BAPTISM

BAPTISM

“And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have borne witness, behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him." John 3:26

His disciples came to him at this time with a question, which shows that Jesus was also doing that work. They said, "Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond Jordan, to Whom thou hast borne witness, behold, the Same baptizeth, and all men come to Him."

                We can easily see how a difficulty would arise in the minds of some, and perhaps those the more intelligent. They had listened to John during all his ministry, had enrolled themselves as his disciples; and then there came that moment when he had, in answer to a deputation, said he was not the Christ, he was not Elijah, he was not the prophet foretold by Moses; he was a voice. The day after that he had pointed out the One Whose coming he had announced. But he was going on, and going on evidently with the same work; still preaching as he had preached, and still receiving those who, conscious of their need of repentance, confessed their repentance and their sins; and practicing still the rite of baptism. At the same time Jesus had moved into the country-side, and was doing exactly the same thing.

John's baptism was a baptism revealing the need of repentance. Water baptism comes after repentance and as a result of that belief giving testimony of the triune Godhead (Matt. 28:18-20).