Waterworks! John The Baptist Baptizes Jesus

By. C.N.

It is HOT! I’m sitting here, roasting like chestnuts on an open fire, melting into a blob of chocolate ice cream on the sidewalk again (if you see me passed out in the driveway, just keep walking; I’m admiring the craftsmanship of the concrete). On days like today-90 degrees, humid and sticky-we’re all looking for ways to stay cool. Blast your fans and ACs (and be prepared to punt a Build-A-Bear when you get that next energy bill. Haha), eat all of the ice cream and popsicles that your little hearts desire (or that you’re able to have. Haha), and run through the sprinklers/spray each other with the water hose like you don’t have any home training (I’ll give you a pass this time. Haha). With everything that I’ve just said, nothing says “I’m so cool, I’m so cool, I’m so coo-ooll (coo-ooll)” in the Spring heat (it’s not even summer yet…that’s a shame. Haha) like jumping in the pool or going to the beach (who doesn’t love nearly choking on salt water and having that chlorine completely DESTROY your hair?! Come on! It’s fun!)! When we go into the water, we feel like new people-we’re cooler, we’re more comfortable, we often feel lighter (from all of the exercise, not from those wet swimsuits->they make you feel 10 pounds heavier. Haha); we feel brand new when we come out of the water. This same principle applies when we get baptized.

When we’ve repented of our sins (asked God to forgive us of our sins and help us to not say, do, or think bad things anymore) and have asked Jesus Christ into our lives as our Lord and Savior, the next step is usually being baptized. This is just a fancy way of saying that we’re dunked into some RIDICULOUSLY COLD water (I’m exaggerating a bit…it’s not that cold. Haha) in the name of Jesus Christ. By getting baptized, we are “dying” to our old, sinful lifestyles, and are becoming new, holy creatures (we are filled with the Holy Spirit and are ready to live more like Jesus). With all of this being said, you might be surprised to hear that Jesus himself was baptized! Scurrrr!!! Hold up! Wait a minute! Back the car up! I thought that Jesus was perfect and never sinned-why would he need to be baptized? We’ll get to that. Haha You might also be surprised to hear that Jesus was baptized by his cousin, John The Baptist (Cuz! What’s good, Fam?!)! If you’ll recall from my “Mommy, Where Did Baby Jesus Come From?” post->https://jesusbedtimestories.com/mommy-where-did-baby-jesus-come-from/), both Mary and her cousin, Elizabeth, had miraculous pregnancies-the Holy Spirit caused Mary to become pregnant with Jesus, and also caused Elizabeth (who was in her 60s and hadn’t been able to have children) to become pregnant with John The Baptist. How funny is it that John is now (30 years later) baptizing his cousin, Jesus (the Savior of the world!), in the River of Jordan?! I tell you, God has a sense of humor. Haha

In the 3rd Chapter of Matthew (and throughout the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), John The Baptist acted as Jesus’s hype-man before Jesus began his three-year earthly ministry. John had been going around, telling everyone that the Messiah was coming (which was Jesus), and that they needed to repent, turn away from their sins and be baptized (he hyped Jesus up better than Sunny EVER hyped up Cher! Just saying. Haha). Until now, Jesus had lived a quiet, unknown life; he was a carpenter (no wonder he built us a house in Heaven-that man had skills!), he didn’t have much money, and to most people, he was just another face in the crowd. Now, with cousin John letting everyone know that the Savior of the world was coming, Jesus was about to become a big deal very quickly. Jesus came to John and asked to be baptized, but cousin John’s response was as follows:

Matthew 3:14 (KJV): But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

John told Cuz that he wasn’t worthy of baptizing him; John said that he himself needed to be baptized in Jesus’s name (You should be baptizing me, Jesus, not the other way around!)! Jesus responded in kind:

