While Jesus walked on earth as man, there were many things that He did that were not so readily understood by people who experienced Him first hand. One of the many things that Jesus did that could be confusing for His followers was being baptized in the water. It was so confusing that even the man who baptized Him, John the Baptist, could not make sense of it right away.
Water baptism in essence is a symbolic declaration made publicly by a believer of their death from the old and sinful ways by being "buried" and then rising again as a new creation. It is first and foremost a public confession of repentance. But what would Jesus have to repent of considering that He was a man with no sin?
More than the act, what makes baptism or any ritual vital is the declaration we make through it. Though the act of baptism that Jesus underwent was no different from ours, His declarations were different. Here are three declarations Jesus made through His baptism in water.
Fulfillment of prophecy
Jesus was the fulfillment of many prophecies, one of which was that of Isaiah who said "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'" John the Baptist was the voice in the wilderness out to make the way for God Himself.
John's baptizing of Jesus in water signified how Jesus was and is the Lord Himself whom Isaiah spoke of who would baptize not just in water, but also in fire through the Holy Spirit.
Approval of our declaration
When Jesus presented Himself for baptism to John, he did not approve of it right away and in fact tried to prevent it. But Jesus then said "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." (Matthew 3:15)
Jesus partaking in baptism is His way of showing approval of the spiritual practice and declaring that it is fitting for the fulfillment of Christian duty. That's not to say that we need water baptism to enter heaven, but it is a celebration we have the privilege of joining in through the grace of Christ - the dying to the old and the sinful and being born into new life through Christ, not through the ritual.
Association with the sinner
In the same way Jesus ate with, spent time with and associated with sinners, He submitted Himself to baptism to show people and consequently us today that He may have been God but He was also man who walked, talked and lived just like us. Jesus' baptism was an act of humility showing Himself not to be someone "exempted" from the practice because of His stature but as someone overqualified but still willing to pay the price the same way that He paid the price for our redemption.
