LISTEN
New American Standard Bible:
I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
New Living Translation:
I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!
New King James Version:
I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
New International Version:
I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit.
Amplified Bible:
As for me, I baptized you [who came to me] with water [only]; but He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit.
Context:
In the first chapter of Mark, John the Baptist foretold of the coming of Jesus and how his power would surpass that of his own.
Observations:
As his name implies, a major part of John’s ministry was baptism. Verse four says he came baptizing and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
He baptized with physical water, but he knew Jesus would baptize with something greater, the very Spirit of God.
One of the admirable qualities about John the Baptist was his utter humility and his submissiveness to Jesus as the supreme baptist.
Application:
John’s attitude of “He must increase; I must decrease” must be our attitude as well. We have the Holy Spirit in us. We can baptize with water, just as John did. But we must not forget that we do not give the Holy Spirit to others. Only the Lord can do that.
