Just as Joseph played an important role by guiding his family through dangerous times, so John also plays an important role by preparing the way for Jesus and then baptizing him. But why did Jesus need to be baptized? He had no sin to confess, and he didn’t need to accept himself as Saviour. Perhaps it was because just as he would eventually go before us in resurrection, now he goes before us in the baptism that brings all of us into the life of the Spirit. If we follow the path that Jesus set for us, we certainly can’t go wrong.