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Johns Baptism - Mark 1
Johns Baptism - Mark 1
John was a man ‘sent from God’ with a message of repentance and baptism. While many of the people heard and obeyed, some rejected his message.
Notice the two responses to John’s message: “When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God's justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John.
But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John” (Luke 7:29-30). Those who did not obey thus rejected God’s purpose for themselves. In rejecting God’s messenger, they were rejecting God.
Jesus would later challenge them: "Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? Answer Me" (Mark 11:30). They reasoned: "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?' (Mark 11:31). They didn’t always reason correctly, but here they were dead on! Why not indeed!
NOW, Jesus has a message of repentance and baptism, only this baptism is in water (Acts 10:48), for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), AND done in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38, 8:16, 19:5, 10:48). It was such baptism in water that was commanded those who believed (Acts 10:48).
If rejecting John’s baptism was rejecting God’s purpose for one’s self, then would not rejecting Jesus’ command to be baptized also be rejecting God’s purpose? I think so.
It is one thing to be in a position that you can NOT obey, it is another to be able to obey and refuse (no matter what excuse is given). Have you rejected God’s purpose for yourself? Hugh DeLong
