The Life of Jesus in Harmony | Index

Baptist

This baptism of repentance was a different baptism from any the Jews had known. The idea of baptism was not new for the Jews were very familiar with "making themselves clean" (Lev 15). Even proselytes were initiated into Judaism through a baptism.

John immersed the entire man in the water in the Jordan River. This symbolized a complete moral cleansing. It was a public confession of sin and of the need of a Saviour-Messiah.