The Baptism of the Messiah

I've asked the question "Why did Yeshua have to be baptized?" We know He was sinless, so John (Yochanan) the Baptist's call for sinners to repent and be baptized doesn't seem like it would apply to the Messiah, right? 

Did this moment when God's echo "You are my son, the beloved; in you I am well pleased" (Mark 1:11 NRSVCE) merely function as a formal green light to begin His ministry? 

I have come to the belief that Yeshua, too, needed to be ushered onto his journey just like we do. It was time to leave the comfort of the world He knew - the world of family, work and daily routines - to begin His real mission. And maybe He didn't fully understand the purpose or the pattern of that mission until the Holy Spirit descended upon Him. It was right after that that the Spirit led Him into the desert to be tested - tempted by fear to grasp at power, just as we are tempted every moment of our lives. And He passed that test, thus inaugurating His ministry. 

John Nava "Baptism of Christ"

I very much appreciate the image to the right here by John Nava. Yeshua is kneeling, his head bowed, practically naked. Humility. His "yes" to the Father, just as His human mother had to say "yes" to the Father. This is what we must do in our hearts, and in so doing, we reclaim our birthright as human beings: to live in love and dignity in Him. We are God's beloved daughters and sons! That is who we are, our true identity as human beings, the way He wants us and created us to live.

Here is an additional insightful response, from Fr. John Kavanaugh, S.J. (my highlight)

Christ has come not only to reveal the divinity to us; he has come to reveal us to ourselves. Not only is he truly God. He is truly human. And he is truly human precisely because he does not sin. All of our sin is nothing other than the rejection of the truth of our humanity. Jesus’ utter acceptance of our humanity, his drinking of our cup fully, his sharing of our wounded condition, reverses our sinful rejection of our creatureliness.  

http://www.liturgy.slu.edu/BapLordA011214/theword_embodied.html