Baptism was important because it was the outward response of repentance that prepared the Jewish nation for the arrival of their King and His Kingdom.
John's message to Israel was "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2), and those who responded "were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins" (Matthew 3:6). Les Feldick explains that this baptism was natural to the Jew, rooted in the Old Testament concept of washings, and that the water itself was only a symbolic gesture indicating the need for spiritual cleansing — it could not take away sin.
Matthew 3:6 — The most direct scriptural witness that John's baptism was the response of Jews confessing their sins.
Matthew 3:11 — John's own statement that his baptism was "with water unto repentance."
Acts 2:38 — Shows the same call to repent and be baptized continuing for Israel after the resurrection.
John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea with a message for the nation of Israel: "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2). Scripture identifies him as "the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight" (Matthew 3:3). As the people of Israel responded to that message, "they were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins" (Matthew 3:6). John himself explained the nature of this baptism: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance" (Matthew 3:11). The Old Testament law also included "divers washings" imposed on Israel until the time of reformation (Hebrews 9:10), so the imagery of water and cleansing was already woven into Israel's religious life. After Israel rejected the King, the same call continued to the nation. Peter told the men of Israel on the day of Pentecost, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). In these passages, Scripture consistently presents water baptism as the outward response to repentance for the nation of Israel.
Les Feldick emphasizes that John's baptism of repentance was "natural to the Jew" — the Jews had no problem accepting it because the Old Testament was full of the idea of washing (Clip 1). He recalls asking an older deacon whether there was any hint of baptism before the New Testament, and the answer was: "Why, it was all back there in the Old Testament. That's what the whole idea of washing was amounting to." Les explains that the Jew was "perfectly aware of what John was doing. It was indicating a cleansing, even though the water couldn't do it. The water couldn't take away sin, but it was a symbolic gesture indicating a need for a spiritual cleansing" (Clip 4). John's ministry was exclusively to the covenant people of Israel — never to Gentiles. The purpose of their repentance and baptism was "to be in preparation for the coming of their King, and so they in turn could be a nation of priests to take the knowledge of their God to these pagan Gentiles" (Clip 2). The King was on the scene and ready to fulfill the covenant promises, making the Kingdom of Heaven at hand (Clips 0, 3). Les further teaches that every Jew living at that time would have had to come to a place of regeneration and a salvation experience through that repentance and water baptism; then Christ could have returned and given the Kingdom of Israel (Clip 5). It was a valid offer, but God knew Israel would reject it (Clip 7). John's message operated on a faith-plus-works basis — repentance, baptism, sacrifice — in contrast to the apostle Paul's later message of faith plus nothing (Clip 6).
Les Feldick relates that when he asked an older deacon whether there was any hint of baptism before the New Testament, the reply was that it was all back in the Old Testament — the whole idea of washing. Consequently, when John came preaching a baptism of repentance, the Jew was "perfectly aware" of what John was doing: it indicated a cleansing, a symbolic gesture showing the need for spiritual cleansing. The rite was not foreign to Israel; it fit what they already knew from the Law.
John's message was "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2). Because the King was present, the Kingdom was at hand. Les teaches that the purpose of repentance and baptism was to prepare the nation of Israel for the coming of their King, so that Israel could fulfill her calling as a nation of priests to take the knowledge of God to the Gentiles. Every Jew was required to repent and be baptized; it was the prerequisite for the King.
Les is emphatic that the water of John's baptism could not take away sin. It was a symbolic gesture indicating a need for spiritual cleansing. The Jews understood the imagery of cleansing from the Old Testament practice of repeated washings, so baptism fit naturally into that understanding — but the rite itself had no cleansing power.
Les teaches that every Jew of that generation would have had to come to a place of regeneration through that repentance and water baptism. If they had, Christ could have returned and given the Kingdom of Israel — ushering in the tribulation, lifting the curse, and bringing in the Kingdom, with Israel evangelizing the nations. But it was a valid offer only; God knew Israel would reject it.
The King Makes the Kingdom at Hand
Les shows that John's call to repent and be baptized arose because the King was on the scene, making the Kingdom of Heaven "at hand," and that the people responded by confessing their sins in baptism.
Old Testament Root of Baptism
Les explains that baptism was natural to the Jew rather than a strange new ritual — an older deacon reminded him that the whole idea of washing was already back in the Old Testament.
Why Israel Was to Repent and Be Baptized
Les teaches that Israel's repentance and baptism was for preparation for the coming of their King, so they could be a nation of priests carrying the knowledge of God to the Gentiles.
The King and the Covenant Promises
Les ties John's preaching of repentance and baptism directly to the King being ready to fulfill the covenant promises to the nation.
Symbolic Cleansing
Les clarifies that the Jew understood the baptism as indicating a cleansing, but the water could not take away sin — it was a symbol of the need for spiritual cleansing.
The Nation-Wide Requirement
Les teaches that every Jew of that generation would have to come to repentance and water baptism before Christ could return and give the Kingdom of Israel.
Repentance, Baptism, and the Law
Les contrasts John's message of "repent and be baptized" alongside the law and sacrifice — faith plus works — with Paul's later message of faith plus nothing.
A Valid Offer Rejected
Les notes that every Jew was required to repent and be baptized for the Kingdom to come, and that the offer was valid even though God knew Israel would reject it.
Matthew 3:2: And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
John's core message to Israel — repentance because the Kingdom was at hand.
Matthew 3:3: For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Identifies John as the promised voice preparing the way of the Lord.
Matthew 3:6: And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Shows Jews being baptized in the Jordan while confessing their sins.
Matthew 3:11: I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
John's own description of his water baptism as "unto repentance."
Acts 2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The same repentance-and-baptism call delivered to Israel after the King was rejected.
Hebrews 9:10: Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
The Law's "divers washings" demonstrate why cleansing imagery was already familiar to the Jew.
No, the water had no cleansing power. Les Feldick explains that the Jew understood John's baptism as "indicating a cleansing, even though the water couldn't do it." It was a symbolic gesture showing the need for spiritual cleansing, not the removal of sin itself.
Yes. Les emphasizes that John the Baptist had no ministry to Gentiles; his ministry was only to the covenant people of Israel. They were the ones called to repent and be baptized in preparation for the coming of their King.
Because the concept of washing was already woven through the Old Testament. When Les asked an older deacon about baptism before the New Testament, the answer was: "Why, it was all back there in the Old Testament. That's what the whole idea of washing was amounting to." So John's baptism of repentance fit what Israel already knew.
Les teaches that every Jew of that generation would have had to come to repentance and water baptism. Then Christ could have returned, brought in the Kingdom, and Israel could have evangelized the nations — but God knew Israel would reject the offer, so it never came to pass.
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