The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Kathy Shortridge of Billings, Montana from the tape, GC 1301-P, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 18."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. ©1981. All Rights Reserved.

Question

In Mark 1:5 and it’s where John the Baptist was baptizing the people in the Jordan river. I was wondering before Christ’s death how would they relate to baptism and did the Jews have a baptism in their rituals at that time?

Answer

There are several baptisms in the scripture that are of importance. There is the baptism of John. There is the baptism of John baptizing Jesus, and there is the baptism in the name of Christ in the church after his death and resurrection. They are distinct. The Christian baptism is an identification with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The baptism of John was a Jewish washing. Throughout the Jewish history it had been traditional for Jews to demonstrate outwardly and inward repentance. They would do that through washing ceremonies. What was happening was John was preaching repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand and that was a very clear message. The Messiah is coming! The people who accepted that message and desired to repent came to John, repented, and demonstrated their repentance in the baptism. They were a people being made ready for the coming of the Messiah. So it was a Jewish washing as they were preparing themselves internally in their heart and demonstrating it externally in their baptism for the arrival of Messiah. It was a baptism of repentance, so it was Jewish baptism.

Now the baptism of Jesus by John. Jesus didn’t need to repent...right? So why was He baptized? He was baptized, I believe, to identify himself with that repentant remnant. And then Christian baptism is unique unto itself.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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