The Immaculate Son of the Immaculate Virgin

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God. (Jn 1: 34)

Jesus, as the Immaculate Son of God, certainly has no need of being purified from sin. The Baptism in the Jordan is given to John the Baptist so that he can recognize Jesus. The immersion of Jesus in the water anticipates his descent into the human sufferings that he shared in his Passion even unto death, conquered on the third day with his re-emergence from the tomb in his Easter Resurrection. Let’s always remember that only He who descended from Heaven can lead us back there.