by Emily Wooten
Mark 1:2-4 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Before Jesus’ first miracle, John Baptist was preaching the message of repentance. It was a simple message and there is no need to misunderstand. Humans are born as part of the human race. Before they tell one lie or commit one act of rebellion they are in need of salvation.
John’s mission was to tell as many people as possible that there was coming one who would take away the sins of the world. Even Jesus thought it necessary to be baptized.
Mark 1: 9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
We see in Acts 8 after the Ethiopian Eunuch read from Isaiah how that the Lord laid on Jesus the sins and weakness of us all he wanted to be baptized.
Isaiah 53:7-8 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
As soon as he understood the words he read he repented, believed on Jesus as the son of God and was baptized.
We should want the world to know we have believed on Jesus Christ as the only begotten son of God who took away the sins of the world.
I Corinthians 15:3-4 Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day…
Paul preached that same simple message. Believe on Jesus as God’s son, ask him to forgive your sins and be baptized.
Baptism tells the world that you have been buried with Christ Jesus and resurrected to new life. When we are submerged in water it represents us dying to sin. When we are raised from the water we are alive to Christ. His Holy Spirit leads us and guides us as we learn of him. Baptism is a public confession of Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
If you have never been baptized and would like to, let Pastor Ron or Lisa Johnson, Terry or Lisa Baine, or Dee Morgan know you would like to experience water baptism.