The Prophet John the Baptist’ Message

Prior to John’s conception, which was miraculous in itself, an angel told his father Zacharias that his son would be:

Great in the sight of the Lord.
He would turn the Jews to the Lord their God.
He would make ready a people prepared for the Lord.


And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying:

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;” Luke 1:67-69

John’s name was of utmost importance:
An angel told his father his son’s name would be John.

Due to his unbelief in the angel’s message he was struck dumb and was unable to speak until the day his son would receive his name on the day he was circumcised.

When they came to circumcise baby John they called his name Zacharias, meaning the Lord has remembered, but his mother intervened and said not so, his name is John. Those present thought it odd because they had no family members with the name John. Normally babies were named after a family member. They questioned Zacharias and he wrote “His name is John,” on a tablet. Immediately Zacharias’ tongue was loosed.

The name John means God graciously gives. Ask yourself what God-given message was professed by John the Baptist; faith in the coming messiah; Jesus Christ, and water baptism.

Consider, also, the following words spoken to Zacharias about his son:

“And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people BY the remission of their sins,
Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.´ Luke 1:76-79


John begins preaching about the coming messiah who will take away the sins of the world and water baptism for remission of those sins:

The Word of God came unto John the Baptist while he was in the wilderness. Notice John’s message was preached to those in the wilderness. The wilderness symbolizes the natural world wherein is spiritual darkness. Luke 3:2

John began preaching the need for water baptism for the remission of sin. (1st time remission of sin connected to water baptism) Luke 3:3 One sees the continuation of the message that sins are remitted in water baptism in Acts 2:38.

After Jesus secured salvation through His death, burial, and resurrection, all of mankind must step out in faith by being obedient to the Word. One element in the Word is everyone must be water baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The interesting thing is John was full of the Holy spirit even in the womb, where its recorded he jumped for joy..and at Jesus water baptism the holy spirit came down 'like a dove' so one cant say that water baptism is not necessary when Jesus himself submitted to it, even though Jesus had no sin to remit.

John even tried to argue that he shouldnt baptise Jesus, because he wasnt worthy of untying his sandal. BUt we see Jesus washing the disciples feet. We see Jesus submitting to water baptism. We see Jesus telling his disciples to go and baptise everyone and wash each others feet (which actually does require water!!)

It is like John prepares the way, Jesus provides the spiritual meaning.
It is also like how Jesus said to eat and drink wine and bread to remember Him by. Now many of of us can remember Him without eating and drinking the Lord supper, but...Jesus provides us with a tangible feast that he wants us to share in. And that is the same with water baptism, without the holy spirit, it might just be a dunk in the pool, but with the holy spirit, its spiritually significant. Without the holy spirit present and our minds focused on Jesus sacrifice, when we eat and drink its just food for our bellies. But with our minds remembering Him the Lord supper is spiritually significant.

We see from scripture that water baptism continued even after the baptism of the Holy Ghost began happening:

Acts 2:38-39 (Jewish)
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 8:12-17 (Samaritans)
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Acts 10:44-48 (Gentiles)
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days

Acts 11:13-14
And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

Acts 19:2-6 (Disciples who did not realize that had to water baptized in Jesus name)
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Acts 22:14-16 (Paul's water baptism)
And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

The red above refers to the Promise to Israel; the blue to the Hope for the Gentiles

Gal 3:27-29
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Yea after baptism we are all one in Christ.

Thats why baptism is important. People seem to get so hung up about it being water...but using water is just the way God prepares us. In revelation, there is a crystal clear river flowing from the throne of God, which is called the water of life. So it seems in heaven we are not going to be dry at all its going to be fun times getting wet!!!

1 john tells us the witness of son of God on earth in chapter 5 verse 7 the spirit, the WATER, and the blood and these three agree are one.

That passage really can't apply unless you can tell me why Paul required men to fulfill the role of overseers and not women etc. That passage has to do with our standing in Christ Jesus.

John the Baptist first delivered the concept of water baptism to Israel; however, as noted in scripture it applied to all peoples.
The salvation plan which includes repentance and water baptism in Jesus name applies to all; Jews, Gentiles, Samaritans, etc.

there are many archaeological examples of mikvehs. if you or i, as a gentile, were to become a proselyte Jew today, we would be baptized into Judaism in a mikveh. rabbinical writings describe immersion in water as being used for ritual purification, not only of priests involved in their duties, but for the ceremonial uncleanness of a woman after childbirth, for example. as far as i know, it's not clear exactly when their use came into practice in Judaism, but it is either centuries before John the Baptist or not very long afterward.

i heard as recently as last week a Christian, apparently an elder in his church, say that John introduced the idea of baptism and that the history shows clearly the Jews would have been shocked and disgusted by the practice. i do not see that the facts bear out what this man said, tho . . ? any Jewish reference one looks into will cite washings in the Law of Moses and explain that it has always been the practice to clean both themselves and objects ceremonially with water, both through immersion and sprinkling.

two weeks ago, i listened to a sermon in which the preacher claimed that what was new about John's baptism is that in Judaism, one immersed themselves, whereas if you went to John, you were being baptized by someone else

if that's true, it's very interesting from a typological standpoint

Israel had many purification laws of which one was the mikveh. However, John introduced one water baptism that replaced all of their purification rituals.

Many Jews refused John's New Testament water baptism.

The Father said He would reveal a new name to the Jews, and speak to them, and Jesus said to Philip if you have seen Me then you have seen the Father, for the words I speak are not my own, but the Father that dwells in me, He does the works.

Jesus said He came in the name of the Father.

The Son inherited the name from the Father.

The Holy Spirit comes in the name of the Jesus.

Jesus is the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Which Luke said remission of sins were to be preached in Jesus' name.

In the book of Acts, Jews, Gentiles, and Samaritans, were all baptized in the name of Jesus.

And those that were baptized unto John's baptism, had to be baptized again in the name of Jesus.

But this is thrown under the rug by many people adhering to their denominational teaching.

I totally agree with everything you posted as the scripture attests to it.
My post's focus was concerning how God used John the Baptist to initially introduce water baptism.
Of course after Jesus' completed work of His death, burial, and resurrection the Word expresses the need for water baptism to be done in the name of the Lord Jesus.

My friends of the Jewish persuasion in Chicago would say a Mikvah is a blessing…...I believe it is the same word mentioned in this thread with a Yiddish influence.

There are striking similarities between the Jewish Mikvah and the New Testament water baptism performed in Jesus name. We Christians are considered to be the bride of Christ because of our willingness to submit to God's salvation plan that includes being immersed in the waters of baptism. A Jewish bride had to prepare herself as well by immersing in a Mikvah prior to the arrival of her betrothed.
Also, just as we take on the bridegroom's name, Jesus, in our immersion, it is my understanding that during her Mikvah the Jewish bride acquires a new name. Is this accurate?

Do you know if the Jewish bride acquires a new name after her immersion in the Mikvah?