Jesus's Baptism

1. Jesus’s Baptism was Important.

So was John (as a witness to Christ)

Especially his interaction with John the Baptist; Each gospel starts off Jesus’s ministry with him interacting with and being proclaimed Messiah by John.

Matthew 3:1–17 (ESV)

3 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

make his paths straight.’ ”

4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

John 1:29–34 (ESV)

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

What is Baptism?

The very fact that the baptism mentioned in the Scripture is a baptism which one man can administer to another, is sufficient to prove that in this baptism there is some outward, visible, material rite, ceremony, or ordinance which Christian people are to observe.

~Rev. HUGH STOWELL BROWN

2. The Greek word for Baptize means “To Dip or Immerse”.

It and words in its word family are translated different ways in the NT; as “To Dip” (when Jesus Dipped bread into the wine glass on the last supper), “To Wash” (When the disciples weren’t washing their hands before eating), and also “Baptize”

Close OT analogues: Baptism in OT example: lepers had to wash in running water when they were proclaimed clean:

Note: Jesus cleansed lepers before the washing took place

Since John was important, lets talk about his baptism.

Baptism of repentance and preparation, awaiting the messiah.

Closest Jewish practice was of the essenes, in qumron.

3. John’s Baptism is different than Christian Baptism.

See acts 19 verse

"Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. " https://ref.ly/Ac19.3-5;esv

4. In the New Testament, the people we see getting baptized in Jesus’s name are always Believers.

"So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls" https://ref.ly/Ac2.41;esv

"Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip" https://ref.ly/Ac8.13;esv

"And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized" https://ref.ly/Ac8.36;esv

"he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened." https://ref.ly/Ac9.18-19;esv (Paul)

"Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. " https://ref.ly/Ac10.46-48;esv (Cornelius)

"The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. " https://ref.ly/Ac16.14-15;esv (Lydia)

"And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family." https://ref.ly/Ac16.33;esv (Philippian Jailer)

5. Christian Baptism is a Response to Belief and Repentance.

and the first step of discipleship.

6. In the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-19), making Disciples consisted of “Baptizing” and “Teaching”

English Standard Version Chapter 28

All authority iin heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 jGo therefore and kmake disciples of lall nations, jbaptizing them min2 nthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them oto observe all that pI have commanded you. And behold, qI am with you always, to rthe end of the age.”

7. In his writings, Paul Assumed the believers he addressed were baptized.

Paul assumed: "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. " https://ref.ly/Ro6.3-4;esv

8. Disciples Disciple People