[Footnote 63:  Jon. 13.1, 15]

[Footnote 64:  Exodus 29.4, 40.12]

[Footnote 65:  Leviticus 8.4, 6; Jon. 1.31, 33]

[Footnote 66:  Jon. 1.33, 34; Acts 2.17, 18; Acts 10.45; Acts 11.15, 16]

[Footnote 67:  Joel 2.28]

JOHN’S BAPTISM.

John the Baptist was sent before Christ to prepare the way before him.[68]

John was a prophet of dispensation previous to Christ.[69] He was in the desert until the time of his showing unto Israel.[70] In the vision he was with Moses on the Mount and they talked with Jesus.[71] He with Moses vanished and left Jesus alone.[72]

John said:  That he (Jesus) should be manifest unto Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.[73] John defines his commission as only to Israel (the Jews).  His baptism was adapted to Jews only and not to us, who according to Jewish classification are Gentiles.  Evidently John baptised Jews only and no Gentiles.

It was unlawful for Jews to keep company or come unto Gentiles and there is no intimation that John ignored this Jewish law.[74]

The woman of Samaria wondered that Jesus (a Jew) asked water of her, a Samaritan, for Jews had no dealings with Samaritans.[75]

Even in apostolic times we have no record that any full Gentile was baptized with water; nor that any one born of Christian parents was so baptized.

Cruden says:  Naaman, Cornelius and the Eunuch were all proselytes of the gate and not full Gentiles.[76]

The Samaritans were a mixed race who observed the law of Moses.  They also were Jewish proselytes and not full Gentiles.[77] When the Jews numbered the people they did not count the Gentiles.  So all Jerusalem and Judea whom John baptized would not include the few Gentiles who lived among the Jews.[78]

The freedom with which the Jews followed John to the Jordan indicates that they were previously familiar with water baptism.[79]

But few of that great multitude whom John baptized appear to have become the disciples of Christ.

John said:  “There cometh one after me mightier than I, whose shoe latchets I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.  I indeed have baptized you with water but he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  And again:  “He must increase but I must decrease."[80]

Christ said:  “John truly baptized with water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”  Peter quoted this saying of our Lord and recognized this Holy Spirit baptism to be the same as that which the prophet Joel foretold should be poured out upon all flesh, upon sons and daughters, servants and handmaidens.[81]

Two baptisms are here contrasted by John, Christ and Peter.  Baptism of water must decrease with John and Judaism.  Baptism of Spirit must increase with Christ and Christianity.

To whom can we turn with more confidence for knowledge about all baptisms ordained or intended for us than unto John the Baptist whom we are told was sent to administer one baptism, and unto Christ who was the author of another baptism?[82]