text is appointed for the Baptism of the Lord just after Epiphany) is summarized by the question, “Why was Jesus baptized since he was without sin?” (see Heb. 4:15). The baptism of Jesus marks the beginning of his ministry, his commission from God. It signals both the start of his public ministry and his solidarity with sinners. It is like the prophetic sign-acts in Hebrew scripture; it unifies Jesus with the movement toward repentance (v. 4), sets an example for his followers, and serves as a metaphor