John 3:25 Cross References

John 3:25

25: At that time a certain Jew began an argument with John's disciples over ceremonial cleansing.

Six stone waterpots were standing there; they were used for Jewish ceremonial purposes and held twenty to thirty gallons each.

And this is a picture of baptism, which now saves you by the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection. Baptism is not a removal of dirt from your body; it is an appeal to God from a clean conscience.

Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people's bodies from ritual defilement.
Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our hearts from deeds that lead to death so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

You don't need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

"I baptize with water those who turn from their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is far greater than I am--so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

They noticed that some of Jesus' disciples failed to follow the usual Jewish ritual of hand washing before eating.
(The Jews, especially the Pharisees, do not eat until they have poured water over their cupped hands, as required by their ancient traditions.
Similarly, they eat nothing bought from the market unless they have immersed their hands in water. This is but one of many traditions they have clung to--such as their ceremony of washing cups, pitchers, and kettles. )
So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him, "Why don't your disciples follow our age-old customs? For they eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony."

For that old system deals only with food and drink and ritual washing--external regulations that are in effect only until their limitations can be corrected.

That is why the earthly tent and everything in it--which were copies of things in heaven--had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals.

Home