Published: 16/05/2020
Introduction:
Human souls are tainted by their ancestors' unforgiven sins from conception in their mother's womb, as confirmed by Psalm 51:5: 'Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.'
"Baptism is a religious ritual that frees the human soul from the stains of ancestors' sins. I will delve deeper into the question of 'how' in subsequent discussions. Interestingly, Jesus, born without ancestral sin as Luke 1:35 confirms - 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason, the holy Child to be born will be called the Son of God' - still chose to be baptized. Why?"
Scripture On the Birth of Jesus Christ:
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”
Understanding Jesus’ Baptism:
Indeed, Jesus Christ was born sacred, so why did He choose to be baptized? To understand Jesus' baptism, grasping the concept of baptism itself is essential.
The angel referenced Mary's relative Elizabeth, who had been barren, and her husband Zacharias. In their old age, they miraculously conceived a child, John the Baptist, six months before Mary's pregnancy, fulfilling God's plan. John carried out the 'Baptism of Repentance' with water by the Jordan River. Recognizing his age difference and spiritual inferiority, John humbly declared:
'I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.' (Matthew 3:11)"
Jesus Seek “Baptism of Water”:
Jesus arrived at the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist. As He stepped into the water, John was astonished, knowing Jesus held the power of "Baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire" yet sought "Baptism of Water" from him.
Hesitant John the Baptist:
Anyone can easily compare the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire" and the "Baptism of Water" to conclude the former one is greater. Therefore, John tried to deter Jesus.
Matthew 3:14-15 records their conversation:
John: "I need to be baptized by you; why do you come to me?"
Jesus: "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness."
Then John consented.
Question Remain Unanswered:
John initially tried to deter Jesus but later consented during their conversation. Their exchange clarifies that Jesus, having the power of "Baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire," deemed John's "Baptism of Water" right, just, and a necessary ritual. However, a question remains: Why did Jesus choose to be baptized, despite John's "Baptism of Repentance" with water? Jesus, born stain-free from ancestral sins and sinless Himself, was fully surrendered to the truth and obeyed the Father's commandments.
What prompted Jesus, who was holy and blameless, to undergo "Baptism of Water"? This question arises because, according to the angel's message, Jesus was born holy, untainted by ancestral sins, and had never committed any sin. He was dedicated to the truth and fully obeyed the Father's commands.
The ‘Baptism of Water’ by John:
In Bethania by the Jordan River, John the Baptist administered the "Baptism of Repentance" with water, a practice beyond the understanding of Jewish and Pharisaic leaders. They sent Pharisees to inquire about John's identity and authority. The conversation as recorded in the scripture:
Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask John, "Who are you?"
John confessed freely, "I am not the Messiah."
They asked, "Are you Elijah?" He replied, "No."
"Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."
Finally, they asked, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
"On this, John the Baptist referenced Prophet Isaiah's prophecy and replied to them; as written in the scripture: 'He said, 'I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, "Make straight the way for the Lord.'" John 1:19-23
Assessing John’s reply:
On this, John the Baptist referenced Prophet Isaiah's prophecy and replied to them; as written in the scripture: 'He said, 'I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, "Make straight the way for the Lord.'" John 1:23
John the Baptist's response contains the following key points that require attention:
1. Wilderness:
A vast, unrelenting expanse, utterly devoid of life and vitality. The landscape stretches out endlessly, barren and deathly still, with seemingly no signs of existence anywhere. Even if life manages to cling on, it's a desperate struggle for survival amidst harsh conditions. The once-lush greenery has withered away, leaving behind a desolate spread. Thorny thickets and Babylon bushes have claimed the terrain, rendering every step a painful and laborious endeavour.
John the Baptist indicates of a wilderness where greenery of love has withered. This desolation results from lacking divine love, kindness, humility, forgiveness, repentance, empathy, and patience. Instead, envy, anger, greed, quarrels, lust, strife, adultery, abortion and murder prevail, casting a shadow of hopelessness and despair.
2. Voice Calling in the Wilderness:
Desolation resulting from unrighteousness grieves the Lord, who created us in His image with souls filled with divine love. Truth, embodied in love, humility, kindness, patience, compassion, empathy, forgiveness, repentance, and justice, abounds. However, we deplete divine grace through unrighteousness and wither the greenery of love, converting it to wilderness. The One calling in such wilderness is the Lord. John the Baptist heard Him in the wilderness and became His voice among the people, urging adaptation of divine love, humility, peace, compassion, empathy, endurance, and justice.
3. Make Straight the Way for the Lord:
In the wilderness, John the Baptist heard the voice of the Lord God and became the voice of the Lord among the people. He knew that the people's sinful lifestyle had converted the holy land into a wilderness, and the Lord's path was obstructed due to the crookedness, wickedness, lawlessness, and unrighteousness in the region. Therefore, he called for a 'Baptism of Repentance’ for forgiveness to welcome the Lord by making His way holy, filling the hearts of the people with divine love, humility, peace, compassion, empathy, endurance, and justice.
Pharisees' Spiritual Blindness
The Pharisees, sent to John, struggled to comprehend his 'Baptism of Repentance' by water and the liberation from ancestral sins. In John 1:25, they asked, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" This inquiry reveals their familiarity with baptism and the understanding that only the Messiah, Elijah, or a prophet could baptize.
However, the Pharisees failed to grasp the true purpose. John's baptism was for those impure from within, to be anointed by the Lord God to join the unique, invisible spiritual community. Unfortunately, the Pharisees refused to repent, freeing themselves from sin, and declined baptism to cleanse their ancestral sins. Moreover, they rejected John as the Lord's forerunner and prophet.
Therefore, John the Baptist answered them, as written in Luke 3:16:
“I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I will come, whose sandals' straps I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
John's Call Bears Ample Fruit:
The response to John the Baptist's call for repentance was overwhelming and unprecedented, as numerous tax collectors, soldiers, government officials, merchants, artisans, and people from all walks of life repented, were baptized with water, and vowed to renounce unrighteousness and follow the path of righteousness. Through the 'Baptism of Repentance,' John united them as members of the 'unique and invisible spiritual community,' cleansing them of their own and ancestral sins.
4. Rationale between "Baptism of Water" and Age:
In the context of spiritual rebirth, the "Baptism of Water" holds different significance for children and adults.
Children, considered sinless and innocent, require baptism to cleanse them of ancestral sins (sins inherited from their lineage). This baptism grants spiritual protection and purity.
In contrast, adults and mature individuals, having committed sins since youth, must repent of all transgressions. The "Baptism of Repentance" with water purifies them of both personal and ancestral sins, granting membership in God's 'unique and invisible spiritual community.' Without baptism, they cannot attain spiritual purity and membership.
In conclusion, the "Baptism of Water" initiates spiritual rebirth, addressing the distinct needs at different ages and uniting believers in God's spiritual community.
Therefore, the scripture confirms: "And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." (Mark 1:4)
To be Continued…..
Please read the Significance of 'Baptism of Water' in the next article.
Amen!
Praise be to God, Thanks be to God.
Not being Unrighteous is Religion!!
India! Peace be upon you!!
Peace to the whole world!!