Lesson 3310

 (Lesson 3310)(01-25-21) Mark 10:35-45

    “ And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

    In the first part of today’s quote, John and James asked a favor of Jesus that He would not grant. Jesus also made the point, again, that there are to be NO superiors in the house of the Lord.

    It is important to note that the words “baptized” and “baptism”, as they are applied in today’s quote, are not at all in reference to a ritual that includes immersion into water. Those words were applied in the quote to describe the ordeal of the death, burial and resurrection that Jesus was about to endure as He would complete His divine mission to become a perfect savior for those who will believe in Him. 

    We should also note that the words “baptism” and “baptized” were both transliterated from the Greek root word ‘baptizo’. The above usage of those words is a perfect example demonstrating that the the greek word ‘baptizo’ DOES NOT specifically designate water as the only medium into which one may be “bapized”, (Immersed). 

    The baptism that brings about a rebirth of the spirit of a man or woman, is a willful immersion into the Spirit of Jesus Christ Himself, through faith, where it will remain throughout eternity, and has nothing to do with water immersion.~