Matt 3:
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.
Then he suffered him.

Let's look these two places: "Galilee" and "Jordan".

"Galilee"
1056 Galilaia (gal-il-ah'-yah);
of Hebrew origin [1551]; Galiloea (i.e. the heathen circle), a region of Palestine:
KJV-- Galilee.
1551 ekdechomai (ek-dekh'-om-ahee);
from 1537 and 1209; to accept from some source, i.e. (by implication) to await:
KJV-- expect, look (tarry) for, wait (for).
1537 ek (ek) or ex (ex);
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or
cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):
KJV-- after, among, X are, at, betwixt (-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+abundantly above), for (-th), from
(among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, ...ly, (because, by reason) of,
off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with (-out). Often
used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.
1209 dechomai (dekh'-om-ahee);
middle voice of a primary verb; to receive (in various applications, literally or figuratively):
KJV-- accept, receive, take. Compare 2983.

1056 Galilaia-
Galilee = "Circuit"
the name of a region of northern Palestine, bounded on the north by Syria, on the west by Sidon, Tyre, Ptolemais
and their territories and the promontory of Carmel, on the south by Samaria and on the east by the Jordan. It was divided into Upper Galilee and Lower Galilee.
1551 ekdechomai-
1) to receive, to accept
2) to look for, to expect, to wait for, to await
1537 ek or ex-
out of, from, by, away from
1209 dechomai-
1) to take with the hand
to take hold of, to take up
2) to take up, to receive
a) used of a place receiving one
b) to receive or grant access to, a visitor, not to refuse intercourse or friendship
1) to receive hospitality
2) to receive into one's family to bring up or educate
c) used of the thing offered in speaking, teaching, instructing
to receive favorably, give ear to, embrace, make one's own, approve, not to reject
d) to receive, that is, to take upon oneself, to sustain, to bear,
to endure
3) to receive, get to learn

GALILEE
[GAL ih lee] (circle or circuit)-- a Roman province of Palestine during the time of Jesus (see Map 3, B-2).
Measuring roughly 80 kilometers (50 miles) north to south and about 58 kilometers (30 miles) east to west, Galilee was the most northerly of the three provinces of Palestine-- Galilee, Samaria, and Judea. Covering more than a
third of Palestine's territory, Galilee extended from the base of Mount Hermon in the north to the Carmel and Gilboa ranges in the south. The Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River were its western and eastern borders, respectively.
Originally a district in the hill country of Naphtali <2 Kin. 15:29; 1 Chr. 6:76>, Galilee was inhabited by a "mixed race" of Jews and heathen. The Canaanites continued to dominate Galilee for many years after Joshua's invasion
<Judg. 1:30-33; 4:2>. It was historically known among the Jews as "Galilee of the Gentiles" <Is. 9:1; Matt. 4:15>.
Galilee had such a mixed population that Solomon could award unashamedly to Hiram, king of Tyre, 20 of its cities in payment for timber from Lebanon <1 Kin. 9:11>. After conquest by TiglathPileser, king of Assyria, (about 732 B. C.), Galilee was repopulated by a colony of heathen immigrants <2 Kin. 15:29; 17:24>. Thus the Galilean accent and dialect were very distinct <Matt. 26:69,73>. For this and other reasons, the pure-blooded Jews of Judea, who were more orthodox in tradition, despised the Galileans <John 7:52>. Rather contemptuously Nathanael asked, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" <John 1:46>.
Galilee consisted essentially of an upland area of forests and farmlands. An imaginary line from the plain of Acco (Acre) to the north end of the Sea of Galilee divided the country into Upper and Lower Galilee. Since this area was
actually the foothills of the Lebanon mountains, Upper and Lower Galilee had two different elevations.
The higher of the elevations, Upper Galilee, was more than 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) above sea level; and in the days of the New Testament it was densely forested and thinly inhabited. The lower elevation, Lower Galilee,
averaged between 500 to 700 meters (1,500 to 2,000 feet) above sea level; it was less hilly and enjoyed a milder climate than Upper Galilee. This area included the rich plain of Esdraelon and was a "pleasant" land <Gen. 49:15>.
Chief exports of the region were olive oil, grains, and fish.
Galilee was the boyhood home of Jesus Christ. He was a lad of Nazareth, as it was prophesied: "He shall be called a Nazarene" <Matt. 2:23>. Here He attempted to begin His public ministry, but was rejected by His own people <Luke 4:16-30>.
All the disciples of Jesus, with the exception of Judas, came from Galilee <Matt. 4:18; John 1:43-44; Acts 1:11; 2:7>. In Cana of Galilee He performed His first miracle <John 2:11>; in fact, 25 of His 33 great miracles were performed in Galilee. Capernaum in Galilee became the headquarters of His ministry <Matt. 4:13; 9:1>. Of His 32
parables, 19 were spoken in Galilee. The first three gospels concern themselves largely with Christ's Galilean ministry. Most of the events of our Lord's life and ministry are set against the backdrop of the Galilean hills.
When Herod the Great died in 4 B. C., Galilee fell to the authority of HEROD ANTIPAS, who governed until A. D. 39. He built his capital city at Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee and was succeeded by HEROD AGRIPPA I who took the title of "king." After Agrippa's death in A. D. 44 <Acts 12:23>, Galilee became a ZEALOT stronghold until the Romans crushed Jewish resistance in Palestine between A. D. 70 and 73.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary) (Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)


