Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 1:9

"And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in the Jordan." — Mark 1:9 (ASV)

Jesus probably began his public ministry about A. D. 27, when he was approximately thirty years old. Two events, however, immediately preceded the beginning of his ministry: his baptism by John and his temptation by the devil. The baptism of Jesus by John must have been a problem to the early church. Why did Jesus submit himself to a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins? Matthew recounts John’s reluctance to baptize Jesus and Jesus’ reply: “It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:14–15; see comment).

Jesus had to identify himself with sinful humanity at the very outset of his ministry. This he did by submitting to baptism (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21).