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| Photo courtesy of Dennis Moore |
In Biblical times it was customary to be cleansed in a mikveh (ritual bath) fully immersing. This was likened to a dying out.
The interesting thing about a mikveh is the fact that you cannot stay under the water. You cannot live there, you would drown and die, this is where we get the phrase "watery grave" from.
Many ask the question, "If Jesus was without sin, why was He baptized then?"
The answer is that in that time, and still today, not only was the bride to be immersed, but the groom as well.
Now as far as the remitting of sins there was no need because we know that Jesus was sinless.
Was Jesus just setting an example for us whenever He prayed?
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| Photo courtesy of Gary Dornbach |
There is a story of a teacher that was so pious that his students thought he was a blameless man.
He was an inspiring teacher loved by all.
One day a couple of his students were walking when they heard some weeping coming from the other side of a ridge. When they peeked over they saw their beloved teacher repenting.
Sneaking away they were dismayed and wondered what in the world would such a righteous man need to repent over?
Later on the students could no longer stand it and asked him about it.
He told them that it was something that he did everyday.
At one point in his life the teacher realized that all the attention he was getting about being a great teacher and a righteous man was actually hindering his walk with God for you see...
God must be served with joy, and without complete humility, joy is impossible.
This teacher decided he would regularly disguise himself and spend time in places where no one knew him.
In his wanderings he stayed at an inn where he enjoyed pleasant evening chats with the keeper. In the mornings he would pray then eat breakfast and go on his way.
His students began to look for him and came upon an inn where their teacher might have stayed. They mentioned to the inn keeper that their great teacher may have come through the area.
The keeper informed them that no one by that name had stayed at his Inn.
They then described their teacher to the inn keeper whereby he realized he had just entertained this great teacher!
He saddled up and pursued the teacher in the direction he had gone. He was relieved to catch up with him. He fell off his ride at the teachers feet and profusely apologized to the teacher. "If I had only known, I would have served you differently."
What does this teach us?
That we should repent and plead for God to forgive us of our shortcomings and failings in our service to Him daily.
Each evening we need to review in our mind how we served God that day.
'If I had known about God in the beginning of the day what I know now, I would have served Him completely differently!'
