achilles2005
Member
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2006
- Messages
- 3
One question that hangs around in my mind is why at all John began baptizing people. He certainly was not trying to wash their sins. He was not promising them a kind of salvation.
John himself had answered this question. John wrote at (1:29-31), “And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water".
As after, John had immersed Jesus into water the heavens opened and spirit of God descended upon Jesus; in the same way, it is now clear to me as to why John had been baptizing. John was trying to make Jesus manifest to Israel.
Jews believed that John too is a prophet. He indeed was the last prophet to emerge just before Jesus came. They came and asked him when Messiah would come, when redeemer would come? They were crushed by1000 years of captivity. Earlier prophets had promised them a Messiah; and, they eagerly waited for His coming.
John tried to explain that He would come in far greater suffocating times than they have so far experienced. What type of suffocating times would that be they wondered? They insisted for an answer and John offered to give them an example. He asked them to step into water. He pressed their heads gently into the water and held their heads under water until they gasped for breath. Then he said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh 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" (Matthew 3:11).
Jesus Himself wanted that John should baptize Him. John did the same what he had done to others. Jesus emerged out of water enlightened. Heaven opened… means it all became clear to him. He knew now He was Son of God. He went to experience greater suffering than He had experienced at the hands of John. He went to fast in the desert. This one experience with John led Him to His crucifixion.
John himself had answered this question. John wrote at (1:29-31), “And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water".
As after, John had immersed Jesus into water the heavens opened and spirit of God descended upon Jesus; in the same way, it is now clear to me as to why John had been baptizing. John was trying to make Jesus manifest to Israel.
Jews believed that John too is a prophet. He indeed was the last prophet to emerge just before Jesus came. They came and asked him when Messiah would come, when redeemer would come? They were crushed by1000 years of captivity. Earlier prophets had promised them a Messiah; and, they eagerly waited for His coming.
John tried to explain that He would come in far greater suffocating times than they have so far experienced. What type of suffocating times would that be they wondered? They insisted for an answer and John offered to give them an example. He asked them to step into water. He pressed their heads gently into the water and held their heads under water until they gasped for breath. Then he said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh 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" (Matthew 3:11).
Jesus Himself wanted that John should baptize Him. John did the same what he had done to others. Jesus emerged out of water enlightened. Heaven opened… means it all became clear to him. He knew now He was Son of God. He went to experience greater suffering than He had experienced at the hands of John. He went to fast in the desert. This one experience with John led Him to His crucifixion.
