Baptisms of Yeshua and Miriam

CHAPTER 11

Yeshua and Miriam come to the river Jordan to be baptized by Yochanan the Baptizer, but first Yochanan asks Yeshua to baptize him, which he does. Then Yochanan baptizes Yeshua and when he comes up out of the water, there is a mighty thunder, and into the mind of every person of good spirit comes a voice speaking of Yeshua as the beloved Son. Then comes a white dove that lands upon the shoulder of Yeshua and rubs its face against his before flying off. Yeshua asks Yochanan to baptize Miriam, but she requests Yeshua to do it and he complies.

1 After the sunrise on the following day, Yeshua and Miriam descended to the Jordan and, coming to the western road, walked southward.

 2 Now Yochanan had traveled with some of his disciples north along the Jordan to preach and baptize, and the riverbank was crowded with people who had come to hear him preach, for his disciples had gone before him into the nearby villages and towns, urging the people to come to the river to hear the words of Yochanan the Baptizer. And many people came, for his fame had already begun to spread across the land.

 3 Near a ford in the river, northeast of Jericho, Yeshua and Miriam came to the place where Yochanan was preaching and baptizing, and they watched him from afar for a time as he thrust and raised those being baptized into and out of the water with great vigor, saying, “I baptize you with water, but one comes after me who shall baptize you with fire if you are true to the faith of your heart.”

 4 Then Yeshua and Miriam came to him. Yochanan was overjoyed to see them so much so that immediately after lifting the person whom he had just immersed out of the water, he came to the shore in great bounds, embracing Yeshua with such enthusiasm that his disciples were disconcerted and amazed.

 5 “Yeshua, Miriam, my joy is full today,” he exclaimed. “It seems so long since I have seen you. I am honored that you have come to hear me preach and witness the humility of the good people who are baptized this day.”

 6 Yeshua smiled at him warmly, “Our joy is also full to be with you again, my brother, and we wish to be among the good people who are baptized by you this day.”

 7 Hearing this, Yochanan protested and forbade him, saying, “It is I who has need to be baptized of you. We spoke about this before, and I still do not understand. Why do you come to me asking this?”

 8 Yeshua explained, “I have come into the darkness to show the light.

 9 Those of contrite spirit that go into the water rise forth from it in covenant with Elohim, with a greater light, and this edifies our Father and Mother in Heaven, which I do with every breath I take.

 10 Therefore, it must be to show all righteousness that I ask you to honor me with this blessing.”

 11 Yochanan knelt down upon one knee before Yeshua, saying, “I will do that which you ask. It is my greatest honor, but I ask you first to baptize me, for never could I think to baptize you without first being blessed to receive that gift from the Son of Light.”

 12 Yeshua smiled at Yochanan and nodded his head in affirmation, then waded into the river and Yochanan followed him. And standing in water a little above their waists, Yeshua said unto Yochanan, “With the purity of your heart as the witness of your soul, I immerse you in water that you will come forth with a greater love of God, to ever guide you upon the path of light. By the word of Elohim, so be it.” And immediately, he immersed him, and then raised him out of the water.

 13 Upon arising, Yochanan embraced Yeshua, and his disciples were confused and astounded, not knowing what to make of all that had so quickly transpired.

 14 Miriam stood upon the shore, looking at her husband and brother-in-law savoring their unique bond. Holding her palms together as if in prayer, she touched her forefingers to her lips and gave a great smile of joy for that which she witnessed.

 15 Then Yochanan turned and baptized Yeshua, saying, “That all men and women of contrite spirit may know the path to greater light and a new life begins with the water, I immerse in humility he who shall come forth in glory.”

 16 When Yeshua came up out of the water, there was a mighty thunder from the clear, sunny sky, and it rumbled again and again.

 17 And in the mind of every person of good spirit standing upon the shore came a voice, reverberating with the thunder, saying, “This is our beloved Son in whom we are well pleased. Hear him.”

 18 Then a white dove, a symbol of the Holy Spirit of Elohim, flew from the wilderness and landed upon the shoulder of Yeshua and rubbed its face against his, and then flew off into the brightness of the Sun, where none could follow its path.

 19 All of the disciples of Yochanan and many of the people upon the shore that had come to hear him preach were amazed at what they had seen and heard, and the awe showed on their wide-eyed faces and open mouths.

 20 Then Yeshua embraced Yochanan again, and turning to Miriam, he put out his hand that she would come unto him.

 21 Miriam walked into the water and took his hand, and he brought her to Yochanan, saying, “Brother, would you baptize my wife, the greatest treasure of my heart?”

 22 “As you wish, Yeshua,” Yochanan agreed.

 23 But Miriam demurred, saying, “Husband, I love Yochanan, even as you do, but in this sacred ordinance, would you not share it with me?”

 24 Now Yeshua was conflicted, for he wanted to fulfill the desires of Miriam’s heart, but did not want to undermine the authority of Yochanan in front of his disciples and the people who had gathered to hear him preach.

 25 But Yochanan, being guided by the Holy Spirit, turned to the shore and, pointing to Yeshua, said unto his disciples and the people, “Behold Yeshua of Nazareth, the Lamb of Elohim.

 26 This is he whom I have said will come after me to baptize with fire.

 27 This is he whom I have said that I am unworthy even to unlatch his sandal.

 28 This is he who shall pay the greatest price, that all who have a true repentance and faith in him will be freed from the chains of their slavery, for Elohim will remember their sins no more.

 29 And now comes his wife Miriam to be baptized. She is the sister of my wife Martha, and even as I did with her, I wish every man could know the joy of baptizing their wife. Therefore, I come out of the water now to watch my brother baptize my sister.”

 30 Then Yochanan came out of the water and watched with the others as Yeshua baptized Miriam, saying, "With the purity of your heart as the witness of your soul, I immerse you in water that you will come forth with a greater love of God, to ever guide you upon the path of light. By the word of Elohim, so be it." Straightaway he immersed her, and then raised her out of the water.

 31 Miriam came out of the water and her face was aglow with light. And she turned and put her head upon Yeshua’s chest and embraced him gently and then lifted her head and kissed him softly on the lips.

 32 Seeing the baptism ending with a kiss, some among the onlookers were upset and they departed quickly with angry words.

 33 But the pure of heart were touched by the Holy Spirit, and they fell to their knees with bowed heads and hearts filled with thankfulness to have been upon that spot on that day.