Q: Why didn't Jesus himself baptize, but delegated the rite to the Apostles. Why did he exempt himself?

A: Although no one can know with certainty the mind and thoughts of God, we can use the knowledge that we do have to understand different ideas surrounding the reasons that God did certain things during his time of being cloaked in the flesh. Jesus did not baptize himself because He was setting a precedent for the apostles and other believers to follow. First, He did not exempt himself because He wanted to establish the importance of being baptized. Even He himself, as God in the flesh was subject to being baptized, and showing the symbolic manner of dying to the old self and rising to the new. He gave a preview of what He would accomplish on the cross, and in his resurrection following death showing that He conquered death. Secondly, He allowed the apostles to baptize because He would grant them authority to work in the power of the Holy Spirit after He was gone, as well as while He was yet on earth. When He sent them out two by two and they performed great works, they did so not in their own power but in the power of God working through them. Thus, the purpose of being baptized is about the person being baptized surrendering to the power of God working in their life.

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