A new version of the Bahá’í Reference Library is now available. This ‘old version’ of the Bahá’í Reference Library will be replaced at a later date.
The new version of the Bahá’i Reference Library can be accessed here »
A new version of the Bahá’í Reference Library is now available. This ‘old version’ of the Bahá’í Reference Library will be replaced at a later date.
The new version of the Bahá’i Reference Library can be accessed here »
|
19: THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST 91 |
|
Question.—It is said in the Gospel of St. Matthew, chapter
3, verses 13, 14, 15: “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to
Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade
Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, and
comest Thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him,
Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all
righteousness. Then he suffered Him.”
|
|
Answer.—The principle of baptism is purification by
repentance. John admonished and exhorted the people,
and caused them to repent; then he baptized them.
Therefore, it is apparent that this baptism is a symbol of
repentance from all sin: its meaning is expressed in these
words: “O God! as my body has become purified and
cleansed from physical impurities, in the same way purify
and sanctify my spirit from the impurities of the world of
nature, which are not worthy of the Threshold of Thy
Unity!” Repentance is the return from disobedience to
obedience. Man, after remoteness and deprivation from
God, repents and undergoes purification: and this is a
symbol signifying “O God! make my heart good and pure,
freed and sanctified from all save Thy love.”
|
|
As Christ desired that this institution of John should be
used at that time by all, He Himself conformed to it in
order to awaken the people and to complete the law of the
former religion. Although the ablution of repentance was
the institution of John, it was in reality formerly practiced
92
in the religion of God.
|
|
Christ was not in need of baptism; but as at that time it
was an acceptable and praiseworthy action, and a sign of
the glad tidings of the Kingdom, therefore, He confirmed
it. However, afterward He said the true baptism is not
with material water, but it must be with spirit and with
water. In this case water does not signify material water,
for elsewhere it is explicitly said baptism is with spirit and
with fire, from which it is clear that the reference is not to
material fire and material water, for baptism with fire is
impossible.
|
|
Therefore, the spirit is the bounty of God, the water is
knowledge and life, and the fire is the love of God. For
material water does not purify the heart of man; no, it
cleanses his body. But the heavenly water and spirit,
which are knowledge and life, make the human heart good
and pure; the heart which receives a portion of the bounty
of the Spirit becomes sanctified, good and pure—that is to
say, the reality of man becomes purified and sanctified
from the impurities of the world of nature. These natural
impurities are evil qualities: anger, lust, worldliness,
pride, lying, hypocrisy, fraud, self-love, etc.
|
|
Man cannot free himself from the rage of the carnal
passions except by the help of the Holy Spirit. That is
why He says baptism with the spirit, with water and with
fire is necessary, and that it is essential—that is to say, the
spirit of divine bounty, the water of knowledge and life,
and the fire of the love of God. Man must be baptized with
this spirit, this water and this fire so as to become filled
with the eternal bounty. Otherwise, what is the use of
baptizing with material water? No, this baptism with
water was a symbol of repentance, and of seeking forgiveness
of sins.
|
Print Selection