October 2 Why Baptize?

John 1:24-28 Now some Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
 
WHY did John the Baptist baptize? As Christians, we understand baptism to be an outward sign that we have received the Spirit’s regeneration of new life. In that new life, we are a member of Christ’s church. But John, of course, is before Jesus, whose church was yet to come.
   The Jews, though, did baptize Gentiles who became Jews. The Jews did not normally baptize Jews, but John was baptizing Jews this was a sign of the Messiah. That’s one reason the Pharisees questioned John. It seems they believed that the Prophet, Elijah or the Messiah would come with God’s holy authority to baptize Jews to cleanse the world’s sin. If John, then, was not one of the “three” why did he baptize?
   John the Baptist defined his purpose as he answered their question. John tells them his baptism is a sign of repentance to prepare for a greater one to come. Humbly, John stayed in his role. God had anointed John to awaken the Jews from 400 years of heaven’s silence. His words are urgent as the Messiah stands at the ready, prepared to take his cue from the Father and the Spirit to begin his gospel ministry. 
   Have you ever considered how John the Baptist is an excellent model for your own faith walk? We often, I believe, see the prophet as an isolated man who lived a hermit’s life. He dressed badly, ate bugs and preached harshly. Who wants to be like that?
   Let’s see, instead, a man who faithfully lived into his calling. He was neither more nor less the man God had made him to be. The Spirit had anointed him in his mother’s womb. He lived under the Spirit’s anointing until his death. God separated him from the culture to train him into his role. Then God used him to prepare the Savior to come to you.
   You and I are called to similar roles. Each Christian is anointed to live in the Spirit’s power until we die. This includes telling the gospel. We are to awaken the world to the true Messiah. He now stands at the ready, awaiting the Father’s cue to come again as Judge and King. God calls you to prepare hearts for the Savior.
 
Prayer: I receive your anointing, Lord God, to be your disciple. I pray I help the world to be prepared for you. Amen.