The first words of Jesus in the Book of Mathew are, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" (Mathew 3:15). He is speaking to John the Baptist about being baptized in water.
The act of baptism was the gate into Jesus' ministry which immediately opened into the desert of temptation. We will not be affective ministers until we are first obedient to God and secondly overcome severe temptation.
