Different Baptizing during and before JESUS Came

Posted by: Administrator on Wed, Oct 17, 2012:

There was no Old Testament command to be baptized, so

Focal Verses Matthew 3:1-6
3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in

the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins;

and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Thunder in the Desert!
While Jesus was living in the Galilean hills, John, called “the Baptizer,” was preaching in the

desert country of Judea. His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings:

“Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.”
John and his message were authorized by Isaiah’s prophecy:
Thunder in the desert!
Prepare for God’s arrival!
Make the road smooth and straight!
John dressed in a camel-hair habit tied at the waist by a leather strap. He lived on a diet of

locusts and wild field honey. People poured out of Jerusalem, Judea, and the Jordanian

countryside to hear and see him in action. There at the Jordan River those who came to

confess their sins were baptized into a changed life.
,

Keep in Mind Matthew 3:17
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God’s

Spirit—it looked like a dove—descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice:

“This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.”
John Baptizes Jesus Matthew 3:13-17
John was confused about why Jesus would ask him to baptize Him. Even today, it’s hard to

understand. John’s baptism was to demonstrate repentance for sins, but Jesus never sinned and

He has not inherited Adams’s sinful nature. John felt that it would be more appropriate for

Jesus to baptize him than vice versa. Yet Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out

all that God requires.” Matthew 3:15. There was no Old Testament command to be baptized, so

this was not what Jesus meant. Jesus was baptized to shoe Hid identification with us sinners

needing repentance. (Setting an example for us to follow).
The baptism of Jesus was also significant because it was at this time that the Father (the voice

_ and the Holy Spirit (the dove) gave witness to the authenticity of His ministry. This was the

beginning of Jesus’ ministry, and this verified for John that Jesus was actually the Son of God.

And it must also have been encouraging to Jesus as He hard His Father saying that He loved

Him and that Jesus brought Him great joy (Matthew 3:17).

Jews, at the time of Jesus, practiced baptism for Gentiles who got circumcised and became

Jewish converts. While reciting their belief in the on true God, they would walk into the water.
(Deuteronomy 6:4).
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Attention, Israel!
GOD, our God! GOD the one and only!

,

John’s baptism was different in that he administered the baptism. But it was also different

because it emphasized repentance leading to a changed life. This was to prepare hearts for the

coming of Jesus. But to his Jewish audience, the most unique thing about John’s baptism was

that Jews, the children of Abraham, had to repent and be baptized.

John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance only. His baptism was to prepare people’s hearts for

the coming of the Messiah. A number of Scripture passages talk about the baptism of John

being insufficient after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (for instance see the story

of Apollos in Acts 18:24-26). Read Romans 6:4 and discuss the symbolism of Christian baptism

and how it goes beyond simple repentance. Discuss your own understanding of the meaning of

baptism when you were baptized. Can you think of ways to make baptism more meaningful at

your church?
Acts 18:24-26
24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the

scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake

and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard,

they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
A man named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was a Jew, born in Alexandria, Egypt, and a terrific

speaker, eloquent and powerful in his preaching of the Scriptures. He was well-educated in the

way of the Master and fiery in his enthusiasm. Apollos was accurate in everything he taught

about Jesus up to a point, but he only went as far as the baptism of John. He preached with

power in the meeting place. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and told

him the rest of the story.

,

Baptism is a public profession of your faith in Christ. If you have received Jesus Christ as your

Saviour and have not been baptized, make plans to follow this command of our Lord.

(Matthew 3:15).
,

,

,

,

If you have any questions ask.
Have a blessed day and week.
Jesus bless,
Love, Internet Tel-Evangelist,Debbie
,

,

,

,

,

Determination brings the strength to continue, the steadiness to succeed, and the wisdom to slip
past difficulties undisturbed.