Author’s Notes
During the ministry of Jesus Christ, Pontius Pilate (ruled 26 A.D. - 36 A.D.), was the prefect of the Roman province of Judea. His palace was located in Caesarea Maritima on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Herod Antipater, nicknamed Antipas (ruled 4 B.C. – 39 A.D.) was Tetrarch (ruler of a quarter) of the Roman client states of Galilee and Perea.
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Baptism has often been used to symbolically cleanse the soul, which is accomplished by immersion under water. The former life is washed away. Once free of the past, the person is raised up out of the water and encouraged to adopt a new way of life. It is a new beginning.
Jesus had a specific purpose in mind when he crossed the plains to find John (the Baptist). He was ready to begin his ministry. Baptism would confirm the truth of his dedication.
And so it was.
Baptism washed away Jesus the man. As he is raised up, Jesus the Son of God is revealed.
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27 A.D. Late July. Jesus is 30 years old.
John was baptizing on the east bank of the Jordan River where the road from Jerusalem and Jericho crosses into the lands of Peraea. The location of the river has changed over the last 2000 years and the site is now called Bethany Beyond the Jordan. When Jesus went to see John, he had been preaching and baptizing for about a year.
John’s reputation had spread all the way to Jerusalem in the west, Philadelphia in the east, Qumran in the south, and Capernaum in the north. He often delivered an apoplectic message, challenging his congregation to consider all they had done that was sinful, and urging them to repent. Some of those who heard him speak began to wonder if he was the true Messiah. Even the priests in Jerusalem became alarmed that John might be able to overturn their authority. But to all of them, John had the same answer:
“When you come to me for repentance, I will baptize you with the waters of the Jordan. But one who is more powerful than I is coming, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. He will separate the wheat from the chaff–and the chaff will burn in a never-ending fire.”
***
It had been a busy morning for John and he was pleased that twelve travelers had volunteered to be baptized. He was feeling compassionate. In his message he had even encouraged his listeners to be kind to tax collectors. The road was now empty and John decided to have something to eat. Resting under a tree, eating his lunch, he noticed a man coming toward him from the direction of Jericho. The man drew closer. John felt compelled to get up to greet the stranger. The man motioned for him to remain under the tree and - after a brief handshake - sat down beside him.
“Do you know who I am?” the man asked.
“I believe I should know you,” John answered.
“I am Gabriel, the angel who told your parents about your conception and announced the birth of Jesus to several people.”
John was astonished.
“My mother Elizabeth told me about your message, and your punishment of Zechariah for his lack of faith. I should know you for your deeds.... I thank you for giving my father his voice. ”
“Your father was a good man, John. Just a little suspicious of my message. As soon as he believed, I let him speak again.”
John was a bit uncertain. “And what are you going to tell me?”
“I have good news.... God urged you to go north to find Jesus, did he not?”
“Yes. I found him in Bethsaida.”
“And you accompanied him on his travels?”
“Yes. His wife had just passed away. He was lost and depressed, so I encouraged him to travel. As it happened, he wanted to learn how to heal. So we went to Alexandria where he could receive the best training.”
“Micah and I want to thank you for your service – and so does God...” Gabriel paused to adjust his place under the tree.
“We have another task for you.”
John was not surprised. He had been thinking of Jesus and was sure his friend would soon be ready to start his own ministry as a preacher and healer in Galilee.
“How can I help?”
“Jesus has become the man you have been expecting. Jesus is the Messiah. He has made a conscious connection with God. He now calls God his father. God calls Jesus his son. God has given Jesus a mission. He is to deliver God’s message to all who will listen. Jesus is ready. He will come to you to be baptized. It will be a baptism of dedication to his ministry. ”
John was stunned. Gabriel’s words were far more important than anything he could have anticipated. All he imagined was happening. All his prayers had been answered. He was overwhelmed with the realization his friend.... his friend Jesus is the son of God!
“This is glorious. I knew my friend was an exceptional man. On our trip to Alexandria I believe he was able to project the power of God on several occasions.... And now I know he really is the one we have been waiting for.... And to think I was able.... I was able to help him make the transition.... I am humbled by your words.... When is he coming?”
“Late this afternoon; complete the baptism and encourage your disciples to follow him.”
“That will not be difficult. Andrew, Simon and Philip are looking for a leader who will take them on a spiritual quest. They are here–but of course you already know that.”
“You don’t mind encouraging them to follow Jesus?”
“If Jesus is the son of God, then they must follow him!” John responded with conviction.
“Then may God bless your efforts.”
Gabriel slowly stood up, stiff from the aches and pains of age, gave John a benevolent smile, and vanished.
***
Jesus was in his 30th year. As he walked across the plain toward the Jordan River, God’s final words echoed in his mind: Jesus It is Time. Now is the hour for you to begin your ministry. You have been well prepared to deliver my message. It was a very solemn moment. Jesus wanted to mark the beginning of his ministry with a baptism of dedication to God’s mission. He was determined to find his friend, a man people called “John the Baptist”.
The angel Micah guided his journey. He traveled north east and soon found the road from Jerusalem to the Jordan River. He turned east and within an hour he was at the edge of the river. On the eastern bank stood an angular and very thin man, preaching with energetic passion to a group of maybe 50 people. Jesus smiled to himself. He had found his friend.