"Jordan"
2446 Iordanes (ee-or-dan'-ace);
of Hebrew origin [3383]; the Jordanes (i.e. Jarden), a river of Palestine:
KJV-- Jordan.
3383 mete (may'-teh);
from 3361 and 5037; not too, i.e. (in continued negation) neither or nor; also, not even:
KJV-- neither, (n-) or, so as much.
3361 me (may);
a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverbially) not, (conjunctionally) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer [whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one]) whether:
KJV-- any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, [can-] not,
nothing, that not, un [-taken], without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also
3362, 3363, 3364, 3372, 3373, 3375, 3378.
5037 te (teh);
a primary particle (enclitic) of connection or addition; both or also (properly, as correlation of 2532):
KJV-- also, and, both, even, then, whether. Often used in composition, usually as the latter part.
2532 kai (kahee);
apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:
KJV-- and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.

2446 Iordanes-
Jordan = "the descender"
the one river of Palestine, has its course of little more than 200 miles (300 kilometers), from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the head of the Dead Sea.
3383 mete-
and not, neither... nor, not so
3361 me-
no, not lest
5037 te-
1) not only... but also
2) both... and
3) as... so
2532 kai-
and, also, even, indeed, but

JORDAN
[JORE dun] (descending, flowing river)- the name of the longest and most important river in Palestine. The river is part of the great rift valley that runs north to south into Africa. This rift valley is one of the lowest depressions on earth.
The headwaters of the Jordan River begin north of the Sea of Galilee. A number of rivers flow into Lake Huleh north of the Sea of Galilee. These waters emerge at the southern tip of the lake as the Jordan River. It is possible to ford the river just below the lake where the waters are low. In the ancient world trade caravans going from
Damascus to Egypt probably crossed at this point.
At Lake Huleh the headwaters of the Jordan are about 70 meters (230 feet) above sea level. Some 16 kilometers (10 miles) south of the Sea of Galilee the river is about 213 meters (700 feet) below sea level. At the northern end of the Dead Sea (the end of the Jordan), the river has dropped to about 393 meters (1,290 feet) below sea level.
This drastic drop is reflected in the name of the river, which means "the descender." The Jordan made a natural boundary as a serious obstacle in any east-to-west movement in the land of Palestine. A number of shallow spots, or fords, occur in the Jordan. Since bridges did not exist in the biblical period, possession of these fords
was an important military factor.
The distance that the Jordan covers from the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee to the northern end of the Dead Sea is only about 113 kilometers (70 miles). But the winding, zigzag pattern of the river is such that it curves for about 323 kilometers (200 miles) as it weaves its way north to south. The river varies from 27 to 30 meters (90 to
100 feet) in width and between 1 and 3 meters (3 and 10 feet) deep. The water is not really navigable. With great difficulty flat-bottom boats are able to move along parts of the waterway; they must be towed, however, through sandbars and must survive swift currents because of the descending nature of the valley. There are some 27
series of rapids in the Jordan.
At one time the Jordan valley may have been a large lake. Earthquakes and tremors over the centuries have dumped loose soil and gravel into the river, forcing new courses for the water that produced the switchback design of the Jordan. The northern part of the Jordan has numerous tributaries that flood their banks in winter
