Sermon for Sunday, July 16, 2023
When did baptism even become a thing? According to Jewish practice, the idea of a “mikveh” was developed in the mid-500’s B.C.E. during the time of captivity in Babylon. That means that these ideas were developed by those like Daniel, Nehemiah, Ezra, and Malachi. Then, it was a process of conversion, a pagan becoming a Jew. Thus, the question posed to John the Baptist then makes more sense. John was baptizing Jews, which made no sense to the Jewish leaders.