Jesus baptized as a man

[Domine_Deus]

Excuse my ignorance.
Was the sacrament of Baptism not practiced when Jesus was a baby? When Jesus was presented to Simeon, was that a type of baptism? If so, why was he baptized again by John the Baptist?

Thanks and God Bless

 

[threej_lc]

In the Jewish religion, the firstborn son was offered in the temple as an offering to God. All Jewish males were required to be circumcised as a sign of the covenent relationship with God. Should one then later violate this relationship, atonement was required. Occasionally as a sign of this atonement a washing ceremony took place.

Over time, the tradition of “Baptism” was developed as an outward sign of one’s repentance and rededication to God. When Jesus underwent baptism, he dignified the process and instilled grace into it, changing from an outward sign to a sacrament. In his final sacrifice on the cross, he fulfilled the Jewish covenant, replacing the physical practice of circumcision with the spiritual practice of baptism as a dedication and offering to God.

…I could explain that a lot better, complete with scripture verses, if I wasn’t at work

Josh

 

[Shiann]

Domine Deus:

Excuse my ignorance.
Was the sacrament of Baptism not practiced when Jesus was a baby? When Jesus was presented to Simeon, was that a type of baptism? If so, why was he baptized again by John the Baptist?

Thanks and God Bless

Jesus was presented to Simeon to fulfill the Jewish law of circumcision and presentation. He was not obligated to Jewish law per se, but fulfilled it regardless to show his obedience to God.

Jesus was later Baptised as an adult, again, not because he needed Sanctifying Grace, but to show his obedience to God and establish the new covenant.

 

[Shiann]

threej_lc:

In the Jewish religion, the firstborn son was offered in the temple as an offering to God. All Jewish males were required to be circumcised as a sign of the covenent relationship with God. Should one then later violate this relationship, atonement was required. Occasionally as a sign of this atonement a washing ceremony took place.

Over time, the tradition of “Baptism” was developed as an outward sign of one’s repentance and rededication to God. When Jesus underwent baptism, he dignified the process and instilled grace into it, changing from an outward sign to a sacrament. In his final sacrifice on the cross, he fulfilled the Jewish covenant, replacing the physical practice of circumcision with the spiritual practice of baptism as a dedication and offering to God.

…I could explain that a lot better, complete with scripture verses, if I wasn’t at work

Josh

:yup:

 

[BayCityRickL]

I looked into this matter quite a bit, because I was trying to figure out where baptism came from, anyway.

Jesus was circumcized as an infant, to fulfill the requirements of the covenant of God with Abraham. This was not a baptism. I think one of the gospels says that Mary had to undergo the rituals of purification, appropriate after childbirth, to remove her ritual impurity. But, Jesus was not baptized at that time.

The version I heard is that pilgrims to the Temple in Jerusalem had to bathe in baths before going up to the Temple. You may have seen these baths in documentaries. The water was changed after 7 people or so had bathed in the water.

Recall the account of Jesus’ baptism and the discussion about being baptized with living water. Living water referred in the historical context to the flowing water of the Jordan River. In the spiritual context it refers to a spiritual cleansing in the blood of Christ.

The Baptism in the Jordan was captured by John Paul II as the first of the luminous mysteries of the Rosary. These are the mysteries of the Rosary where Jesus and His ministry were revealed.

Jesus’ baptism has elements that reckon back to the time when the high priest imputed the sins of the people to the scape goat, which was subsequently released into the wilderness to be devoured by wild animals. And, John the baptizer makes a proclamation of this, that Jesus is the lamb that takes away the sins of the world.

Although sprinkling and pouring of water over the head are considered acceptable forms of baptism, baptism by immersion is also a valid form. To some, it recalls the condemnation of the flood of Noah’s time on humanity for their sins. However, the emergence from the water denotes the spiritual rebirth and cleansing that accompanies the outward sign.

And, why did Jesus have to be so baptized? Why did He say that it had to be so? Maybe it was to have the sign of condemnation put on him (the Noah stuff), which makes the most sense, to me.

 

[adventistnomore]

Jesus was circumcised as an infant because He lived under the Old Covenant Law. His circumcision enrolled him in the promises of the Old Covenant Community. In the new Covenant however, baptism unites us with the community of faith, and replaces the infant circumcision rite of Judaism:

“In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:10-12)

Christ was baptized to sanctify the bapismal waters (“to fulfill all righteusness” Matthew 3:15). Thus, when we descend in the water, we recieve the righteousness of Christ.

Thus, Christ’s action (though He was under the Old Covenant) was meant to inaugurate the New Covenant.