This is He who Baptise with the Holy Spirit.

Now the people were in expectation, and all  reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, John answered them saying to all, “I indeed baptise you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worth to loose. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Luke 3:15-16      

The Pharisees and scribes rejected, the will of God even before Jesus, when they rejected John. That John was sent to make the way for Jesus to prepare the hearts of the people to receive Him. “And you, child will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God.” Luke 1:76-78 That we can even go as far as to say, his disciples were already set to receive Him having been baptised by John, we know John and Andrew were John’s disciples. And from the way the conduct themselves as soon as they discovered Jesus, they must have also sought and brought others to John. Andrew, Peter, Philip Nathaniel, John James. Luke writes, “even tax collector justified God having baptised by him,” so you can add Matthew to that. They were already baptised to receive Him. 

“Even the tax collectors justified God having been baptised with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptised by him.” Luke 7:29-30 

Why did Pharisees and scribes reject it? They did not consider themselves to be sinners. It would be an admission of sin to submit to the baptism of repentance by John. Time and time again they were caught out pointing at the sins of others and considering themselves righteous. Therefore they were unable to receive Him.  “You shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Though Jesus Himself did not baptise, but His disciples did. John 4:1-2 Baptism of water is the ordinance given to men, through which we are brought into a fellowship of faith. The first time Jesus breathed on His disciples saying “receive the Holy Spirit.” The breath of God is a means by which Adam gained life. When Jesus breathed on them He gave them of His Spirit, as it says “the last Adam became a life giving Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 15:45

Being born of the Spirt : having the Spirit of Christ : the purification of heart, is what makes us a candidate to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, a dead spirit can not receive Him. However the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a baptism of fire:

Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues.  Acts 2:3-4

Then if we are willingly submit to be baptised and be admitted into the body Christ through the ordinance granted to men, is that not more reason for us to seek to be baptised by the One we are identified.

To be baptised with the Holy Spirit is to be baptised by Jesus Christ.