John 1:1

 

 John 4:1 says, When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, John continues to discuss Jesus's baptizing people.  First, we see that the Pharisees had heard about it and that Jesus was baptizing more than John.  When people hear about great things being done by God through His people, those who oppose God are going to take particular notice.  We need to make sure that it isn't the people of God who are opposing Him, as were the Pharisees.  Verse two adds, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)  Next, we see that Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but that His disciples were baptizing for Him.  God carries out His work through His people, and Jesus was preparing His disciples to carry on His work.  Also, had He baptized some they could have felt superior to others.  There may be some today who are baptized more because of who is doing the baptizing than because of why they are being baptized.  Jesus did not give people that chance to boast.  He baptized all believers in the Holy Spirit after His death, burial and resurrection, so no can make a claim of a special baptism.  Verse three continues, He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.  Jesus decided to leave Judaea and go again to Galilee.  He did not leave because of a fear of the Pharisees.  He left because He still had work to do before the confrontation that would lead to His death.  We must never leave the place we are working for God out of fear, but neither should we be unwillingly to leave because of success.  Jesus, through His disciples, was baptizing many people, but it was not why He came.  He came to seek and save those who were lost, and it was time to continue on that mission.  We must realize that those being baptized at this time were being baptized to show repentance.  Our baptism must be more than just to show repentance.  It must be to show death to the old self and being resurrected to a new life in Christ.