# 621 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 11:29 But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: "The baptism of John--was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me."
The rulers had just asked Jesus who gave Him the authority to hold a parade and to cleanse the temple, and Jesus counters with a question of His own. Where did John the Baptist get his authority?
John was a son of one of their own, born in miraculous fashion, and called to prepare the way for Jesus as a prophet in the spirit and power of Elijah. (Luke 1:!7) His method of preparation was baptism.
In baptism, sins are washed away, “rise and be baptized and wash away your sins.” (Acts 22:16) and the way is simultaneously prepared for Jesus to enter the heart.
The question then is this: Is baptism God's idea or man's idea? Is baptism something God does for man (grace) or something that man does for God? (obedience)
Think about it, if baptism washes away sins and only God can forgive sins, then it stands to reason that God does something for us in baptism, not the other way around. Baptism. Is it from God or is it from men? This is a question well worth considering.
Father, thank You for still another reminder in Scripture about the importance of baptism. Open our hearts to receive the promise of forgiveness of our sins in baptism.
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