Lesson 4290

 (Lesson 4290)(10-29-23) Mark 16:14-20

    “Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”

    In today’s lesson, we will expand upon the determinations of yesterday’s in that we will provide foundation for the conclusions drawn in the commentary.

    In Matthew 3:11 John the baptist said, “I indeed baptize you with water UNTO REPENTANCE: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear” HE SHALL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST, and with fire:”

    Therein, John drew a very clear and dramatic distinction between the water baptisms he performed and the baptism of the Holy Ghost that Jesus would offer to those who would believe.

    The kind of WATER baptisms that John oversaw were ONLY physical preparatory rituals required by Hebrew law of ANY Jew who desired to enter into ANY form of Godly worship. Whereas, the bapism that Jesus performs, is an envelopment within the Holy Ghost. That envelopment “SEALS” the soul “UNTIL THE DAY OF REDEMPTION”.

    Remember, John DID NOT preach God’s plan of eternal salvation, he couldn’t have until Jesus had completed His divine sacrifice. John’s sole mission was to PREPARE the way of the Lord.~ 

NOTE: This lesson will be continued tomorrow.