Why was Jesus baptizing?

[Zenas]

JesusFan asked on another thread, "Did jesus ever baptise anyone?" He may have meant the question as rhetorical but the fact is that Jesus did baptize, at least through His disciples, and His numbers exceeded those of John.

After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. John 3:22.
. . . .

Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” John 3:25-26.
. . . .

Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea and went away again into Galilee. John 4:1-3.

Was this a different baptism than that of John? Cf. Acts 19:1-7.

Did Jesus begin to baptize (John 3) and then turn it over to His disciples (John 4)?

Could it be that Jesus baptized His disciples and then turned the baptismal duties over to them?

Why was Jesus baptizing at all?

I have never heard or read any commentary of this issue so maybe some people here can shed more light than obfuscation on the matter.

 

[agedman]

JesusFan asked on another thread, "Did jesus ever baptise anyone?" He may have meant the question as rhetorical but the fact is that Jesus did baptize, at least through His disciples, and His numbers exceeded those of John. Was this a different baptism than that of John? Cf. Acts 19:1-7.

Did Jesus begin to baptize (John 3) and then turn it over to His disciples (John 4)?

Could it be that Jesus baptized His disciples and then turned the baptismal duties over to them?

Why was Jesus baptizing at all?

I have never heard or read any commentary of this issue so maybe some people here can shed more light than obfuscation on the matter.

Everything that I have read holds the line that Jesus never did any baptizing but through the disciples were people baptized.

I really couldn't say for positive certain. I suppose he could have baptized his disciples first and then they proceeded with the others.

 

[Jim1999]

There is nothing in scripture to say that Jesus personally baptized anyone.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Tom Butler]

There is nothing in scripture to say that Jesus personally baptized anyone.

Cheers,

Jim

And doesn't Acts 1 suggest that the Twelve (and later Matthias) were baptized by John the Baptist?

 

[Zenas]

There is nothing in scripture to say that Jesus personally baptized anyone.

Cheers,

Jim

No, there is not, but we have adequate information to know that He might have baptized some at first. Also, we have absolutely solid information that the disciples were baptizing on His behalf.

Tom Butler, rather that answering in another post, I will just say here that I had not connected the dots with Peter's speech in Acts 1. It does make it very likely that John baptized the disciples.

 

[freeatlast]

We know that Jesus did not Baptize anyone John 4:2. As to why his disciples baptized people it would be reasonable to assume it would have been a baptism of repentance just like that of John.

 

[Zenas]

We know that Jesus did not Baptize anyone John 4:2. As to why his disciples baptized people it would be reasonable to assume it would have been a baptism of repentance just like that of John.

No we don’t know that Jesus did not baptize anyone. John 4:2 says “Jesus himself was not baptizing.” That means Jesus was not baptizing at that time. Looking back to John 3:22, it appears that He was baptizing at that earlier point in time. In order to rule out Jesus ever baptizing, John 4:2 must have said, “Jesus himself did not baptize.” And it doesn’t say that.

I can’t disagree that it was a baptism of repentance, nor can I agree. Is Christian baptism a baptism of repentance? If not, when and how did we get Christian baptism? Jesus spoke of it at the Great Commission, and we know it’s not the baptism of John. See Acts 19.

I guess what I’m seeking to know is at what point in time were we given Christian baptism? Were the 3,000 at Pentecost the first to receive it, or were there others who received it earlier?

 

[Iconoclast]

John's message was the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Baptism teaches several things in scripture. one of the main things shown by baptism.....is IDENTIFICATION....usually with the man,and his message.

1 Corinthians 10

1Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

Those who sought to enter the kingdom....identified with John's message of repentance.....as he pointed them to Jesus.

20Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

21The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Those who identify with the cross, repentance, and forgivness of sins have a clear conscience to be baptized knowing that Jesus has saved them.

 

[michael-acts17:11]

And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. (John 1:33)

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1Cor 12:13)

And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. (1Cor 1:16-17)

And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. (Acts 19:3-6)

John's baptism was a type of the true baptism by Jesus with the Holy Spirit. He is still performing that same baptism every time a new believer is regenerated & translated into His kingdom. Paul did not seem put as high a value on water baptism as we do today. He understood the difference between the physical type of water baptism & the true spiritual baptism.

 

[jbh28]

No we don’t know that Jesus did not baptize anyone. John 4:2 says “Jesus himself was not baptizing.” That means Jesus was not baptizing at that time. Looking back to John 3:22, it appears that He was baptizing at that earlier point in time. In order to rule out Jesus ever baptizing, John 4:2 must have said, “Jesus himself did not baptize.” And it doesn’t say that.

ESV John 4:2 "(although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples),"
KJV John 4:2 "Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples"




John 3:22 is followed with John 4:2 which says that he wasn't actually doing the baptizing. If Jesus did baptize, it wasn't here in this passage.

 

[freeatlast]

No we don’t know that Jesus did not baptize anyone. John 4:2 says “Jesus himself was not baptizing.” That means Jesus was not baptizing at that time. Looking back to John 3:22, it appears that He was baptizing at that earlier point in time. In order to rule out Jesus ever baptizing, John 4:2 must have said, “Jesus himself did not baptize.” And it doesn’t say that.

I can’t disagree that it was a baptism of repentance, nor can I agree. Is Christian baptism a baptism of repentance? If not, when and how did we get Christian baptism? Jesus spoke of it at the Great Commission, and we know it’s not the baptism of John. See Acts 19.

I guess what I’m seeking to know is at what point in time were we given Christian baptism? Were the 3,000 at Pentecost the first to receive it, or were there others who received it earlier?

Using your same method to come to an answer for your question that you have about Jesus Baptizing there is no answer in the bible to your question.

 

[psalms109:31]

Water Baptist is part of the sanctification process, to have clear conscience before God like the scripture Iconoclast has posted. That we are to point I did everything humanly possible for salvation and realizing we still need something that we are not complete. That we have to depend on God to receive something that does not come from man, but what comes from above. It is something we can't do, we have to depend on God and His finished work to be born from above.

If we can't be water baptized for some reason like the thief on the cross next to Jesus, then what really matters is to have a clear conscience before God that God will do what He said He will do in us.