What was Jesus placed under that He called a baptism?
He was placed under His suffering and death—the full ramifications of His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection—and He called that experience a baptism. It was not water baptism but the suffering and death He had to accomplish, which the disciples could never do.
Les explains that baptism in Scripture does not always mean water. In the passage in I Corinthians, Israel passing through the Red Sea is called a baptism, yet it was not water; they were placed under Moses' leadership and under the Shekinah Glory cloud, identified with Moses and his leadership. In the same way, when the disciples thought they could go and do whatever Jesus was going to do, He told them He had a baptism to be accomplished that they knew nothing of. That baptism was His death and His suffering. He was placed under all the ramifications of His crucifixion, His burial, and His resurrection, and He called it a baptism. The disciples could never do that. So the baptism Jesus spoke of was not water, but the suffering and death He had to accomplish, under which He was placed.
But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
See the restBut I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
More Questions
Where else is baptism used in Scripture without referring to water?
Another place in Scripture where baptism is used and never refers to water is when the disciples thought they could go and do whatever Jesus was going to do.