Jesus’ baptism foreshadows his death and resurrection by dramatizing, in advance, his descent under judgment and his rising into new life, the very pattern into which believers are later baptized “into his death” and raised with him.[thegospelcoalition]
New Testament teaching on baptism (especially Romans 6) interprets Christian baptism as symbolic participation in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection: “baptized into his death,” “buried with him through baptism,” and raised to “walk in newness of life.”[desiringgod]
Jesus’ own baptism stands at the head of this pattern; his going down into the Jordan and coming up again anticipates the later reality of the cross (death), tomb (burial), and Easter morning (resurrection), which the sacrament will proclaim.[thegospelcoalition]
Reformed preaching and commentary often draw a connection between Israel’s water-judgment events (e.g., the Red Sea) and Jesus’ baptism: passing through water signifies facing death and divine judgment.[thegospelcoalition]
In that imagery, Jesus’ immersion is a symbolic descent into the waters of judgment he will fully undergo at the cross, entering the place where sinners deserve to be drowned so that, in due time, their judgment will fall on him.[thegospelcoalition]
Just as baptism is “burial” with Christ so that believers may rise in newness of life, Jesus’ emergence from the water anticipates his resurrection and vindication.[desiringgod]
The Father’s voice and the Spirit’s descent at the baptism prefigure the later vindication of the Son in resurrection: the one who goes down in solidarity with sinners will be raised and declared righteous, securing new life for those united to him.[thegospelcoalition]
Reformed and Reformed Baptist theology emphasizes that baptism is a sign of union with Christ in his death and life; believers are “placed in Christ” and thereby “introduced into his death” and raised with him.[plymouthbrethren]
Because Jesus’ baptism anticipates the death–resurrection pattern, Christian baptism now visibly enacts what his later cross and empty tomb accomplished: our old man crucified with him, buried, and a new life begun in his resurrection power.[desiringgod]
Would you like to trace this typology directly through Matthew 3 and Romans 6 in a more detailed exegetical way, perhaps with some Greek work to support your sermon or teaching notes?