Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John (though Jesus himself didn't baptize them—his disciples did). So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. He had to go through Samaria on the way. John 4:1-4
Meditate.
Consider what it means to be baptized.
Baptism.
Have you been baptized? What does it mean to you? When were you baptized? Who baptized
you?
Shultz Family - all baptized together
in the Atlantic Ocean!
In
this scripture passage today John tells us that Jesus’ disciples, not Jesus
Himself, were baptizing people. Interesting. John the Baptist had been
encouraging people to repent and be baptized by him and then as Jesus came on
the scene, John stepped back and as he said in John 3:30, Jesus must become
greater and he must become less. He was there to “prepare the way” as stated in
John 30:28.
Repent
was the message from both John and Jesus, but those who came to believe in Jesus
as the Son of God and their Savior were really entered into a spiritual realm—the
beginning of their eternal life. John the Baptist indicated that he baptized
with water, but Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. That type of
baptism didn’t happen until after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension
into Heaven. (See Acts 1 and 2.)
The
reason we are baptized is a public declaration of our faith in Jesus as our
Savior. We have repented of our sins and are forgiven. The water used in the
ritual does not actually wash away our sins—we are forgiven when we confess.
Being baptized doesn’t make us sinless. That is an ongoing process. Life—spiritual
and physical—goes on. From this baptizing event, Jesus goes on to Samaria—the home
of a mixed race of Jews and Gentiles that follow some of the Jewish customs,
but are not particularly liked by the Jews.
What
do we learn about Jesus from this scripture passage? Repent and be baptized?
Prayer
– Lord Jesus, thank you for Your devotion to mankind—to being willing to teach and
have Your disciples baptize those who repented long ago…and those who repent of
their sins today. I confess that I have sinned and fallen short of Your glory.
Thank You for forgiving me…day by day…moment by moment. I am continually amazed
by Your love and mercy. Please continue to bless me, my family, friends, and
neighbors.
Verses
of Salvation ~ words
of Jesus ~ And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the
Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But
anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. Mark 16:15-16
© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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