Lesson 2669

(Lesson 2669)(04-14-19) John 11:54-57
    “Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast? Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.”

    Today’s quote relates that Jesus escaped the Jewish leadership by going privately into Ephraim.
    The second verse of the quote relates that many of the Jews were going to Jerusalem before the, soon to come, Passover so as to “purify” themselves before partaking in the Passover celebration. That purification was required under Jewish law, before any religious undertaking and was accomplished by being ritually baptized (immersed) into water in one of the many *Mikvahs located throughout Jerusalem.
    This information confirms, again, that water baptism began as, and still is, a Jewish ritual that was never given a place in Christianity. ~
*A Mikvah is a specially built pool wherein substantial water was trapped for the purpose of ceremonial cleansing baptism.