"And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why *baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I **baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was **baptizing."
Today's lesson demonstrates that John told the Levites that he was not the promised Messiah, bur rather he was sent to, "Make straight the way of the Lord", or the pave the way for the coming of Jesus, the Messiah.~
*The word "baptizest", as it is applied in this context, means 'to proselytize', or to make disciples.
**The word "baptize, and baptizing", as they are applied in this context, mean to both proselytize, (convert), and then to immerse into water in preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ.
NOTE: The word "baptize" and it's several grammatical variations are all transliterated from the Greek word "baptizo". To 'transliterate' is to simply replace a word in one language with a sound alike word in another language. Transliteration does NOT transfer the meaning or intent of the original word into every application of the replacement. The Greek word 'baptizo' has many different meanings depending upon the context within which it is applied. In general, 'baptizo', in Greek, means to place an object into any substance to be left therein to accomplish a desired, longterm affect.
The following are two examples of usages of the word 'baptize' as it has been transliterated from the Greek word, 'baptizo". If one is "baptized" (baptizoed) into Christ that one has had one's own spiritual body blended with the spiritual body of Christ and left therein so as to become one with Him. One can also be "baptized" (baptizoed) into water in the Jewish tradition which is a simple water immersion (bath), in preparation for some religious action, or ceremony, as was required by ancient Hebrew law.
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