Questions

The baptism issue (Mk 1:8-11; Mt 3:13-17; Lk 3:21-22; Jn 1:29-34)

(Questions for meditation)

  1. How was Jesus’ baptism different from the baptism of other people?

  2. Do you think that Jesus needed to receive John’s baptism?

  3. Why would John say to Jesus “I have need to be baptized of thee” in Matt 3:14?

  4. Why did Jesus insist on receiving John’s baptism? (Matt 3:15)

  5. What revelation did John receive from the effect of Jesus’ baptism? What revelation did the effect give the people? (John 1:31-34)

  6. Why would the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus? Was it the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

  7. Do you think that Jesus already had the Holy Spirit before his baptism? (Matt 1:18,20; Luke 1:15, 1:80, 2:49)

  8. The descent of the Holy Spirit and the proclamation of the Heavenly Father, what important meaning do they give us? (Ephe 1:13-14; Rom 8:14-17)

  9. When Jesus said “fulfill all righteousness” in Matt 3:15, what did he mean? How is it related to God’s righteousness? (Rom 3:25)

  10. What symbolic meaning does baptism have? (Rom 6:3-5)

  11. Is there any relationship between being baptized with water and being baptized with the Holy Spirit? What did Jesus’ baptism reveal to us? (John 3:5-8)

  12. Please read John 20:21-22 and Acts 1:5 & 1:8. Do they reveal any purpose of being baptized with the Holy Spirit?

  13. According to your knowledge, why does the believer need to receive baptism? Is there any problem if the believer does not receive baptism?

  14. Being baptized with water and with the Holy Spirit, which is more important? How do you comprehend Acts 2:38?

  15. Why are there different forms of baptism? Why do the Baptist churches insist that their form of baptism is biblical? Do you think that other forms of baptism are acceptable?

  16. Is there any contradiction with the records of Matt 3:13-15 and John1:31-34?