JESUS 2
JESUS 2
Neither was John's baptism of repentance for the remission of sins the same as the baptism instituted by Jesus (CP Mt 28:19). The difference between Jesus' and John's baptism lies in Jesus Himself and how God's plan of redemption is fulfilled in Him. Neither John nor those he baptised knew anything of this. John only knew that in his baptism, he was preparing the way for the anointed one from God (CP Mt 3:2-5 with Isa 40:3; Mal 3:1; Mt 11:7-15; Mk 1:18; Lu 3:1-6; 7:24-29; Jn 1:6-9, 19-34). In the baptism Jesus instituted, repentant sinners identify with Jesus. Being baptised is their pledge of a good conscience toward God - a conscience reconciled to God by their new-found faith in the resurrected Christ who died for them, and the salvation benefits He has purchased for them with His blood (CP 1Pe 3:18-22). Those who John baptised had no one to identify with - they knew nothing of God's plan of redemption, or the Saviour in whom it was fulfilled. That is why they had to be baptised again after they heard how it was fulfilled in Christ, and they had received Him as their Saviour (CP Ac 2:22-24, 29-33, 36-39; 19:1-5)).
Let us go back now and find out what John meant when he said that Jesus would baptise believers with the Holy Ghost and with fire (CP Mt 3:11; Mk 1:8; Lu 3:16; Jn 1:32-34; Ac 2:32-33). We learn from these scriptures that it is Jesus Himself who baptises believers with the Holy Spirit - being baptised with, in, into and unto all mean the same thing. Being baptised with the Holy Ghost denotes being endued with power by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses in the world to God's saving grace through the Lord Jesus Christ, which Jesus has promised to every believer (CP Lu 11:9-13; 24:49; Jn 7:37-39; 14:12, 16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-15; Ac 1:1-8, 2:36-39). Baptism in the Holy Spirit is generally received subsequent to salvation (CP Ac 8:14-17; 19:1-6). However, it can also be received concurrently with salvation (CP Ac 10:44-46). While Peter was still sharing the gospel here, Cornelius and all who were with him got saved and were immediately baptised in the Holy Spirit - God did a sovereign work in their midst (CP Ac 11:1-18). The evidence of being baptised in the Spirit is that the recipient will talk in tongues (CP Joel 2:28-29 with Mk 16:17; Ac 2:1-4, 14-18; 8:18-21; 10:45-46; 19:6. For more detailed teachings on this subject see author's studies on Baptism in the Spirit in his book, Foundational Truths of the Christian Faith, Signs and Wonders in God's Redemptive Plan in his book, Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1), and The Work of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament Church in his book, Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2)).
The baptism with fire to which John the Baptist also refers in Mt 3:11, is an extended reference to the empowering of believers by the Holy Spirit for service (CP Jn 7:37-39). The analogy of "rivers of living water" in V 38 teaches that believers will have unlimited power to do the work of God through the empowering of the Holy Spirit (CP Lu 12:49). Jesus uses fire here figuratively of the Holy Spirit's empowering of believers to proclaim the gospel. Jesus longed for the gospel to be proclaimed throughout the earth, but He had to die first in order for the Holy Spirit to come and empower believers for service (CP Lu 12:50 with Jn 12:23-24; 16:7-15; Lu 24:49 and Ac 1:1-8). Jesus' death and resurrection removed the restraints on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the gospel being proclaimed throughout the earth. But Jesus also knew that the proclamation of the gospel would cause much division and strife, even pitting family members against each other (CP Mt 10:34-36; Mk 10:29-30; Lu 12:51-53).
After His baptism by John, Jesus was taken by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where He was tempted of the devil for forty days (CP Mt 4:1-11; Mk 1:12-13; Lu 4:1-15). This teaches that it is only by being completely submitted to the authority of God's word as Jesus was, that Christians will be able to overcome the temptations they will encounter in their Christian walk (CP Psa 119:9-16; 2Cor 10:3-5; Eph 6:10-18; He 4:12 with Jas 4:7; 1Pe 5:8-9). Christians must strive to emulate Christ - commit God's word to memory and speak it out over all the circumstances of life by faith. Then Christ's triumph over the devil becomes theirs (CP Rev 12:10-11). The word of their testimony here refers to the authority of God's word outworking in their lives - it was the key to their overcoming (for more detailed teachings on this subject see author's studies Confessing God's Word in his book, Foundational Truths of the Christian Faith, A Daily Confession for Christians, and Making the Impossible Possible in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2)).
Now let us look at Jesus' earthly ministry: the main phase of this ministry, which lasted only about three years, began in Galilee after He overcame the devil, and John the Baptist was imprisoned. It was here Jesus gathered to Himself the twelve disciples (CP Mt 4:12-23; Mk 1:14-21; 2:13-14; Lu 4:14-21, 38: 5:1-11, 27-29 with Mt 10:1; Mk 6:7; Lu 6:12-16). It was at Cana in Galilee that Jesus performed His first miracle, three days after He commenced His earthly ministry, and because of it, the disciples believed on Him. He turned water into wine at the wedding in Cana (CP Jn 2:1-11). This was but the first of many miracles by Jesus during His earthly ministry. There were numerous miracles of healing all manner of sickness and disease. Multitudes got healed (CP Mt 4:23-24; 8:1-4, 5-13, 14-17; 9:20-22, 35; 12:10-16; 14:14, 34-36; 15:21-28, 30; 19:1-2; Mk 6:5-6; Lu 5:15; 6:17-18; 13:10-13; 14:1-4; 17:11-19; 22:50-51; Jn 4:46-54). Jesus commanded the forces of nature to obey Him - He stilled an underwater earthquake and calmed a raging storm (CP Mt 8:23-27). This was an underwater earthquake - tempest here is from seismos, which means earthquake (CP Mk 4:35-39). Storm here is from lailaps, meaning heavy rain accompanied by high winds; squalls.
Jesus cast demons out of people they possessed (CP Mt 8:28-33; 9:32-33; 12:22; 17:14-18; Mk 1:21-28, 39; Lu 8:2). The lame were made to walk (CP Mt 9:1-8; 21:14; Jn 5:2-9). The dead were raised up to life (CP Mt 9:18, 23-26; Lu 7:11-16; Jn 11:1, 6-7, 11-17, 20-26, 32-34, 38-45). The blind were made to see (CP Mt 9:27-31; 12:22; 20:30-34; 21:14; Mk 8:22-26; 10:46-52; Jn 9:1-7). The deaf were made to hear, and the dumb to speak (CP Mt 9:32-33; 12:22; Mk 7:31-37). Jesus miraculously fed over five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fishes, and soon after, over four thousand with seven loaves and a few small fishes (CP Mt 14:15-21; 15:32-38). Jesus counteracted nature and walked on water (CP Mt 14:22-25). Jesus was also responsible for two miraculous catches of fish - the first, just after He began His ministry, before He had chosen the twelve disciples (CP Lu 5:1-11). The second catch was after Jesus' resurrection and the disciples had returned to fishing (CP Jn 21:1-14). These are all the miracles of Jesus recorded in scripture. They have been listed here to show Christians that these are the works that Jesus promised that Christians can not only likewise do, but that they will do even greater works (CP Jn 14:12-14).