rerogative
of Christ's baptism over all other baptisms: that it is the entrance
to the kingdom of God, which is signified by the land of promise;
wherefore it is said (John 3:5): "Unless a man be born again of water
and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." To this
also is to be referred the dividing of the water of the Jordan by
Elias, who was to be snatched up into heaven in a fiery chariot, as
it is related 4 Kings 2: because, to wit, the approach to heaven is
laid open by the fire of the Holy Ghost, to those who pass through
the waters of baptism. Therefore it was fitting that Christ should be
baptized in the Jordan.

Reply Obj. 1: The crossing of the Red Sea foreshadowed baptism in
this--that baptism washes away sin: whereas the crossing of the
Jordan foreshadows it in this--that it opens the gate to the heavenly
kingdom: and this is the principal effect of baptism, and
accomplished through Christ alone. And therefore it was fitting that
Christ should be baptized in the Jordan rather than in the sea.

Reply Obj. 2: In baptism we "go up" by advancing in grace: for which
we need to "go down" by humility, according to James 4:6: "He giveth
grace to the humble." And to this "going down" must the name of the
Jordan be referred.

Reply Obj. 3: As Augustine says in a sermon for the Epiphany (x): "As
of yore the waters of the Jordan were held back, so now, when Christ
was baptized, the torrent of sin was held back." Or else this may
signify that against the downward flow of the waters the river of
blessings flowed upwards.
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FIFTH ARTICLE [III, Q. 39, Art. 5]

Whether the Heavens Should Have Been Opened Unto Christ at His
Baptism?

Objection 1: It would seem that the heavens should not have been
opened unto Christ at His baptism. For the heavens should be opened
unto one who needs to enter heaven, by reason of his being out of
heaven. But Christ was always in heaven, according to John 3:13: "The
Son of Man who is in heaven." Therefore it seems that the heavens
should not have been opened unto Him.

Obj. 2: Further, the opening of the heavens is understood either in a
corporal or in a spiritual sense. But it cannot be understood in a
corporal sense: because the heavenly bodies are impassible and
indissoluble, according to Job 37:18: "Thou perhaps hast made the
heavens with Him, which are most strong, as if they were of molten
brass." In like manner neither can it be unde