Lesson 2597

(Lesson 2597)(01-31-19) Luke 20:1-8
    “ And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority? And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was. And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.”

   Today’s quote makes a reference to “the baptism of John”, and whether or not the leaders of the Jews had ‘believed’ it was from heaven or of men. We should examine carefully what that phrase should mean to us today.
    It is very important to recognize that the phrase, “the baptism of John”, is not solely a reference to the water immersions that John oversaw. The discussion wherein it is applied in today’s quote also esatblished that the phrase, “the baptism of John”, relates even moreso to the message that John brought, which was, in fact, to prepare the way of the Lord.
    Within their discussion as they reasoned how to answer Jesus, the Jewish leaders determined that if they answered that the message John taught was sent from heaven (God), Jesus would ask them why they hadn’t believed it. That reasoning confirms that the phrase “the baptism of John” relates more to the message John taught than it did to the actual water baptisms that he oversaw.
    Now you may ask why knowing that is so important. It is important because so many well intentioned but misguided people believe that every time the word baptism, or any one of it’s several grammatical variations, is written in the New Testament, the word implies the use of water as the medium into which the “baptism” is to occur. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact the majority of times when the one of these words are applied, baptize, baptized, baptizing, baptism, they are in reference to the an immersion, by faith, into the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ. ~
Note: I would be happy to answer any questions concerning this discussion.