"And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
There has been much written and taught about why Jesus went to John the Baptist for water baptism. Most of the scholarly conjecture is just that, conjecture, most New Testament "scholars" have no clue as to why Jesus was baptized in water.
The answer is a simple one if we do the proper research. I don't claim to be a "bible scholar" so therefore I must rely on the most knowledgeable and respected source of information available.
The source for my reasoning was provided by a Jewish scholar from around 1200 AD named Maimonides, who was and still is, among the most respected Torah (The Old testament history of the Jews) scholars ever born.
The source for my reasoning was provided by a Jewish scholar from around 1200 AD named Maimonides, who was and still is, among the most respected Torah (The Old testament history of the Jews) scholars ever born.
Maimonides determined that Hebrew law, dating to Genesis, required all new proselytes (Gentiles) to be circumcised, thoroughly washed (Maimonides used the term "baptized") in pure running water, and offer some form of sacrifice before they would be converted to Jews.
That water "baptism" was part of that same ritual cleansing process that had to be undergone before any Jew could approach the alter for any form of worship.
Jesus was a Jew, He was about to actually become a (one time fits all) sacrifice for all who would believe in Him, therefore, He was subject to all the laws that applied to the Jews of that day.
Jesus was a Jew, He was about to actually become a (one time fits all) sacrifice for all who would believe in Him, therefore, He was subject to all the laws that applied to the Jews of that day.
Jesus went to John the Baptist to be washed (baptized), as required under Jewish law, its just that simple, He did it to fulfill the law and so that He could be wholly obedient under the law of that age and therefore be a perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world.
Because Jesus underwent the complete ritual of the law, and went on to be a perfect sacrifice, He fulfilled the requirements of the law for all of us who believe in Him.
Upon completion of Jesus' water baptism God said, "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." God would not recognize Jesus as His Son until He had completed the requirements of the Law.~
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