Lesson 3316

 (Lesson 3316)(01-31-21) Mark 11:27-33

    “And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

    In today’s quote, as Jesus demonstrated that the leadership of the Jews was in no position to challenge His authority to clear the temple of the money changers, He used the phrase, “the baptism of John” to define the message that John had taught. 

    Those who believe that water batpism is a prerequisite to a rebirth in Jesus Christ which leads to eternal salvation of the soul, should take special note of the intent of that usage. 

    The word “baptism”, as it is applied in today’s quote, was transliterated from a gramatik variation of the Greek root word, ‘baptizo’, as was the same word “baptism” when is was applied in John’s usage to describe an immersion into water. Therefore, the phrase, “the baptism of John”, is clearly a reference to the message that John taught, NOT the water immersions he oversaw. That fact is made evident in today’s quote when Jesus asked “why did you not believe him?” 

    One who has witnessed a physical act, such as water immersion, as did those Jewish leaders, CANNOT disbleive that act. Conversely, one can easily disbelieve a particular lesson that is being taught.

    In summary, today’s lesson is further proof that the transliterated variations of the word “baptize” do not automatically refer to water immersion, but rather, the reference made by the usage is determined by the context within which that usage is applied.~