Synopsis of the accounts of Jesus’ baptism [footnote text=“Although the Gospel according to John makes no explicit reference to Jesus’ baptism, we may infer from the testimony of John the Baptist about the descent of the Spirit on Jesus that John was alluding to what occurred at Jesus’ baptism.”]
Jesus came from Galilee (Mt 3:13; Mk 1:9)
Jesus was baptized (Mt 3:13, 16; Mk 1:9; Lk 21)
Jesus was baptized by John (Mt 3:13, 14; Mk 1:9)
Jesus’ baptism took place in Jordan (Mt 3:13; Mk 1:9)
When Jesus was baptized, He came up out of the water (Mt 3:16; Mk 1:10)
The heavens were opened (Mt 3:16; Mk 1:9; Lk 3:21)
The Holy Spirit descended like a dove (Mt 3:16; Mk 1:10; Lk 3:22; Jn 1:32, 33)
The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus (Mt 3:16; Mk 1:9; Jn 1:32, 33)
A voice from heaven said, “This is (or ‘You are’) my beloved Son, with whom (or ‘with You’) I am well pleased” (Mt 3:17; Mk 1:11; Lk 3:22)
Descriptions unique to each Gospel
Matthew
Jesus came from Galilee “to be baptized” by John (Mt 3:14) [footnote text=“It is clear in the Greek sentence that the purpose of Jesus’ coming from Galilee to Jordan was to be baptized by John.”]
John was preventing Jesus. But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. (Mt 3:14-15)
“Immediately” Jesus went up from the water (Mt 3:16)
The heavens were opened “to him” (Mt 3:16)
Jesus saw the Spirit of God (Mt 3:16)
The Spirit of God was “coming to rest on” Jesus (Mt 3:16)
Mark
Jesus came from “Nazareth” of Galilee (Mk 1:9)
“Immediately” Jesus saw the heavens being “torn open” (Mk 1:10)
The voice from heaven spoke to Jesus directly, as also described in Luke (Mk 1:11)
Luke
The account begins after Jesus’ baptism and mentions that all the people were baptized (Lk 3:21)
Jesus was praying (Lk 3:21)
The “Holy Spirit” descended on Jesus “in bodily form” (Lk 3:22)
The voice from heaven spoke to Jesus directly, as also described in Mark (Lk 3:22)
John
John the Baptist made no explicit reference to Jesus’ baptism
John the Baptist declared that he came baptizing with water that Jesus might be revealed to Israel, linking his baptizing ministry with Jesus’ baptism (Jn 1:31)
John bore witness that he saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove and that it “remained” on Jesus (Jn 1:32)
John had been instructed by God that He on whom John saw the Spirit descend and remain would be He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit (Jn 1:33)
Upon seeing the Spirit descending and remaining on Jesus, John bore witness that Jesus is the Son of God (Jn 1:34)
Reference
For a discussion of the significance of Jesus’ baptism, see “Chapter 3: The Baptism of Jesus,” <i>The Doctrine of Baptism</i>, True Jesus Church, 2011: 47-52.
