Baptism

Baptism the  Jordan River

Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. "I am the one who needs to be baptized by you," he said, "so why are you coming to me?" But Jesus said, "It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires." So John agreed to baptize him. After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy." Matthew 3:13-17

Are there examples of baptism in the Old Testament?
The word baptism does not exist in the Old Testament, but it is transliterated from the Greek word for "washing"--baptismos, as in Hebrews 9:10. Baptism is also related to the Hebrew word "ravel" meaning to dip. One of the Jewish customs after the Babylonian era and before Christ was for water immersion of people converted to Judism.

Types of water immersion or washings in the Old Testament include when the Levite priests were required to wash or bathe with water before putting on the priestly garments to enter the Holy of Holies in the Temple. See Leviticus 16:23-24. Additionally, the Jewish purification ritual, Tvilah, restores purity when a person is ritually defiled. Examples of Jewish cleansing rituals are listed in Leviticus chapters 13-15 which discusses lepers and those with unclean discharges. One specific example is found in 2 Kings 5:1-14 where the prophet Elisha told Nathan, a Syrian army commander, to go wash in the Jordan River seven times. It cured his leperosy.

Even Noah and his family being "immersed" in the flood have been compared to baptism. Can you consider the Hebrews going through the Red Sea to be a type of baptism?
John the Baptist called people to "repent and be baptized." That's related to the scripture passage in Isaiah 1:16--Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways.

Jesus was not called to "repent" since He was sinless.
It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 1 Peter 1:19

Jesus was sinless--but obedient to His Father.  So He wanted to...carry out all that God requires.
     - And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the LORD your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. Deuteronomy 10:12
Are you doing "what the Lord requires" of you?

Prayer ~ Lord, open our eyes and heart to what you would have each of us do that we would be pleasing in your sight. Continue to bless and guide us as we seek to know You more. 

Daily Bible Reading: Job 17-20

© 2018 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted
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