Jesus Christ
The Passion
The Annointing: Born Again
by Rhawn Joseph, Ph.D.
"Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." -John 3.
According to prophecy, the Messiah could not annoint himself. This was the task of the reincarnated Elijah: John the Baptist.
Jesus, in order to fulfill scripture, would have to first be baptised, and in so doing, be born again and then recognized and annoiinted as the Messiah.
As retold my Matthew and Mark: "And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan."
But, at first, John refused to baptise Jesus. The notion was scandalous. Preposterous. He was unworthy of the task, protested John. If anything Jesus should baptise him: "I have need to be baptized of thee," said John "and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him."
As retold my Mark 1: "And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
The experience must have been a spiritually profound, awe-inspiring exhilarating confirmation of all he believed: Jesus was the Messiah. That which is Spirit is spirit, he had said, and the spirit had spoken. He had been recognized and annointed by John/Elijah, and God had spoke, a voice from heaven: Jesus was the Son of God.
And that which is spirit not only spoke, but that spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness...for 40 days he would live without food or water, and commune with god...
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