Lesson 3206

 (Lesson 3206)(10-13-20) Matthew 20:20-23

    “Then came to him the mother of Zebedees 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.”

    Today’s quote generally concerns a mother of two sons, who were both apostles of Jesus, asking a favor of Jesus Himself. To which Jesus replied that it was not His to decide. 

    We should note that Jesus applied a form of the word ‘baptize’ six times in the quote. It behooves us, at this point, to make note that the word “baptize”, as it is applied in the quote, was transliterated from the Greek word baptizo, a word that has multiple meanings and intents. In the applications above, Jesus used those forms of the word to define the ordeal of His forthcoming death at the behest of the Jews. NONE of the above usages of those variations, of the word ‘baptize’, are in reference to water, in ANY form.

    This is VERY important to remember because literally millions of so-called Christians, apparently consider the word ‘baptize’, in every one of it’s New Testament applications, to be in reference to a ritual that includes immersion into water. Today’s quote cleary demonstrates that that contention is a false one. 

    As these lessons progress I intend to demonstrate how that the word ‘baptize’‘ in every one of it’s New Testament applications, does indeed imply an immersion into, or envelopement within, something such as Jesus’ being enveloped by, or immersed within, His, then forthcoming,sacrificial ordeal with the Jews and Romans, as He implied in today’s quote.

    The ONLY baptism, or baptizing, that should be considered, concerning the salvation of one’s eternal soul, is that baptism INTO (NOT WATER BUT) Jesus Christ as mentioned in Romans 6:3-4 which says, “Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized INTO (NOT WATER BUT) Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

   Then again in Galatians 3:26-27, “For ye are ALL the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized INTO Christ have put on Christ.”~