John's Baptism, And Jesus' Baptism

Mark 1:4-8 (ESV) John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. [5] And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. [6] Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. [7] And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. [8] I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." John “The Baptist’s” baptism was part and parcel of his ministry it seems. It was rather new. There were many different washings, and these washings were called baptisms, in the jewish faith, Just look at Mark chapter 7. But John was doing something different here. He was baptizing both for repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Yet he says of his baptism that it is only water. It is a foreshadowing of one to come. He points ahead to the baptism of Jesus. This is the one we know today. Commissioned by Jesus in the “Great Commission” done with Water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. That is the baptism we just ended Matthew with, one name 3 persons. One Being 3 persons. Father Son and Holy Spirit Is God. John the Baptist says something so poingnat here. Ejsus doesn’t baptize with mere Water, Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. When He baptizes you are Baptized into, that is given the Holy Spirit. Jesus Baptism is so much more, because the one who commissioned it is so much more. So if Baptists want to claim john the Baptist, I’ll let them. They remain where John the Baptist did not care to, they remain in the law. But Jesus, Well he is another story. He brings life, He gives the Spirit.