Emphasis Preaching Journal
What's all this talk about...
Illustration
What's all this talk about baptism?
In the Greek "baptism" means "to be dipped."
But dipped into what? Where? Why?
The text answers ...
Where? The River Jordan. John went back to the spot near Gilgal on the Jordan where Joshua led Israel out of the wilderness and into the Promised Land to become a nation. He is calling for a new Israel, a new people of God. Later, Jesus would come here to be baptized, identifying with the new Israel, the church.
In the Greek "baptism" means "to be dipped."
But dipped into what? Where? Why?
The text answers ...
Where? The River Jordan. John went back to the spot near Gilgal on the Jordan where Joshua led Israel out of the wilderness and into the Promised Land to become a nation. He is calling for a new Israel, a new people of God. Later, Jesus would come here to be baptized, identifying with the new Israel, the church.
