One River - Two Banks

In our discussion of the two baptisms, we will discover that John’s Baptism and Jesus’ Baptism were for two different purposes and groups of people. I

Let’s define baptism and explain where the practice originated? The English word, “baptism” is not a translation but a transliteration of the Greek word “baptizo”. Baptizo literally means to submerge, plunge and overwhelm. This definition gives us the sense that when a person is being baptized in water then they are submerged into, plunged into and “overwhelmed by” water.

“Although the term “baptism” is not used to describe the Jewish rituals, the purification rites in Jewish laws and tradition, called “Tvilah,” have some similarity to baptism and the two have been linked. The “Tvilah” is the act of immersion in naturally sourced water, called a “Mikvah”. A mikvah is described as a bath in which certain Jewish ritual purifications are performed. Origin in the Jewish Bible and other Jewish texts, immersion in water for ritual purification was established for restoration to a condition of “ritual purity” in specific circumstances. For example, Jews who (according to the Law of Moses) became ritually defiled by contact with a corpse had to use the mikvah before being allowed to participate in the Holy Temple. Immersion is required for converts to Judaism as part of their conversion. Immersion in the mikvah represents a change in status in regards to purification, restoration, and qualification for full religious participation in the life of the community, ensuring that the cleansed person will not impose uncleanness on the property or its owners. It did not become customary, however, to immerse converts to Judaism until after the Babylonian Captivity.” In the book of Acts 19:1 – 7 a notable incident took place. The apostle Paul was ministering in the city of Ephesus and came across twelve believers. He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” To which they then replied, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” Paul was puzzled and further enquired, “Into what then were you baptized?” They then responded, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul began to explain what was the purpose of John’s baptism. He told them, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to One River - Two Banks John’s and Jesus’ Baptism

than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.”

John’s and Jesus’ Baptism

the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus”. He then rebaptized them. John’s baptism was to point people to Him who was to come: Jesus. Why did Paul rebaptize those believers who had previously been baptized by john? The Bible says of John in Matt. 11:10 – 13 (NKJV) “For this is He of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You’. “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater John was Jesus’ herald; he announced Jesus’ ministry.

John was the last prophet of the Old Testament. He wasn’t in the kingdom, we read, “…he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he”.

He was the one who God used to “pass the baton” from the Old Covenant to Jesus who would start the New Covenant. That is why John had to baptize Jesus; he publicly released Him into the earth i.e. “passed the baton” to Him.

Persons who were baptized by John were baptized under the “shadow”: the law. They needed to be baptized under the New Covenant. This explains why the scriptures tell us that Jesus’ disciples were baptizing persons. In. 4:1 – 2 (NASB) it says, “Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were),”

John’s baptism was in the name of him who was not yet there; he was to come. Jesus is, NOW, HERE and persons can be baptized in HIS name. p

Taken from the book: - “Foundational Doctrines – Based on Hebrews 6:1–2”, by David Ferguson, pg 16.