The Baptism of Jesus
Was Jesus Baptized?
Did John the Baptist Baptize Jesus?
Did John the Baptist Even Know Who Jesus Was?
The Problematic Nature of John's Baptism
Mark 1:1-5
1:1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 1:2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 1:3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'" 1:4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 1:5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 1:6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
Mark 1:1-5 in Synoptic Perspective
Matthew and Luke Did Not Like the Fact that Jesus was Baptized in a "Baptism of Repentance for the Forgiveness of Sins"
Mark 1:9-11
1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 1:10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 1:11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
Both Writers Attempt to "Fix" this
Christological Problem, Independently of Each Other, and Each in Their Own Way
Luke has Herod Imprison John Before the Baptism of Jesus
3:19 But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, 3:20 added to them all by shutting up John in prison.
Matthew Justifies Jesus' Baptism by John by Adding a Dialogue Between John and Jesus
3:14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 3:15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.
11:2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 11:3 and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?"
Matthew 11:2-3 in Synoptic Perspective
Compare The Baptism Story in the Gospel of John
Is Jesus Even Baptized In the Gospel of John?
More Contradictory Evidence:
John was Elizabeth's 6-Month Old Unborn Fetus
Who Recognized Jesus as a Newly-conceived Unborn Fetus1:26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 1:27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 1:28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." 1:29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 1:30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 1:31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 1:32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 1:33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." 1:34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" 1:35 The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 1:36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God." 1:38 Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. 1:39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 1:40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 1:42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 1:43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 1:44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.
John the Baptist Twice Denies Knowing Jesus Beforehand
1:28 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing. 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 1:30 This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' 1:31 I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel." 1:32 And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 1:33 I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 1:34 And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God."
So . . .
Did John the Baptist Know Who Jesus Was?