Did Jesus baptize?

Answer

The Bible does not mention anyone being baptized by Jesus. There are a couple of verses that may suggest Jesus baptized individuals, but upon comparing Scripture with Scripture, we can conclude that Jesus did not personally baptize anyone.

One instance that could imply Jesus performing baptisms is found in Matthew 3:14, where John the Baptist tells Jesus, “I need to be baptized by you.” When taken alone, John’s statement might indicate that Jesus regularly baptized people in water. However, the context indicates otherwise: earlier, John had stated, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I. . . . He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” «I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: », (Matthew 3:11). John made a clear distinction between his baptism (with water) and the Lord’s baptism (with the Holy Spirit). Therefore, when John expressed his need to be baptized by Jesus, he was likely referring to his need for the Holy Spirit.

Two verses in John 3 may appear to indicate that Jesus did indeed baptize: John 3:22 mentions that “Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.” Additionally, in John 3:26, Jesus’ actions are reported to John: “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

However, in the following chapter, John clarifies the situation: “Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John—although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples” (John 4:1-2).3Bemphasis+added”>(John 4:1-2; emphasis added). So, Jesus was “baptizing” in that the disciples were doing so by His direction and under His authority. John, after a couple of mentions of Jesus’ work of baptism, explains that Jesus was not personally baptizing anyone.

Since Jesus had oversight of His disciples’ work of baptism, He could rightly be said to be baptizing. In common language, we often describe work accomplished through a subordinate as one’s own work. Thus, the manager of a lawn mowing service can be said to mow thirty lawns a week, although he himself mows none of them—his employees do the actual mowing. And a king can be said to invade another country, although the king himself never leaves his palace.

Is it possible that Jesus baptized people on other occasions not recorded in Scripture? Yes, the possibility exists. However, based on John 4:1-2, it seems unlikely. A plausible explanation for why Jesus did not baptize anyone is that Jesus did not want anyone thinking themselves superior to other believers based on who had baptized them. Someone baptized by Jesus would be tempted to broadcast the fact and feel a little smug around those who were only baptized by, say, Thomas or Thaddaeus. Such proud sectarianism is human nature (see 1 Corinthians 1:12-15). By declining to baptize anyone, Jesus prevented unnecessary divisions.