PART 1

OVERVIEW

Baptism is the public announcement of a personal experience. It is a believer’s act of obedience and a public testimony of a believer’s willingness to identify with and follow the Moshiach. Yeshua gave us His example and His command to teach us about baptism. John the Baptist baptized Yeshua in the Jordan River, leaving us an example to do the same as a public statement of our faith. Likewise, Yeshua commanded His disciples to baptize other believers (Matthew 28:19). Baptism is a picture of Moshiach’s death, burial, and resurrection. It is an outward picture of a person’s inward change. The believer leaves behind the old way of life in exchange for new life in the Moshiach. Baptism is a symbol of salvation --- not a requirement for eternal life. However, as an act of obedience, it also is not optional for believers. Baptism indicates our willingness to tell our church and the world that we are committed to the person of the Moshiach and His teachings.

THE BAPTISM OF JOHN

The term for baptism generally means, “to dip” or “immerse.” However, it represents a group of words used to signify a religious rite for ritual cleansing. In the New Testament, it became the rite of initiation into the believer community, and it was interpreted as a dying and rising with the Moshiach. John the Baptist preached a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3:3). The Gospel accounts agree that John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance (Matthew 3:6-10; Mark 1:4-5; Luke 3:3-14). We recognize baptism as a picture of our redirection in life. We repent from our old way of living in sin and disobedience. We change course and get a fresh start. The origins of John’s baptism are difficult to trace. Some have claimed that his baptism modelled that practiced by those at Qumran; others have urged that his baptism modelled that practiced by Jews when initiating non-Jewish converts to Judaism. The members of the Qumran community viewed themselves as the covenant community of the last days and so dwelt in the desert, living a reclusive life and immersing themselves daily in acts of ceremonial cleansing. At the same time, they taught that internal repentance must accompany the external act, as seen in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Its sacramental nature is seen in the fact that only a full member of the community could practice it, and then only after two probationary years (Rule of the Congregation 5:6). Converts from pagan religions were admitted to Judaism only after fulfilling certain obligations, which included the study of the Torah, circumcision, and a ritual bath to wash away the impurities of the Gentile background. John’s baptism both parallels and differs with these forms of baptism. John’s baptism practice had the following results:

1 -- It was intimately connected with radical repentance, not only of the Gentile but also of the Jew.

2 -- It pointed to being prepared for the Moshiach, who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and bring the baptism of fire (Matthew 3:11).

3 -- It symbolized moral purification and so prepared the people for the coming Kingdom of YHVH (Matthew 3:2; Luke 3:7-14).

4 -- In spite of the obvious connection between John’s ceremony and the early church, it actually disappeared from Yeshua’ direct ministry.

At first, Yeshua allowed His disciples to continue the rite (John 3:22), but later He seemingly discontinued the practice (John 4:1-3), probably for the following reasons:

A -- John’s message was functional, while Yeshua’ was personal.

B -- John anticipated the coming Kingdom, while Yeshua announced the fact that the Kingdom had arrived.

C -- John’s rite was an interim practice until Yeshua’ ministry.

THE BAPTISM OF YESHUA

This marked the beginning of Yeshua’ ministry. Few scholars dispute that John the Baptist baptized Yeshua. However, the purpose and significance of Yeshua’ baptism remain controversial. John the Baptist proclaimed that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand and that YHVH’s people should prepare for Adonai’s coming by a renewal of faith toward YHVH. For John, that meant repentance, confession of sins, and practicing righteousness. That being so, why was Yeshua baptized? If Yeshua was sinless, as the New Testament proclaims (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22), why did He submit to a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins? The Gospels provide the answers.

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

Mark presents the baptism of Yeshua as a necessary preparation for His period of temptation and ministry. At His baptism Yeshua received the Father’s approval and the bestowal of the Holy Spirit {Mark 1:9-11}. Mark’s focus on Yeshua’ special relation to the Father, “You are My beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with You” {Mark 1:11}, brings together two important Old Testament references. Yeshua’ Moshiachship is presented in a radically new way, in which the ruling Moshiach (Psalm 2:7) is also the Suffering Servant of Adonai {Isaiah 42:1}. Popular Jewish belief expected a ruling Moshiach who would establish the Kingdom of YHVH, not a Moshiach who would suffer for the people. Mark intended to show that YHVH’s appointed time for the fulfilment of His purpose had come with Yeshua’ arrival. The statement that the heavens opened at the baptism of Yeshua {Mark 1:10} may proclaim the arrival of the “end times” {the time of fulfilment and the establishment of YHVH’s Kingdom}. The Jewish interpretation of Isaiah 64:1 at that time held that in the last days YHVH would open the heavens and come down to His people. In Jewish thought the rending of the heavens was also associated with hearing YHVH’s voice and the bestowal of YHVH’s Spirit.

