The Book of Mormon speaks of John the Baptist who would prepare the way of the Lord. It then mentions the baptism of Jesus. Only two places in the scriptures mention the setting of the Savior's baptism. This chapter tells us Jesus was baptized at Bethabara (1 Nephi 10: 9). This is only mentioned in the New Testament in the Gospel of John (see John 1: 28).
The name Bethabara means "house of the ford," or the place of crossing. Click here for a link to this name. The setting for this baptism is a reminder of the crossing into the Promised Land by the children of Israel. If you click here you will notice Map 11, and you will notice that Bethabara is situated on the river bed next to Jericho. If you click here on Map 14 you will also see that Jericho is 825 feet below sea level and the Dead Sea is 1302 feet below sea level. Bethabara would fall somewhere between these two elevations.
The crossing of the children of Israel into Canaan, the Promised Land, is noted in the Old Testament as it states, "the people passed over right against Jericho" (Joshua 3: 16). It was this same "house of ford" or place of crossing where John baptized Jesus.
This setting of the Savior's baptism creates two symbolic messages.
The first message conveys the significance of baptism as the gateway to heaven. The Lord clearly taught this to Nicodemus when He said, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3: 5). The concept of a promised land invokes covenant making, and ultimately the promised destination is heaven, or celestial glory. Originally, the land of Canaan was promised by God in a binding, two-way covenant to be "an everlasting possession" (Genesis 17: 8).
The entry into the Promised Land, representing exaltation, was through the place of crossing where Jesus was baptized, showing us the heavenly pattern. Alma compared the Promised Land with heaven when he said,
"And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise" (Alma 37: 45).
The other symbolic message deals with elevation. Jesus was perhaps baptized at the lowest point in the world. When the Lord counsels the Prophet Joseph Smith in liberty jail He said, "Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?" (D&C 122: 7-8).
When life brings trial and tribulation there is comfort and strength in knowing Jesus truly understands. He has descended below all things (see also D&C 88: 6).
This setting of the Savior's baptism creates two symbolic messages.
The first message conveys the significance of baptism as the gateway to heaven. The Lord clearly taught this to Nicodemus when He said, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3: 5). The concept of a promised land invokes covenant making, and ultimately the promised destination is heaven, or celestial glory. Originally, the land of Canaan was promised by God in a binding, two-way covenant to be "an everlasting possession" (Genesis 17: 8).
The entry into the Promised Land, representing exaltation, was through the place of crossing where Jesus was baptized, showing us the heavenly pattern. Alma compared the Promised Land with heaven when he said,
"And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise" (Alma 37: 45).
The other symbolic message deals with elevation. Jesus was perhaps baptized at the lowest point in the world. When the Lord counsels the Prophet Joseph Smith in liberty jail He said, "Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?" (D&C 122: 7-8).
When life brings trial and tribulation there is comfort and strength in knowing Jesus truly understands. He has descended below all things (see also D&C 88: 6).
