John 3:22-24 After these things, Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized-for John had not yet been thrown into prison.
Baptism is an identity issue. The concept is that of one being immersed into a community, such as those anticipating and looking for the Messiah. John baptized people who were awaiting the coming of the Messiah and were preparing their hearts for Him. Jesus was baptized by John because He was the one for whom they were waiting. It was necessary that He identify publicly with those who were waiting for Him.
Notice in the following verses what the uniting message was between John and Jesus. Matthew 3:2. “Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Jesus and His disciples began to baptize followers for the same purpose.” Mark 1:14-15. “Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” You’ll notice their messages were the same. Those baptized by both John and Jesus were identifying with Him.
Baptism symbolizes a life-changing reality. God immersed us into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord’” (1 Cor. 1:30-31). He has baptized us into His love where we are to abide, stay, live, and draw the grace we need for our daily lives. We love because we have been baptized into His love. We are filled with Him, surrounded with Him, and move and have our being in Him. He is life to us. Being satisfied in His love, we have an unshakeable fullness out of which His love flows. Jesus is the spring from which we live to love for the glory of God.
I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.