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

Matthew’s account of Yeshua’ baptism has more detail than Mark’s. It begins by noting John’s reluctance to baptize Yeshua {Matthew 3:14}. John was persuaded only after Yeshua explained to him that the act was “fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness” {Matthew 3:15}. Although the full meaning of those words is uncertain, they at least suggest that Yeshua’ baptism was necessary to accomplish YHVH’s will. In both the Old and New Testaments {Psalm 98:2-3; Romans 1:17} YHVH’s Righteousness is seen in His Salvation for His people. That is why the Moshiach can be called “Adonai Is Our Righteousness” {Jeremiah 23:6; compare to Isaiah 11:1-5}. Yeshua told John that His baptism was necessary to do YHVH’s will in bringing about salvation for His people. Thus, the Father’s declaration at Yeshua’ baptism is presented in the form of a public announcement. It emphasized that Yeshua was YHVH’s Anointed Servant about to begin His ministry, bringing Adonai’s Salvation.

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

Luke passes over Yeshua’ baptism quickly, placing it alongside the baptism of others who came to John {Luke 3:21-22}. The context in Luke also sheds some light on the purpose of Yeshua’ baptism. Luke, unlike Matthew, places the genealogy of Yeshua after His baptism and just before His ministry begins. The parallel to Moses, whose genealogy occurs just before his primary work begins {Exodus 6:14-25}, seems more than coincidental. It is probably intended to illustrate Yeshua’ role in bringing deliverance {Salvation} to YHVH’s people just as Moses did in the Old Testament. At His baptism, by the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Him, Yeshua was equipped to do the mission YHVH had called Him to do. Following His temptation {Luke 4:1-13}, Yeshua entered the synagogue and declared to the people that He had been Anointed by the Spirit to proclaim good news {Luke 4:16-21}. That Spirit came at Yeshua’ baptism to anoint Him {compare to Acts 10:37-38}. In his Gospel account, Luke tried to identify Yeshua with the common people. This is seen in the birth story {with Yeshua born in a stable and visited by lowly shepherds, Luke 2:8-20} and through placing the genealogy {stressing Yeshua’ relation to all of humanity, Luke 3:38} right after the baptism. Thus, Luke saw the baptism as Yeshua’ first step in identifying Himself with those He had come to save. Only someone who was altogether like us could stand in our place as our substitute for sin’s death penalty. Yeshua identified with us in order to show His Love for us. In the Old Testament the Moshiach was always inseparable from the people He represented {see especially Jeremiah 30:21 and Ezekiel 45-46}. Although the “servant” in Isaiah is sometimes viewed corporately {Isaiah 44:1} and sometimes individually {Isaiah 53:3}, He is always viewed as the representative of the people to Adonai {Isaiah 49:5-26}, as well as the servant of Adonai. Evidently Luke, along with Mark and Matthew, was trying to show that Yeshua, as the divine representative of the people, had identified Himself with them in His baptism.

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

The fourth Gospel does not say that Yeshua was baptized but does say that John the Baptist saw the Spirit descend upon Yeshua {John 1:32-34}. The account emphasizes that Yeshua went to John during John’s preaching and baptizing ministry; John recognized that Yeshua was the Moshiach, that YHVH’s Spirit was upon Him, and that He was the Son of YHVH. John also recognized that Yeshua, unlike himself, baptized with the Holy Spirit {John 1:29-36}. John the Baptist described Yeshua as the “Lamb of YHVH who takes away the sin of the world” {John 1:29}. The closest Old Testament parallel to that statement comes from the “servant of Adonai” passage {Isaiah 53:6-7}. It is possible that “Lamb of YHVH” could be an alternate translation of the Aramaic term “servant of YHVH.” The sense of Yeshua as the one who bears the sins of the people is obviously in view in the fourth Gospel. The Gospel writer implies that John the Baptist understood Yeshua was the Promised Representative and Deliverer of the people.