Matthew 3:15 (KJV): And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Jesus was so humble (Stay humble, stay humble. I see you, Kendrick Lamar. Haha)! Although Jesus was a perfect man, had never sinned, and by our standards, didn’t NEED to be baptized, he was fulfilling his Father’s will-God Almighty meant for Jesus to be baptized. Jesus didn’t receive any special treatment while on earth-he wasn’t rich (no bling-bling or the ching-ching!), he didn’t have a big house or car (he would have had lots of land and mules during those days. Haha), he didn’t have cameras following him everywhere (be gone, paparazzi! Shoo, fly, don’t bother me!), and God didn’t roll the red carpet out for him (sit down, Adam Sandler! Haha). For the first 30 years of Jesus’s earthly life, his life was ordinary. As such, he was to be baptized as everyone else had been baptized. Less talking, more action, JOHN!

John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the River of Jordan (he wasn’t giving him a swirlie, either!), and when Jesus came up from the water, Heaven opened up, and he saw the Spirit of God descending upon him, like a dove (here, birdie, birdie!). God Almighty (in a deep, manly voice) spoke from Heaven and said, referring to Jesus, “ This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt 3:17 (KJV)). God was so proud of Jesus, y’all! His beloved baby boy was here to take care of Daddy’s business, was now about to begin his earthly ministry (teaching and preaching about the Kingdom of God), and God Almighty would get the glory and praise. I feel a modern-day remix coming on! Put on your swimsuits, jump in the pool (don’t flip off of the diving board if you can’t swim; drowning isn’t cute), and let the remix commence! NOTE: I will be utilizing modern-day language, technology, and ways of living in this story, as we’re picturing this happening today.

Waterworks! John The Baptist Baptizes Jesus

By. C.N.

Biblical Reference: Holy Bible-Matthew 3:13-17 (KJV)

*John The Baptist is in the River of Jordan, minding his own business, soaking up some sun. He has been baptizing people all day, and he’s rocking an EPIC tan! Jesus suddenly appears and is walking toward his cousin*

JESUS CHRIST: John?! What’s up, Cuz?! How are you doing? I see that you’re out here baptizing folk, and I wanted a piece of the action. One baptism with extra water, please.

John The Baptist: Jesus! How are you doing, man?! It’s so good to see you! I haven’t seen you in FOREVER (though Jesus and John were cousins, they did not grow up together, and this is their first time seeing each other in person)! *they proceed to give each other a big man hug and complementary fist bump-BOOYAH!*  I’m honored that you want me to baptize you, Cuz, but I’m not good enough to do that, man.

JESUS CHRIST: What do you mean, Cuz?

John The Baptist: You should be baptizing me, Fam! You know that I’m a dirty scoundrel in need of repentance; I’m Dennis The Menace, for real! They should have cast me in the “Boys In The Hood” movie (please don’t watch that movie, kids. Haha)! I’m a sinner, Jesus, and should be baptized in your name. You’re perfect. How can I be worthy of baptizing you?

JESUS CHRIST:  Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.

John The Baptist: Yeah, you must be speaking that Spanglish again, Fam. I don’t have any idea what you just said.

JESUS CHRIST: It is my Father’s will that I should be baptized. He speaks, and I listen. You are the man for the job, John. We’re blood, and blood is thicker than water. Just pretend like we’re at the carnival and I’m in the dunking booth. You know that you want to dunk me right now! You know that you do!

John The Baptist: Haha! You’re right! You’re right! Okay, I’ll go ahead and baptize you.

*John The Baptist proceeds to baptize Jesus, and as Jesus comes up from the water, the heavens open up to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending upon him, like a brightly lit dove.*

GOD ALMIGHTY: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

John The Baptist: Oh, snap! God just talked to you (Jesus is official, y’all!)! You are the Messiah! The Son of God! The Savior of the world! My cousin! I’m so happy to know you, man! I have royal blood running through my veins, y’all!

JESUS CHRIST: Haha. Yes, Sir! My Father has sent me to do his will, and I will gladly do just that. You’ll hear about it on the 9 o’clock news.  Haha

John The Baptist: In the words of Spongebob Squarepants, “I’m ready!”

-C.N.