John 4:2

Jesus himself. By personally accepting baptism at the hands of John, Jesus had approved the rite, declaring, “Thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness” (Matt. 3:15). Furthermore, Jesus’ disciples performed the rite under His direction (John 3:22; 4:1). We are not told why Jesus Himself did not baptize. It may have been His purpose to avoid creating in the minds of any the idea that they possessed superior authority in the church because they had been baptized by Christ personally. Compare the dissension over the respective merits of baptism by Jesus and by the disciples (see on chs. 3:22; 4:13). The next mention of baptism is in connection with the gospel commission of Matt. 28:19, 20. Jesus may have discontinued the rite for a time because of the conflict occasioned by it.