THE GOSPELS’ CONCLUSIONS

In the four Gospels it is clear that the Holy Spirit came upon Yeshua at His baptism to enable Him to do the work of YHVH. All four Gospel writers saw that Yeshua had been anointed by YHVH to accomplish His mission of bringing Salvation to the people. Those ideas provide a key to understanding why Yeshua was baptized. On that occasion at the beginning of His ministry, YHVH anointed Yeshua with the Holy Spirit to do His mediating work between YHVH and the people. At His baptism Yeshua was identified as the One who would bear the people’s sins; Yeshua was baptized to identify Himself with sinful people. Likewise, we are baptized in order to identify with Yeshua’ act of obedience. We follow His example by making a public confession of our commitment to YHVH’s will.

YESHUA’ RESURRECTION COMMAND TO BAPTIZE

In Yeshua’s final words to His disciples, we find the true basis of the church’s practice of baptism {Matthew 28:19}. As already stated, the disciples had stopped employing it, so the institution was reconstituted as an ordinance based on the death and resurrection of the Moshiach. It was no longer a forward-looking phenomenon but was now an activity centre on the gospel message and certified by the risen Moshiach. It also is an essential aspect of the discipling activity, as seen in the use of the participle “baptizing” after the main verb “make disciples.” Finally, we might note that the act signifies the entrance of the believer “into” union with {literally “into the name of”} YHVH.

BAPTISM IN THE EARLY CHURCH

Acts 2:38 shows that baptism was a sacred institution from the very beginning. This takes it back to the earliest days of the church. In the primitive church it was an important part of the salvation process {Acts 2:38, “repent and be baptized”} and was accomplished via confession and prayer “in the Name of Yeshua Moshiach” {Acts 2:38; Acts 8:16; Acts 10:48; Acts 19:5}. Probably there was a question-and-answer period in which believers confessed their faith and dedicated themselves to the Moshiach. The result was reception into and identification with the messianic community of the new covenant, signifying both forgiveness of sins {Acts 2:38; Acts 5:31; Acts 10:43; Acts 13:38; Acts 26:18} and the receipt of the Holy Spirit {Luke 3:16; Acts 2:38, 41; Acts 9:17; Acts 10:47-48; Acts 11:16-17; Acts 19:5-7}.

Over the past weekend I have been contemplating what it means to worship a false god and how it could relate to the second commandment which starts with Exodus 20:4-5a: "You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness (form, manifestation) of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth [as an object to worship]. 5a You shall not worship them nor serve them;..."

In Numbers 21:8-9 we see YHWH giving Moses instruction to make the bronze serpent: "Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent [of bronze] and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten will live when he looks at it.” 9 So Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on the pole, and it happened that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived."

The people had to look at the bronze serpent to be saved. It doesn't say that they had to bow their knees, accept the serpent as a god and then be saved. So in my understanding this instruction doesn't break the second commandment.

I have so many question on this:

1. At what point does this "looking at" become worship as there is a positive outcome for the onlooker and therefore they will give the outcome as evidence of the power in the object they are looking at?

2. If looking at the serpent was enough to save a person and the bronze serpent was a representation of Yeshua on the cross, then could it mean that salvation doesn't necessitate worship?

3. If YHWH is a jealous god and distinctly separate from Yeshua, can we then bow our knees in worship to Yeshua and not break this command?

#bronzeserpent #jealous

Thought for Today: Monday August 18

Have you ever been falsely accused of something? Anger and bitterness – whatever the cause, it only ends up hurting us. So, whenever a situation causes you to be angry, turn that anger over to our Moshiach. Ask Him to forgive your anger, and then ask Him to help you get rid of it and even forgive the person who hurt you.

I'm still having trouble using a rolling pin to make round tortillas. The cast iron press doesn't press them thin enough, but it will have to do for now. I made some steak tacos and chicken tacos with avocados for dinner. FMF hard wheat tortillas. My NutriMill Dough Mat is the perfect size for my kitchen island in our 5th Wheel. 20" x 28"
🎉 Back-to-School Bosch Mixer Sale! 🎉

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your kitchen before the Fall and Winter baking seasons hit, now is the time! From August 1 – September 1, Bosch has put together 4 incredible mixer bundles that are packed with value, gift-able, and priced to move!

Here’s what’s on sale:
🥖 Sourdough Bundle – (bannetons, slings, starter kit & more!) $724 value for $549 + extra $20 off with my code!
🍪 Bakers Bundle – Cookie paddles, cake paddles, icing kit, and more for the busy baker.
🍨 Ice Cream Bundle – Perfect for homemade family fun (and yes, it’s as good as it sounds!).
🥤 Blender Bundle – Smoothies, soups, nut butters – this turns your Bosch into an all-in-one kitchen tool.

