Those Who Believe And Ae Baptized Shall Be Saved, Said Jesus - Part 2467

Jesus stated, "... he that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned." (Mark 16:16) 

In the scriptures, we see Jesus coming from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. "But John forbade Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me?" (Matthew 3:13-14) 

This is an important learning point, because John always pointed people to the One who would come after him. As we know from previous posts, John was the forerunner to Jesus the Christ. 

"In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa, and saying, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 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." 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. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins." (Matthew 3:1-6)

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that come after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire: whose fan [is] in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

Then come Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized of Thee, and come Thou to me?" And Jesus answering said unto him, "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he suffered Him. 

And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:7-17)

Herein, Jesus is coming to John to be water baptized. But John forbids Him, saying that John has need to be baptized of Jesus, and not the other way around. But according to prophecy, as Jesus points out, He had need to be baptized of John, so that all things written afore would be confirmed.

" ... for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness." (Matthew 3:15)

Fulfilling all righteousness was not the only prophecy to be fulfilled when Jesus was baptized. We also know from the scriptures that John (full of the Holy Ghost from birth/in the womb) understood that when He saw the Spirit descend and stay upon Him, that He -- Jesus - was the promised Lamb of God. 

And John bare record, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him. And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, "Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizes with the Holy Ghost." And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God!" (John 1:2-34)

"And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him ..." (Matthew 3:16) 

Perhaps, at this point, it's important to note that not all of the people who came to see John baptizing in the Jordan actually went into the water. In Luke, the scripture clarifies this point, "And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him." (Luke 7:29-30)

At the same time, it may be equally important to note that Jesus did not baptize anyone. "Though Jesus Himself baptized not, but His disciples." (John 4:2)

For Jesus, being baptized was the taking on of the cup that He would later be baptized with -- the cross. Both Matthew and Mark attest to this conversation, when Jesus' disciples believed that they could drink form the same cup, that Jesus was going to be baptized with. In fact, as we see from the scriptures below, they believed they were able.

But Jesus answered and said, "Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They say unto Him, "We are able." And He saith unto them, "Ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on My right hand, and on My left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of My Father." (Matthew 20:22-23)

But Jesus said unto them, "Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" And they said unto Him, "We can." And Jesus said unto them, "Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:" (Mark 10:38-39)

But I digress. 

Again, to clarify that Jesus did not baptize anyone -- see how the Pharisees determined to set Him up, saying that the same Jesus who was with John beyond the Jordan, "the same baptizes all that come unto Him.

"After these things came Jesus and His disciples into the land of Judæa; and there He tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized." 

As you can see, John's water baptism of repentance was not a sprinkling of water (as some modern day religious cultures might have us believe) but instead, water baptism was by immersion. From the scriptures ...

"And they came unto John, and said unto him, "Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizes, and all [men] come to Him." John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, "I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him ... he that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears Him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:22-30)

Once again, John was saying that the time had come for Jesus to increase and for John to decrease.  In time, we understand that even though John had performed no miracles, the people had come to trust that everything that John spake of this man Jesus was true. 

When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John ... though Jesus baptized not but His disciples, He left Judæa, and departed again into Galilee." (John 4:1-3)

"Therefore they sought again to take Him: but He escaped out of their hand, and went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there He abode. And many resorted unto Him, and said, "John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true." (John 10:39-41) 

More to come! Stand in the offering plate.