Rather than call out to John, Jesus decided to cross the river to mingle with the informal congregation. John was so focused on his message he did not see Jesus.
John was earnestly calling to the people assembled on the river shore.
“What are you waiting for? Do not be sad because you are caught up by the treachery of your sins.... Repent! Those who genuinely repent their transgressions can start over again.... Start a new life! Baptism will set you free. Arise and wash away your sins!”
A large burly man pushed his way through the crowd and walked down to the edge of the water. Jesus noticed the strap marks on his right shoulder were like those made by the sword sheath of a Roman Centurion. He had three scars from recent cuts on his arms.
He looked at John with unflinching eyes. “I am ready to be baptized,” he said firmly.
John looked at the man and without any hesitation asked “Are you sure you have truly repented your sins?”
The man looked at John sadly and replied “There are too many sins to tell in seven days. I wish to put them behind me. I need to change my life. I want to be friends with your God.”
John motioned for the man to come into the river with him. He grasped the man’s hand warmly.
“You can be friends with my God and our God. If you are sincere, he will set you free from your past.”
“I am ready,” the man replied “to have my sins washed away.”
He stepped closer to John and looked earnestly into John’s eyes.
“Help me to start a new life”
John took the man by the arm, placed one hand under the man’s back and grasped the man’s forearm with his other hand. He lowered the man into the water and as it washed over the man’s face he prayed:
“I command you to caste away your past life and all its sins.... Let the refreshing water of life give you a new beginning.... Today you are free.... The spirit of God’s love is with you Centurion.”
Then he brought the man out of the water and helped him to stand up. At first the man struggled to regain his composure. He was obviously astonished by the experience. Then he became jubilant. He was grateful for John’s baptism. He smiled at John.
“Thank you, thank you for who you are.”
He turned and called out to the crowd: “I am what I believe.... free.... free from the past which I came to hate.... free to start again.”
He staggered up from the water onto the shore. The crowd made a path for him as he walked away toward the road. When he passed Jesus he suddenly stopped, turned, and looked at him intently.
“Master,” he said quietly, backed away, and walked on.
Yona, a woman whose name in Hebrew means dove, was prompted by some unknown force to find Jesus among the people standing on the river bank. She took him by the hand and walked with him to where John was standing. John was stunned delighted, joyful, and full of compassion - all at the same time.
“Jesus! You have arrived!”
John embraced Jesus with an emotional hug. Then he abruptly backed away, somewhat awestruck. This, he thought, is the Messiah! John turned to his audience.
“I have been a voice calling in the dessert.... I have seen and I testify that this is the son of God. Make straight the way for the Lord!”
But then John was so excited he could not, for a moment, think of anything else to say. Jesus came to his rescue.
“I have come to be baptized in the name of God by the one man who knows why my baptism is important.”
But John protested. “It is I who should be asking to be baptized.... You are closer to God.”
“No John. Remember our conversations about baptism. Mine will be a baptism of dedication and commitment to my mission. You know how to wash away my past and give birth to my future.”
John could only stare at his friend for a moment, then energized by the words of Jesus he jumped back, excitedly waved his arms to the people standing on the bank of the Jordan, and said “we shall all witness the baptism of God’s messenger!”
John took his friend’s left hand and started into the river. The people on the shore whispered among themselves. Who is this man? Why is John the Baptist so excited about baptizing him?
John ignored their whispers. He led Jesus into water about four feet deep, placed one hand under his friend’s back and used his other hand to hold Jesus by the shoulder. He carefully immersed Jesus into the water, and said a short prayer:
“Dear Jesus, this is the moment for which you have been created. Bless your commitment to God and your dedication to the task that lies ahead. May the Lord bless you and keep you safe.... Amen.”
John raised Jesus out of the water. As he did so, the people on the river bank began to clap with enthusiasm. Then a very loud voice came from somewhere above: “This is my son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Those words would echo all over Israel – and far beyond.
........
Blessings to you
Ron
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John the Baptist was a priest (the son of Zechariah), and he had a legal right to perform the rite of Mikveh. For Jesus it took the form of Tevilah (full body immersion). The purpose of immersion is not physical, but spiritual, cleanliness. The Baptism of Jesus of Nazareth is regarded as being his spiritual birth. Jesus ceases his former private life and begins His Public Ministry.
Many first century Jews were preoccupied with the concept of fixing a boundary between the pure and the impure. Tevilah (full-body immersion) marks a change of status from being tamay to tahor—ritually unclean (impure and unfit for the presence of God) to ritually clean. Anytime a person is to come into the presence of God, they must first be made tahor (pure). Even though Jesus was the son of God, and therefore pure, the Mikveh was an act of spiritual commitment to his mission.
John the Baptist was at Bethany (Bayt ‘Anya) on the eastern side of the Jordan River (Bethany beyond the Jordan). It is likely the Jordan River was considered unclean for baptism because there was a lot of silt in the water. However, clean, pure water was available from springs and tributaries that ran into the Jordan. From one of these John was able to create a basin (pond) for a Mikveh where he could perform the ritual.
In modern Israel, Qasr el Yahud, is considered one of the most important sites for Christian pilgrims visiting the Holy Land, and has also been is identified as the site of Jesus’ baptism. The place is located west of the Jordan River Valley, north of the Dead Sea and east of Jericho.