THE BAPTISM OF JOHN
Mat 21:23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”
Mat 21:24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things:
Mat 21:25 The baptism of John where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
Mat 21:26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.”
Mat 21:27 So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
First, we’ll answer Jesus’ question; was John’s baptism from Heaven or men?
John the Baptist is mentioned at the start of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Mar 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Mar 1:2 As it is written in the Prophets: “BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER BEFORE YOUR FACE, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.”
Mar 1:3 “THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS: ‘PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD; MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’ ”
Mar 1:4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
John the Baptist was foretold in Bible prophecy.
Isa 40:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.
Joh 1:22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
Joh 1:23 He said: “I am ‘THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS: “MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
John was sent to baptize.
Joh 1:33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
Joh 1:34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”
Mat 11:9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
Mat 11:10 For this is he of whom it is written: ‘BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER BEFORE YOUR FACE, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.’
Mat 11:11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
There is no need for more proof that John the Baptist was indeed a man of God whose baptism was from heaven.
Luk 3:16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Mar 1:4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
John gave knowledge of salvation.
Luk 1:76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
Luk 1:77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins,
John’s baptism is the start of the knowledge of eternal life. There was more to learn after being baptised by John.
Act 18:25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.
We must believe on Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit came after laying on of hands.
Act 19:3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
Act 19:4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
The following scriptures will show that the Holy Spirit of promise is given.
Act 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.
Act 11:16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
Act 11:17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”
Eph 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Act 8:15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
Act 8:16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 8:17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Act 19:2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
Act 19:3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
Act 19:4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
The above scriptures show that to receive the down payment of eternal life [the earnest of the spirit] we must believe on Jesus Christ. Laying on of hands is not an absolute criteria.
At our baptism, we believed the Bible, all things were new to us, and we were excited about the Kingdom of God.
Heb 10:32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:
Heb 10:33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated;
Eph 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
When the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, they believed God. That belief gradually turned to unbelief. When we receive the earnest of the Spirit from God, we believe God. That belief can turn to unbelief, if we do not continue to grow, pray study and meditate on God’s law, daily study and overcoming is required.
Heb 3:12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;
Those who believe that John’s baptism is from heaven will believe that the Holy Spirit of promise is given at the beginning, and the Holy Spirit of power or life is given at a later date. The apostles received the Holy Spirit of life on the day of Pentecost. They had received the earnest of the Spirit at, or just after baptism.
Now let us see the answer from Jesus Christ to the question “by what authority do you do these things?”
Joh 12:49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.
Joh 4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
Joh 5:30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
Joh 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
Joh 6:39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
Joh 6:40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Joh 14:28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.
Jesus spoke on the authority of His Father from heaven. We have other articles, which prove that Jesus Christ is the Son of God from the beginning; [not from eternity].