<P> The baptism of Jesus is described in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke . John's gospel does not directly describe Jesus' baptism . </P> <P> John the Baptist was a 1st - century mission preacher on the banks of the River Jordan . He baptized Jews for repentance in the River Jordan . </P> <P> At the start of his ministry, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist . Critical scholars broadly agree that the baptism of Jesus is one of the most authentic, or historically likely, events in the life of the historical Jesus . Christian baptism has its origin in the baptism of Jesus, in both a direct and historical sense . Many of the earliest followers of Jesus were people who, like him, were baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist . </P> <P> The Gospel of John states that Jesus at an early stage led a mission of baptism that drew crowds . John 4: 2, considered by many scholars to be a later editorial insertion, denies that Jesus himself baptized and states that he did so only through his disciples . </P>

Who was the first person baptized in the bible