Man Walks 70 Miles To Be Baptized!

by Tad Lindley

Any way you look at it, 70 miles is a long walk. It is about three and a half days of long walking. Seventy miles would take you from Bethel to Kwigillingok, or from St. Mary’s to Kotlik. The reason for taking such a long walk would have to be extremely compelling. A young man might do it under the spell of falling in love. An older person, perhaps to see a dying loved one. But who among us would endure such a trip simply to be baptized?

Man walks 70 miles

And yet we read about it in scripture. This is exactly what the man, Christ Jesus did. And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. (Mark 1:9) He left Nazareth and went to where John was baptizing in Bethany beyond Jordan (see John 1:28). Although it is possible he chartered a horse or a donkey for the journey, in my reading of the scripture Jesus walked almost everywhere he went.

Why did Jesus need to be baptized?

In describing Jesus, Hebrews 4:15 paints this picture, he was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. This means that Jesus was tempted to use heroin, to smoke, to swear, to play bingo for money, to commit sexual sin, to hate, to lie, etc., but instead of caving in as we have done, he remained sinless. Knowing this about him we ask, “Why did Jesus need to be baptized?” In fact, his cousin, John the Baptist, who was about to baptize him had the same question. “I have need to be baptized of thee, and thou comest to me?” 

And Jesus answering said unto him, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” (Matthew 3 14-15) When Jesus said, “suffer it to be so” he is saying, “allow it to happen.” And Jesus answers the question himself. The reason that he needed to be baptized was to fulfill all righteousness.

Righteousness

Let me camp out on that word righteousness for a moment. Jesus got baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He also in other places told us that blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6) Then a little later he says, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33) If Jesus was baptized to fulfill all righteousness, and we are blessed by seeking righteousness, it then follows naturally that we ourselves will want to be baptized to follow Jesus’ model of righteousness.

Following Jesus’ example

It also follows that if we want our life to model Jesus’ life, that we will be fully immersed in water. After all, the word “baptized” comes from the Greek word baptidzo which means to be put under water. The Greek word for sprinkling water on a person is rantidzo. I realize that many religious groups have chosen to sprinkle and call it baptizing, but what they are really doing is rantizing. Jesus was not rantized, he was baptized. I might also add that the bible records this important fact: And Jesus, when he was baptized, came straightway out of the water… (Matthew 3:16) It’s hard to come out of the water unless you have been immersed in it.

Questions

Were you baptized, or were you rantized?

If you were merely rantized, do you wish to be baptized? 

Are you interested in pursuing the righteousness of God?

According to Mark 16:16 in your Bible, can we be saved without being baptized?

Would you walk 70 miles to be baptized like Jesus did?

Good news

Since we have more ponds, lakes and rivers than almost any place on earth and if is summer out, if you answered yes to all of the above questions, you can easily be baptized in Jesus’ name without having to walk 70 miles. If you are unable to find someone to baptize you in the village or town you live in, then do whatever it takes to travel to a place where somebody will baptize you in Jesus’ name to fulfill all righteousness in your life.

Reverend Tad Lindley is a minister at the United Pentecostal Church in Bethel, Alaska.

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