The baptism of Christ

At the beginning of his public life, Jesus comes to the Jordan to be baptised by John. The baptism John gave was a baptism of repentance, received by those who confessed their sins and awaited forgiveness. John refuses at first: “It is I who need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?” Matthew 3:14. Jesus overrides the objection: “Let it be so for now, for it is fitting for us thus to fulfil all righteousness.” Matthew 3:15. This righteousness to be fulfilled is a requirement of the Law: the coming of Jesus into the water is his consecration as priest.

John, a priest after Aaron

Under the old covenant, the priesthood was reserved to a single family. Only the descendants of Aaron, the brother of Moses, could offer the sacrifices and serve in the Temple, and this office passed from father to son within the tribe of Levi. John belongs to this priesthood through both his parents: “In the time of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah; his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.” Luke 1:5.

A priest after Melchizedek

Jesus is a priest of another order, that of Melchizedek. This figure appears briefly in Genesis, at his meeting with Abraham, whom he blesses: “Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High.” Genesis 14:18. Scripture gives him neither father nor genealogy: his priesthood does not come from a lineage and is not passed on by blood. It is of this order that a psalm announces the Messiah: “You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” Psalm 110:4. The priesthood of Christ is thus older and higher than that of Aaron.

The age of the priest

The Law set the age at which a man entered the sacred service: “from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who have to do the service in the tent of meeting.” Numbers 4:3. Jesus begins his ministry on coming out of the baptism, being about thirty years old (Luke 3:23). The age at which the priest took up his charge is the age at which Christ takes up his.

Water and oil

To enter into office, the priest received two gestures, water then oil: “You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and shall wash them with water... you shall take the anointing oil, pour it on his head, and anoint him.” Exodus 29:4-7. To pour the oil was to consecrate, to set apart for God: thus were anointed kings, priests, and prophets. From this comes the name of Christ: the Greek word for “anointed,” christos (Χριστός), translates the Hebrew “messiah,” mashiah (מָשִׁיחַ). Aaron, the first of the priests, was consecrated by Moses, who then exercised the priesthood: “Moses and Aaron were among his priests.” Psalm 99:6. A priest establishes the priest.

The anointing of the Spirit

At the Jordan, these two gestures are found on Christ. John, the Levitical priest, washes him in the water. And the anointing he receives not by oil, but by the Spirit of God himself, who descends upon him like a dove. It is the anointing that Isaiah had foretold for the Messiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the poor.” Isaiah 61:1. And Peter will say it again: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.” Acts 10:38. John, the last priest after Aaron, consecrates the priest after Melchizedek.

The end of the old priesthood

This act is also a farewell. In consecrating Christ, John closes the priesthood into which he was born: “The Law and the Prophets were until John.” Luke 16:16. With him the old covenant comes to its end. The priesthood of Aaron passed from one man to another and died with each; that of Christ does not die, for he is a priest for ever. The baptism of the Jordan is the threshold where the old priesthood hands over its charge to the new, and the high priest, anointed by the Spirit, begins the work of salvation.