Each bundle includes the White Bosch Universal Plus Mixer ($549) PLUS all the extras… for FREE. 🙌

Shop the sale here ➡️ https://nutrimill.com/KSITANA20

Checkout CODE: KSITANA20

#nutrimillsiliconedoughmat #nutrimill #doughmat

I'm still having trouble using a rolling pin to make round tortillas. The cast iron press doesn't press them thin enough, but it will have to do for now. I made some steak tacos and chicken tacos with avocados for dinner. FMF hard wheat tortillas. My NutriMill Dough Mat is the perfect size for my kitchen island in our 5th Wheel. 20" x 28"
🎉 Back-to-School Bosch Mixer Sale! 🎉

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your kitchen before the Fall and Winter baking seasons hit, now is the time! From August 1 – September 1, Bosch has put together 4 incredible mixer bundles that are packed with value, gift-able, and priced to move!

Here’s what’s on sale:
🥖 Sourdough Bundle – (bannetons, slings, starter kit & more!) $724 value for $549 + extra $20 off with my code!
🍪 Bakers Bundle – Cookie paddles, cake paddles, icing kit, and more for the busy baker.
🍨 Ice Cream Bundle – Perfect for homemade family fun (and yes, it’s as good as it sounds!).
🥤 Blender Bundle – Smoothies, soups, nut butters – this turns your Bosch into an all-in-one kitchen tool.

Each bundle includes the White Bosch Universal Plus Mixer ($549) PLUS all the extras… for FREE. 🙌

Shop the sale here ➡️ https://nutrimill.com/KSITANA20

Checkout CODE: KSITANA20

#nutrimillsiliconedoughmat #nutrimill #doughmat

I'm still having trouble using a rolling pin to make round tortillas. The cast iron press doesn't press them thin enough, but it will have to do for now. I made some steak tacos and chicken tacos with avocados for dinner. FMF hard wheat tortillas. My NutriMill Dough Mat is the perfect size for my kitchen island in our 5th Wheel. 20" x 28"
🎉 Back-to-School Bosch Mixer Sale! 🎉

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your kitchen before the Fall and Winter baking seasons hit, now is the time! From August 1 – September 1, Bosch has put together 4 incredible mixer bundles that are packed with value, gift-able, and priced to move!

Here’s what’s on sale:
🥖 Sourdough Bundle – (bannetons, slings, starter kit & more!) $724 value for $549 + extra $20 off with my code!
🍪 Bakers Bundle – Cookie paddles, cake paddles, icing kit, and more for the busy baker.
🍨 Ice Cream Bundle – Perfect for homemade family fun (and yes, it’s as good as it sounds!).
🥤 Blender Bundle – Smoothies, soups, nut butters – this turns your Bosch into an all-in-one kitchen tool.

Each bundle includes the White Bosch Universal Plus Mixer ($549) PLUS all the extras… for FREE. 🙌

Shop the sale here ➡️ https://nutrimill.com/KSITANA20

Checkout CODE: KSITANA20

#nutrimillsiliconedoughmat #nutrimill #doughmat

I'm still having trouble using a rolling pin to make round tortillas. The cast iron press doesn't press them thin enough, but it will have to do for now. I made some steak tacos and chicken tacos with avocados for dinner. FMF hard wheat tortillas. My NutriMill Dough Mat is the perfect size for my kitchen island in our 5th Wheel. 20" x 28"
🎉 Back-to-School Bosch Mixer Sale! 🎉

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your kitchen before the Fall and Winter baking seasons hit, now is the time! From August 1 – September 1, Bosch has put together 4 incredible mixer bundles that are packed with value, gift-able, and priced to move!

Here’s what’s on sale:
🥖 Sourdough Bundle – (bannetons, slings, starter kit & more!) $724 value for $549 + extra $20 off with my code!
🍪 Bakers Bundle – Cookie paddles, cake paddles, icing kit, and more for the busy baker.
🍨 Ice Cream Bundle – Perfect for homemade family fun (and yes, it’s as good as it sounds!).
🥤 Blender Bundle – Smoothies, soups, nut butters – this turns your Bosch into an all-in-one kitchen tool.

Each bundle includes the White Bosch Universal Plus Mixer ($549) PLUS all the extras… for FREE. 🙌

Shop the sale here ➡️ https://nutrimill.com/KSITANA20

Checkout CODE: KSITANA20

#nutrimillsiliconedoughmat #nutrimill #doughmat

Something to think about:

A mistake that makes you humble, is better than an achievement that makes you arrogant.

Something to ponder for Christian folks: If following the Torah doesn't save and is not necessary, then why was it a requirement for Yeshua, aka Jesus, to have done so perfectly?