Superficially, baptism by John and baptism by Jesus were similarly performed by water. With a repenting heart, sins would similarly be forgiven. Since baptism by Jesus is a sacrament, however, with baptism and through the blood and water of Jesus that flowed on the cross one can regain the status of being children of God.

Obviously Jesus had no need of receiving baptism as He is the son of God, but He still requested John to baptize Him in order to confirm the importance of repentance. John knew very well that he was not the Messiah but the forerunner of the Messiah, but he nonetheless baptized Jesus out of obedience. After the baptism of Jesus, John saw the heaven opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a  dove, and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

Jesus began His ministerial journey after receiving baptism from John.

John’s mission, as the prophet Isaiah has predicted, was to “straighten the path” for the Lord, thus he generously allowed his two disciples, Andrew and Peter, to follow Jesus. John once said, “He (the Messiah) should increase, I (the forerunner) should decrease.”

Jesus told us once that after we have done the work that God gave us, we should still say, “We are the Lord’s unworthy servants, only doing what we are supposed to do.” Since we are Jesus’ disciples, aren’t we supposed to straighten His path for Him?