The ministry of John the Baptist was of such importance that many of the ancient prophets had visionary views of it. Among their number were Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3-4; JST, Luke 3:4-11) and Malachi (Malachi 3:1) in the Old World, and Lehi (1 Nephi 10:7-10) and Nephi in the New World (1 Nephi 11:27).
“Baptize the Lamb of God”
Jesus was “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Though, in the words of Paul, our Lord was made, in the hours of atonement, “to be sin for us,” he “knew no sin” personally (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Our mediator “suffered for us, leaving us an example, that [we] should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:2-22).
For him, therefore, the ordinance of baptism served neither an expiatory nor a purging function: Christ was not baptized for a remission of sins, for he neither had committed sin nor would do so. He required neither redemption nor deliverance. Our Savior was baptized because baptism is requisite for entrance into the kingdom of God.