So did Jesus baptize or not

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reidtgang

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Tonight at RCIA the leader referred to Jesus
baptizing. I suggested that He didn’t and that it was
his apostles who baptized. She said that she would
find the Scripture (in John) and show it to me next
we.

I think she was referring to this verse:

John 3:22
*After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the
region of Judea, where he spent some time with them
baptizing.

Yet when you go to:

John 4:1-2

Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard
that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples
than John (although Jesus himself was not baptizing,
just his disciples),*

*22-26] Jesus’ ministry in Judea is only loosely
connected with John 2:13-3:21; cf John 1:19-36.
Perhaps John the Baptist’s further testimony was
transposed here to give meaning to “water” in John
3:5. Jesus is depicted as baptizing (John 3:22);
contrast John 4:2.

**1-42] Jesus in Samaria. The self-revelation of Jesus
continues with his second discourse, on his mission to
“half-Jews.” It continues the theme of replacement,
here with regard to cult (John 4:21). Water (John
4:7-15) serves as a symbol (as at Cana and in the
Nicodemus episode).

***[2] An editorial refinement of John 3:22, perhaps
directed against followers of John the Baptist who
claimed that Jesus imitated him.

So did Jesus baptize or not.
 
Your question inspires two questions on my part.


  1. *]What does it mean to say, “Jesus baptized.”
    Does that imply he performed the actual, physical actions or can the definition of baptizing include directing others to carry out the actions?
    *]Did Jesus himself sometimes perform the actual physical actions of baptizing.

    My guess is that you will get more arguments on the definition of** baptized **than you will about whether Jesus himself perfomed the actions.

    My understanding would be that except where the distinction is called out (as in John 4), that whenever scripture says Jesus baptized it is not concerned about who perfomed the actions so long as it is under the authority or direction of Jesus.

    While from scripture it seems that at least at one point in his ministry Jesus did not perform the physical act of baptizing himself, I don’t know that we can conclude one way or the other whether he never did.
 
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