John the Baptist Baptizing Again - John 3:23

John the apostle wrote, “After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized”, and in chapter three and verse twenty-three of his book, John shared how, “John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim” where we read:

And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there:

and they came, and were baptized.

The verse reads, “And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there:” John began with the words, “and John” which refers to “John the Baptist whose name means Jehovah is a gracious giver” “also was baptizing” or “even so and indeed was submerging and immersing people in water” “in Aenon” which means “springs” “near to Salim” or “next to and in proximity to Salim which means peace and was a well known town eight miles south of Scythopolis”, “because there was much water there” which means “since and on account that there existed a large and abundant amount of water in that location”. John shared how John the Baptist was also “baptizing” people in the place known as “Aenon” which was close to “Salim” because there was a lot of water in that place.

The verse goes on to say, “and they came, and were baptized.” John continued with the words, “and they came” which means “and the people approached and came forth”, “and were baptized” or “and were submerged and immersed in water”. John shared how people appeared and were “baptized” by John the Baptist.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus' disciples and John the Baptist were “baptizing” people simultaneously. People needed to “repent” of their sins and yield their lives to God, and Jesus came to give them access to Him by dying on the cross. Baptism is an outward expression of an inward decision, and people who believe and trust in Jesus demonstrate the “death and burial of their flesh nature” and the “raising of life to their spirits toward God”. In other words, those who are “baptized” outwardly show others their decision to receive Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”, and they are committed to follow Him all the days of their lives.

Next time John shares how, “John was not yet cast into prison”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".