Why did Jesus have to be baptized?

Jesus was baptized, not for repentance, because He was without sin (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:22; 1 Jn 3:5), but to “fulfill all righteousness” (Mt 3:15)－that is, to do what God required of Him, as well as to set an example for us. The Bible records: “Then Jesus, when He had been baptized, came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’ ” (Mt 3:16-17). John the Baptist witnessed this event and testified, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him…And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God” ( Jn 1:32, 34). He also proclaimed, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29).