"As an everlasting covenant, baptism began on this earth with Adam
(Moses 6:64-67) . . .It was not a new rite introduced by John the
Baptist and adopted by Christ and his followers. The Jews were baptizing
their proselytes long before John . . .the part of the Book of Mormon of
the pre-Christian Era contains some of the best information we have
relative to this eternal law." (Bruce
R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, Pg.71)
Crossing Waters of Jordan – Stepping into Promised
Land:
". . . the Jordan river has come
to have a deep significance for Jews, symbolizing the gateway to the
homeland after years of wandering in exile in the desert . . . the river
is also important to Christians because John the Baptist performed
baptisms on its banks and Jesus was baptized there." (Encyclopedia
Judaica Jr.)
Some religious Jews who experience
repeated immersions (monthly for women and regularly for men), step into
their immersion font from the East side, immerse themselves and then exit
to the West side. This could be construed as a reminder of entering into
the gateway of cleanness as the Children of Israel entered into their
Promised Land.
Symbolism of Immersion Facilities:
For the religious Jews, immersions are favored below ground level
in flowing water that emanates from bedrock - the "Rock
of Salvation." Consider that the lowest spot on the face of the earth
where water flows originating in bedrock is where the Children of Israel
crossed into their erstwhile homeland. Judaism and Christianity agree that
it is also the likely spot where Jesus came to John the Levite in Judea
and was immersed. In addition to several legal requirements of the font (Mikveh
in Hebrew), is the underlying principle of "purification."
Intent of Purification:
". . . ritual impurities are not
to be regarded as infectious diseases or the laws of purification as
hygienic measures . . . (although) . . . immersion in a mikveh must
be preceded by careful cleansing of the body. Maimonides wrote: ‘Uncleanliness
is not mud or filth which water can remove . . . but is dependent on the
intention of the heart.’ The sages have therefore said: ‘If one
immerses himself, but without special intention, it is as though he had
not immersed himself at all’." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
In Alma’s case, the people had
prepared themselves by true faith and repentance and he baptized them in
pure water. (Mosiah 18:5)
"Bondage" of Freedom:
Their immersions became a bond to sustain each other and bear each other’s
burdens as they prepared themselves to return to their God. It is a
"bondage of freedom" from the chains of the adversary. Most
people consider the term bondage as slavery. Indeed we are
"slaves" to our God. He has bought and paid for us! " . . .
do as he hath commanded you . . . he doth immediately bless you; and
therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are,
and will be, forever and ever . . ." (Mosiah
2:23-24)
Biblical Laws of Slavery:
"the halakhah tended to
view the slave more as a hired laborer and it established numerous rules
and regulations . . . assure that the human dignity of slaves was
properly maintained." "Strictly speaking, a Jew could not be
sold as a slave. He could give himself voluntarily into bondage (for
example, to a creditor to whom he could not pay his debts) or a court of
law could hand him over as a slave (for example, . . .(to) make
restitution for his theft). In either case, the Jew would then be
considered an eved Ivri and could serve a maximum of six years .
. ." "Aliens and non-Jews could be bought and sold as slaves .
. . and . . . in theory, serve in perpetuity. However, they were
considered to be members of the master's household . . . enjoyed many
benefits . . . subject to certain obligations . . . had to be
circumcised . . . keep the Sabbath and the festivals. They partook of
the Passover sacrifice and even succeeded the master if he had no direct
heirs." (Encyclopedia
Judaica Jr.)
Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy –
Symbol of Freedom: God
requires the keeping of the Sabbath as a reminder that he freed us from
slavery. Violating the Sabbath in Biblical times was a capital offense,
punishable by death.
"Remember that you were a slave
in the land of Egypt and the Lord your God freed you from there with a
mighty hand and an outstretched arm; there for the Lord your God has
commanded you to observe the Sabbath day." ". . . another
dimension is added to the Sabbath --- that it is a day of rest, not only
for you but for your slaves and that God, so to speak, has the right to
demand it because He freed you from slavery." (Encyclopedia
Judaica Jr.)
Importance of the "Do’s"
of Sabbath:
"The rabbis . . . thought
that the Sabbath is the most important of all the laws of the Torah
and . . . equal to all the rest . . . ‘if Israel keeps one Sabbath
as it should be kept, the Messiah will come.’" ". . .
besides the things you must not do, there are positive acts . . . to
sanctify the Sabbath. The Sabbath law . . . starts with the admonition
‘Observe the Sabbath day . . .’ ‘Remember the Sabbath day . . .’
which means the positive acts of sanctification. These include
ushering in Shabbat with Kiddush, a declaration of the
Sabbath's holiness . . . made over a festive goblet of wine and the
eating of three Sabbath meals." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
It is a custom that every meal begins with a piece of bread . . . on
Sabbath it is "wine and bread."
Always a Positive Note for Sabbath:
"A delightful Talmudic sermon has
it that two angels accompany a man on his way back from synagogue, one
good and one bad. When they arrive home, if the table is laid nicely and
all the Sabbath preparations have been made, the good angel says, ‘May
it be so next week’' and the bad angel is forced to say, ‘Amen!’
If, however, the home is not Sabbath-like, the bad angel invokes: ‘May
it be so next week,’ and the good angel has to answer ‘Amen!’"
(Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
Listening, a Step Closer to God:
As a closing comment to this lesson, I add the experience of Jews and
Arabs getting to know each other. The amount of mistrust reduces in direct
proportion to the amount of interest we have in each other. In more than
twenty-nine years of living in Israel I see more Arabs and Jews getting
along with each other than the ones who don’t. The most important and
successful projects are those that include listening to each other and
focusing our resources to help the needy. It is a basic tenant of Judaism
and Islam. It is a commandment from heaven. Assisting each other brings us
a step closer to God. It transforms us to be in His hands rather than our
own. |