Lesson 664

(Lesson 664)(06-12-13) The next six variations of the term "baptize" are found in Matthew 20:20-23, "Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father."

All six of the foregoing examples denote the same medium into which Jesus was to be "baptized". None of these examples infer water immersion.

After being asked for special treatment by the Zebedee brothers, James and John, Jesus asked if they were willing to undergo the ordeal ("baptism") He had been divinely pre-ordained for and was about to be subjected to. The "baptism" or ordeal Jesus was referring to was clearly the soul saving sacrifice He was about to make for all who would believe in Him. These six variations of the term "baptize" all infer Jesus' death, burial and resurrection as the medium into which He was about to be "baptized" (immersed).

Immersion, through faith, into the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the "baptism" Jesus refers to in these six examples, is the same baptism that was required of His followers, by Him, in Matthew 28:19-20, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, 'baptizing' them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

Jesus promised the sons of Zebedee that through His own sacrifice, they too would be "baptized" and would there-through reap eternal salvation, "Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with:"

This same promise applies to all who place their faith in Jesus Christ as the ONLY remitter of sins.~