and spring, allowing for good irrigation of the farmlands nearby. It was probably this fertile area that caught Lot's attention <Gen. 13:10>. The middle and southern areas of Palestine that parallel the Jordan are the badlands with scarcely any rainfall. This type of land is only interrupted by an occasional oasis, such as those at Jericho.
The lower Jordan valley can be divided into three distinct regions. The first region is the Zor or thickets of underbrush that because of seasonal flooding has produced a jungle of vines, dense brush, shrubs, willows, and poplar trees. This area is sometimes referred to in the Bible as "Jordan's dense thickets" <Jer. 12:5; 49:19; Zech.
11:3>, (NEB; the jungle of the Jordan, RSV). The sons of the prophets were cutting down trees in the thickets of the Jordan when Elisha made an iron ax head float on the river, after it had been accidentally lost <2 Kin. 6:1-7>.
The second area is called the Gattara, or badlands, on the outside of the Zor. This area is covered with sediment, probably from the period when the whole valley was flooded. Until the modern period, the soil was too salty for crops. But modern Israeli scientists have reclaimed the soil by washing it with river water.
The third region of the lower Jordan is the Ghor, or upper region. This area is steep but fertile. It has supported farming especially in the first 40 kilometers (25 miles) of the northern end of the river. The last 8 kilometers (5 miles) at the southem end is too barren for farming.
When the Hebrew tribes approached the Promised Land, they did so from the eastern side of the Jordan. To some degree the Jordan River served as the boundary for the tribes <Num. 34:12>. Ancient Israel occupied territory on both sides of the river. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh settled on the eastern side of the Jordan.
Weak parties often went east of the Jordan to escape from the pressures from their opponents. For instance, Abner took Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, to the eastern side of the Jordan in opposition to David <2 Sam. 2:8>.
David fled to the eastern side after Absalom's initial success <2 Sam. 17:22-24; 19:15-18>. However, the crossing of the Jordan from east to west was symbolic of the arrival of the Hebrews in the Promised Land. The west side of the Jordan was the area generally thought to have been promised to Abraham.
It was probably at the south end of the river, near Jericho, that ancient Israel entered the region of Canaan <Joshua 3--4>. At Gilgal, near the Dead Sea, on the western side of the river about a mile from Jericho, an important shrine area was set up to commemorate the entrance of the Hebrews into the land <Josh. 4:19; 1 Sam.
7:16; 10:8>.
In the period between the Old Testament and the New Testament, the Jordan River formed the main eastern boundary of the Persian and Greek province of Judea. The DECAPOLIS, a federation of ten Greek cities, was formed on the eastern side of the Jordan in the Greek period. John the Baptist carried out his ministry in the
Jordan River region <Matt. 3:5-6; Mark 1:5; Luke 3:3; John 1:28; 3:26>. Jesus' ministry was initiated by his baptism in the waters of the Jordan <Matt. 3:13; Mark 1:9; Luke 4:1>. Jesus carried out His ministry on both sides of the Jordan <Matt. 4:15,25; Mark 3:8; John 10:40>.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary) (Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

Why did we take this long route (with all this information)?
Because YAHSHUA took the long route.
YAHSHUA came out Galilee, this often dangerous area which had become mixed with peoples of diverse understanding, to the Jordan, the place of decision and crossing over.
The Jordan runs from north to south, dividing east from west.

