Did Jesus baptize?

If we read only the Synoptic gospels (Mark, Matthew and Luke), we don't know whether Jesus ever baptized people like John the Baptist did. The 3 gospels do not contain any record of Jesus baptizing anyone. However, we cannot argue from this absence of record that Jesus had never baptized anyone. The absence of record does not imply absence of activity.

Entering the 21^st century, scholars and biblical popularizers (such as a number of BBC documentaries) suggest that in the 1^st century, Christianity had to compete for believers with many other religious movements such as the Baptist, the Qumran community etc. Acts of the Apostles talks about Simon the Magician as well as many disciples of John the Baptist as far as Corinth (Acts 18:25) and Ephesus (Acts 19:3)

The relationship between Christians and the disciples of John the Baptist would be an embarrassing one. No gospel denies the fact that Jesus was baptized by the Baptist. Therefore, in a sense, Jesus was one of the disciples of the Baptist. Put it in another way, the disciples of Baptist could demand respect from Christians because it looked as if Christianity was only a branch of the Baptist Movement. If we read the gospels' report of Jesus' baptism, we find that Mark, whose audience were Christians living in Rome, was direct and states that the Baptist acknowledged Jesus' superior status over him. Matthew, on the other hand, takes great pain to show that the Baptist himself wanted to be baptized by Jesus. Luke was ambiguous whether Jesus was baptised by the Baptist. During the time the Synoptic evangelists wrote their gospels, Christians were trying not to be identified with the Baptist Movement on one hand and absorbing their followers on the other.

When John wrote his gospel, the Baptist Movement seemed to have been a lost cause. John did not shy away from telling us that the first disciple of Jesus was Andrew. He was actually a disciple of the Baptist (John 1:35-40). In today's reading, we read of Jesus baptizing people in the land of Judea in the south while the Baptist at Aenon near Salim near Samaria in the north (John 3:22-23, 26). So, early in his ministry, Jesus was doing things similar to those of the Baptist. By the time John wrote his gospel, Christianity must have been quite well established while the Baptist Movement had withered. Of course, this is a bold assertion and needs scholarly affirmation. The last statement made by the Baptist in John is
He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30).
Then John reflects on the situation and makes the following conclusion:
He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth belongs to the earth, and of the earth he speaks; he who comes from heaven is above all (John 3:31). The Baptist belongs to the earth and speaks of things of the earth. Jesus is above all. This is the last nail driven into the coffin of the Baptist. It spells the end of the Baptist Movement. Jesus is above all because
the Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him (John 3:35-36).

My sweet Jesus, Glory and honour be Yours forever. You are the Son of God. Yet You are humble enough to take up our lowly humanity to die for us. In Your resurrection we trust. May our hope in You sustain us till we meet again in Paradise. Amen.