JESUS HIMSELF BAPTIZED NOT
Monday – October 29, 2018, Cheshvan 20, 5779
Greetings and welcome back to this illuminating and faith building study taken from the Book of John. The featured picture is taken from the boat landing on Messalonskee Lake in Oakland, Maine. Today I will be picking up our study in the fourth chapter of John and I will be talking about the Samaritan woman. I will be presenting the primary text for this teaching in segments with the intent of drawing out a particular point, a particular Truth.
John 4:1-5 (KJV)
1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
4 And he must needs go through Samaria.
5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
As this account starts off we see how the Pharisees as usual (still going on in Church today) are stirring up trouble in this case between John the Baptist and Jesus. They are doing that by introducing a competitive comparison. They were saying that Jesus (actually His disciples) was baptizing more people and attracting more people than John. This goes on today as people, particularly religious people, compare one ministry to another with regard to size or perceived Anointing. This completely ignores the question of the obedience of each ministry to the call of God. I think that there is this perception that a person like Billy Graham will have a greater reward in Heaven than the Pastor of say a 100-member Church, or the intercessor that most people never hear of or know about. Listen to the following two verses in this context.
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
When I come through that gate of pearl into Heaven I want to see a great big grin on my Saviors face because my exercise of faith was pleasing to Him.
Matthew 25:21 (KJV)
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
The Matthew twenty-five reference is related to the account of the talents and how three different people exercised stewardship or not. The stewards who exercised wisdom concerning what their Lord placed in their hand are called “good” and “faithful” servants. Oh, how I think we all want so much to hear these words for our Lord, our God. The exercise of faith is the first and fundamental step, and then exercising faithfulness with what the Lord has put in our hand. The main and fundamental thing over which we have stewardship is the Word of God and the exercise of same in faith. When we do so it pleases the Father and we enter into the “joy of the Lord” and we know that is when the fullness of the Power of the Godhead flows in our lives.
In an apparent attempt to avoid strife between John and Himself Jesus decides (directed of the Father) to go to Samaria. Before we go to Samaria however let us think about why Jesus did not Baptize but the disciples did the water baptizing of repentance. Remember that the Baptism of John was instituted by God for the purpose of demonstrating a new order or to put things in order. This was a water baptism of repentance. Repentance is a one hundred and eighty degree turn from one way of life (sin) to righteousness. This is a water baptism and in Scripture water very frequently is a type and shadow of the Word, that is the written Word of God and the Word meaning Jesus. This baptism was a foreshadowing or the most important baptism of all which was to come very shortly with Jesus being made sin so that we could be made the righteousness of God. When we chose Jesus, the Word, as Lord we are instantly baptized into Him we are in Him, instantly translated from dark to light and covered in the Blood of the eternal Covenant and in right standing with the Father. The Word not only shows the need for repentance bringing repentance but the Word is also the ongoing cleansing agent after salvation. Jesus’ time had not yet come and thus He could neither baptize in water nor the Holy Spirit. You see under Levitical Law commonly referred to as the Law of Moses, but more accurately the Law of God sin was covered (atoned) by the blood of innocent animals. This baptism looked forward to the time when after the shedding of Jesus’ innocent Blood our immersion into Christ Jesus, the Word, would change everything. Lord willing, I will pick up this story in Samaria tomorrow.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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