Eld. Wayne Gregory:
John 4:1-3 reads: "When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee."
I am persuaded that the Spirit revealed that Jesus did not personally baptize in water except through his disciples for two reasons:
First, for the glory of Christ: John the Baptist declared: Luke 3:16, 17 “I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.” It seems reasonable to me that Christ had a superior baptism to give that no other would or could perform. Clearly this event occurred later and is recorded along with its effects for us in the book of Acts 2. It was Christ’s baptism. He was the administrator of it alone; the element, which was used by Christ, was not water, but the Holy Ghost; and the recipient was the living organism of which Christ is Founder and Head – the church, which was the visible evidence of Mt. Zion, God’s dwelling place. This superior baptism with or in the Spirit seems to agree with the statement that Christ was far superior to John who baptized with (in) water. As truly as never a man spoke as Christ, never a man baptized as Christ, and that includes John the Baptist.
Second, for the comfort of His people: It appears to me that this emphasis of Christ not personally baptizing the disciples in water was for the peace and comfort of all who would follow after and teaches that baptism in water was to be and indeed continued to be performed by the disciples under Christ’s headship and direction. Brethren, had Christ baptized any in water, I would consider mine a poor substitute for that. In fact, I would forever be in great doubt whether I was baptized at all or had obeyed Christ’s positive command. Now, because I am taught here that the disciples baptized, not Christ, I can take some comfort that the baptism I have received is acceptable to Him being administered by one authorized by Christ also.
[By Wayne Gregory, in "Two Requests", Predestinarian Forum, February 1, 2010]
3 comments:
I believe it also demonstrates Christ's humility in that He chose not to do something which is very much identified with Him.
Amen! To think that Christ would accept my baptism being performed by gods servant / pastor would make it unacceptable but in this essence it gives us an example of why our baptism is accepted and gives sureity that Christ agrees with the process by removing himself from it at the very beginning.
God forbid, I take baptism from a man if it was performed by Christ, who could follow?
How amazing the scriptures are that they show us a guide for all things that the Lord sees fit to reveal and how he sets the process out for his churches. Amen! God be Glorified!
Amen; the scriptures are inherently amazing and specially amazing in what God reveals to us through them.
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