about why Jesus of all people needed to be baptized... I've read things like "if He was without sin, why did He need to repent?"

Jesus had spent the better part of 30 years waiting, working, planning, and probably visualizing what was about to happen over the next 3 years. He most definitely was learning and practicing obedience and patience.

John 14:24 says "Anyone who doesn't love Me will not obey Me. And remember, My words are not My own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me."

It seems clear here that Jesus us working and speaking on behalf of God and God alone. Even Jesus, who is physically speaking and doing isn't taking credit for the things being done. He wants it to be perfectly clear and understood that God is the one at work here and that He is a mouthpiece and tool used by God.

So It would make perfect sense that Jesus would want to be totally Righteous (right with God) as His adventure was about to begin. He knew what about to take place, so I imagine getting right with God was the important and pressing thing on His mind at the time. And, as usual, Jesus was setting an example of submission to God, Humility to allow John to baptize Him, and Wisdom in His timing.

"The success of any undertaking is determined by the wisdom with which the moment to embark upon it is chosen" William Barclay