The Forth of the Seven Baptisms
By: Eldon McNabb

"I have a baptism to be baptized with." Luke 12:50. Jesus is obviously referring here to His imminent suffering, as a baptism.

The sufferings of our Saviour were a prophetic necessity. As it is written, "God before had showed by the mouth of all His prophets that Christ should suffer." (Acts 3:18) "It became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (Heb. 2:10)

Suffering is an essential part of the qualification process for the eventual rulership of the world, and other glorious rewards, with Christ. There shall be martyrdom for some, and, at the very least, ridicule and rejection for others. As He said, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Tim. 3:12) Therefore, Paul said of Jesus, "for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame." (Heb. 12:2) Likewise, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him." (2 Tim. 2:12)

Paul well said, we are "heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Rom. 8:17,18) Jesus' sufferings, and His alone, affect our redemption. But if we share in the fellowship of His suffering, we can anticipate sharing also in His reward. (Philip. 3:10-16) The resurrection and eternal life are not a reward, they are the gift of God.

1 Pet. 4:1, shows that the Baptism of Suffering is one of the rituals leading to our cleansing and perfection. I Quote, "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind, for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin."

Early in His ministry, Jesus said, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you and persecute you for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven." (Matt. 5:10-12) Later, when Jesus was asked by the apostles, James and John, if He would promise them specifically that one of them would get to sit on His right hand and the other on His left, in His glory, He asked them the all important question. "Can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? And be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" And they said unto Him, "We can." (Mark 10:34-40)

Arm yourselves likewise with the same mind.