Luke 20:1 One day Jesus was teaching people in the temple courtyard, preaching the gospel to them.
​The chief priests, together with the scribes and the elders, came up to him, saying, 

2 “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things.”  They asked, “Who gave you this authority?”

Matthew 21:24 Jesus answered them saying, "I will ask you a question, which if you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I do these things."
​
25 "The baptism of John, where did it come from? from heaven, or from men?"

​The Jews practiced Baptism by Immersion long before the time of John the Baptist.  Known as Tevilah, it was one of the requirements for converts (proselytes, see Matthew 23:15)  to Judaism.

Here's a picture of a Mikveh, a Jewish Baptismal font, dating back to before the time of Christ. This is one of several located south of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

This may well be one of many mikvehs used to baptize about 3,000 Jews who accepted the Gospel on the Day of Pentecost.  (Acts 2:41  Those who accepted Peter's message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.)

click >> HERE << for the photo source and more information.

The use of the Mikveh was, and still is, used frequently by Jews for body cleansing.  

The symbolism of cleansing is still associated with the act of Baptism.  To the Jews it is a symbol of cleansing the outer man.  To the Christians it is a symbol of cleansing the inner man.

God inspired Isaiah to write about John the Baptist and the important role he would play in preparing the way for Jesus.

Isaiah in the Old Testament speaking of things to come wrote, "The voice of one calling out in the wilderness, 'Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight a highway in the desert for our God.'" [Isaiah 40:3]

Matthew in the New Testament records that John the Baptist is the fulfillment of Isaiah's words, "3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” [Matthew 3:3]

(The Apostle) John, himself a former disciple of John the Baptist, goes even further. He writes that John the Baptist confirmed that he is the one Isaiah wrote about.  The Apostle John writes, " He (John the Baptist) said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah." [John 1:23]

The Jewish Leaders did not question the Priesthood or Authority of John the Baptist. And for a good reason.  They knew that John was a Levite and a descendant of Aaron.  He held the Priesthood, the authority to act for God.

John's father was of the tribe of Levi, a Temple worker, "a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah" [Luke 1:5].   And Zechariah's "wife Elizabeth (John's mother) was also a descendant of Aaron." [Luke 1:5].

​Exodus 40:12 God said to Moses, “Bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle and wash them with water. 
13 Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest. 
14 Bring his sons and dress them in tunics. 
15 Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so they may serve me as priests. Their anointing will be to a priesthood that will continue throughout their generations.”

Jesus knew both the importance of Baptism and knew that John had the Priesthood authority to Baptize.  

Matthew 3:13 Then came Jesus from Galilee to Jordan to John,  and asked to be baptized of him.
14 But John, knowing who Jesus was, forbade him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by you. Why do you come to me to be baptized"?
15 And Jesus answered and said to John, "Do it, even now, to fulfil all righteousness".  Then John baptized Jesus.

Going back to the start of this Blog and the question that Jesus asked the Jewish Leaders, ​Jesus knew the answer to the question that he asked the Jewish Leaders.  - 

Matthew 21:25 "The baptism of John, what was its source? from heaven, or from men?"

The Jewish leaders who came to question Jesus'authority were trapped.  Jesus had turned the tables on them.

Mark 11:31 And the Jewish Leaders reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, From heaven, he will say, Then why didn't you believe him?" 

Luke 20:6 But if we say, "From men", then all the people will stone us, for they believe that John was a prophet.

7 So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”

But Jesus knew.  Jesus knew the source, and he recognized John as having the authority to Baptize.  

Knowing that, Jesus set an example for us to follow.

Jesus knew the importance of Baptism.

    Do you?                 . . to be Continued . .