"for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness"

"fulfil"
4137 pleroo (play-ro'-o);
from 4134; to make replete, i.e. (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue,
diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.:
KJV-- accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.
4134 pleres (play'-race);
from 4130; replete, or covered over; by analogy, complete:
KJV-- full.
4130 pletho (play'-tho);
a prolonged form of a primary pleo (pleh'-o) (which appears only as an alternate in certain tenses and in the reduplicated form pimplemi); to "fill" (literally or figuratively [imbue, influence, supply]); specifically, to fulfil (time):
KJV-- accomplish, full (... come), furnish.

4137 pleroo-
1) to make full, to fill up, that is, to fill to the full,
to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally;
I abound, I am liberally supplied
2) to render full, that is, to complete
a) to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to
full measure, to fill to the brim
b) to consummate (a number):
1) to make complete in every particular, to render perfect
2) to carry through to the end, to accomplish, to carry out, (some undertaking)
c) to carry into effect, to bring to realization, to realize
1) used of matters of duty: to perform, to execute
2) used of sayings, promises, prophecies, to bring to pass, to ratify, to accomplish
3) used to fulfil, that is, to cause God's will (as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be, and God's
promises (given through the prophets) to receive fulfilment
4134 pleres-
1) full, that is, filled up (as opposed to empty)
a) used of hollow vessels
b) used of a surface, covered in every part
c) used of the soul, thoroughly permeated with
2) full, that is, complete
lacking nothing, perfect
4130 pletho-
1) to fill
2) to be fulfilled, to be filled


"righteousness"
1343 dikaiosune (dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay);
from 1342; equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification:
KJV-- righteousness.
1342 dikaios (dik'-ah-yos);
from 1349; equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively):
KJV-- just, meet, right (-eous).
1349 dike (dee'-kay);
probably from 1166; right (as self-evident), i.e. justice (the principle, a decision, or its execution):
KJV-- judgment, punish, vengeance.
1166 deiknuo (dike-noo'-o);
a prolonged form of an obsolete primary of the same meaning; to show (literally or figuratively):
KJV-- shew.

1343 dikaiosune-
1) in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God
a) the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God
b) integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting
2) in a narrower sense, justice or the virtue which gives each his due
1342 dikaios-
righteous, observing divine laws
a) in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God
1) used of those who seem to themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves to be righteous, who pride
themselves in their virtues, whether real or imagined
2) innocent, faultless, guiltless
3) used of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God, and who therefore needs no rectification in the heart or life
4) approved by or acceptable by God
b) in a narrower sense, rendering to each his due and that in a judicial sense, passing just judgment on others,
whether expressed in words or shown by the manner of dealing with them
1349 dike-
1) custom, usage
2) right, just
3) a suit at law
4) a judicial hearing, judicial decision, especially sentence of condemnation
5) execution of a sentence, punishment, to suffer punishment
6) the goddess Justice, avenging justice
1166 deiknuo-
1) to show, expose to the eyes
2) metaphorically,
a) to give evidence or proof of a thing
b) to show by words or to teach

Would our FATHER ask of you anything that HE, HIMSELF, had not first experienced?
As HE came in the flesh of YAHSHUA, JESUS CHRIST, HE gave witness, by ensample, that the first step of preparation is to be cleansed, so that one can become a vessel worthy of then being sealed and filled with HIS HOLY SPIRIT.
The act of submersion into the water is an act indicating that the servant has made their decision to take the first step.
The re-emergence from the water signifies a 're-birth', spiritually cleansed and innocent.
Yet, the earnest and sober repentance of one's sins is that which makes the spiritual change within that servant.
No amount of water can wash away the lesions of sin; yet, YAHSHUA is able to remove and heal these lesions.

What part did John the Baptist perform in all this?
He was an instrument or vessel by which these acts were completed.
And, in obeying YAHSHUA, he showed himself a worthy servant fit to help in the fulfillment of that which has need be....the fulfillment of righteousness.