The Threefold Mikvah of Yeshua: A Concise Overview

Introduction

Yeshua (Jesus) said:

"Go therefore and make talmidim (disciples) of all the nations, immersing (baptizing) them in the name of the Av (Father) and of the Ben (Son) and of the Ruach Ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit), teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." –Mattitiyahu/Matthew 28:19, 20

Therefore the rite of Mikvah/Immersion/Baptism is practised in obedience to Yeshua’s instruction, as a testimony to both the believer and to others.

It is a rite of Hebrew origin that signifies an admission of sin and t’shuvah, repentance—returning or turning—toward G-d. This immersion process involves the complete Kippot (covering) of the candidate as a symbol of all-encompassing cleansing from sin and the sanctification/purification of the body, mind and soul.

In Messianic Judaism there are three key, distinct examples of immersion in a ritual sense. These forms of immersion are known as entering the mikvah (pool of immersion). These three forms of immersion become echad (one) in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). They are:

1.       Redemption/T’shuvah (Returning)

2.       Priesthood/Kohanim (Priesthood)

3.       Sanctification/Eytzer (Comfort)

These three central mikvot (immersions) are seen in both ancient Israel and in the first century C.E. during the earthly ministry of our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus).

Immersion of Ancient Israel

1.       Israel are redeemed through the blood of the Lamb (The Father offers His firstborn) and is immersed through the parting of the Red sea.

Exodus 12:23New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
A Memorial of Redemption 23 For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you.

Exodus 14:21-22 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord [l]swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided. 22 The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

2.       Ritual cleansing with water is given to the priesthood (The Son) of Israel at Sinai along with the Torah (Written word of G-d)

Exodus 29:4New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
4 Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the tent of meeting and wash them with water.

3.       Israel is sanctified by fire (The Holy Spirit) at the mountain of Sinai and comforted by the promise of a future redeemer and the land of promise.

Exodus 24:17New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
17 And to the eyes of the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the mountain top.

Immersion of the Ministry of Messiah

1.       Yochanan (John) the immerser taught an immersion of confession and returning

Acts 19:2-4 
 2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Ruach Ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit) when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Ruach Ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit).” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you immersed (baptized)?” And they said, “Into Yochanan’s (John’s) immersion (baptism).” 4 Paul/Shaul said, “Yochanan (John) immersed (baptized) with the immersion (baptism) of shuvah (returning, repentance, confession), telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Yeshua (Jesus).”

2.       Yeshua provided an immersion of redemption through His death and resurrection. In addition, as our High priest He makes it possible for all believers to receive a priestly immersion.

Romans 6:3-4 
 3 Don’t you know that those of us who have been immersed into the Messiah Yeshua have been immersed into his death? 4 Through immersion into his death we were buried with him; so that just as, through the glory of the Father, the Messiah was raised from the dead, likewise we too might live a new life. 

Revelation 5:9 -10                                                                                                      
9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood you purchased for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
    and they will reign[a] on the earth.”
3.       The Ruach Ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit) is given to immerse us and sanctify our actions. We’re given the Ruach Ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit) as a deposit and assurance of our redemption and eternal security. He also comforts and guides us. He is G-d the helper to every believer. Therefore, by His work in us we have been redeemed and are being sanctified.

Mark 1:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB) “I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Ephesians 1:13-14New American Standard Bible (NASB) 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in [c]Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

John 14:26New American Standard Bible (NASB) 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

These three immersions also represent the persons of the unity of G-d:

1.       The Father offers chesed (grace and mercy) to the repentant (returning) person who willingly confesses his or her sin

2.       The Son, Yeshua offers redemption through His blood, and He offers priesthood to all believers as a result of His High priesthood

3.       The Spirit, Ruach Ha-Kodesh offers us the strength and comfort so that we can live as new creations: having been (past tense) redeemed, we are (present continuous tense) being sanctified, made holy.

All three immersions are unified in Messiah Yeshua:

1.       Yeshua’s sacrificial death makes way for returning to G-d and redeems the repentant person

2.       Yeshua’s resurrection gives life to a new priesthood and the promise of eternal life to all believers

3.       Yeshua’s comfort and strength is poured out upon as when, having returned to The Father G-d, He and the Father send the Ruach Ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit) as our helper, comforter and strength, as we journey toward the completion of all things

Romans 6:1-11 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

“6:1 So then, are we to say, “Let’s keep on sinning, so that there can be more grace”? 2 Heaven forbid! How can we, who have died to sin, still live in it?3 Don’t you know that those of us who have been immersed into the Messiah Yeshua have been immersed into his death? 4 Through immersion into his death we were buried with him; so that just as, through the glory of the Father, the Messiah was raised from the dead, likewise we too might live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was put to death on the execution-stake with him, so that the entire body of our sinful propensities might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For someone who has died has been cleared from sin. 8 Now since we died with the Messiah, we trust that we will also live with him. 9 We know that the Messiah has been raised from the dead, never to die again; death has no authority over him.10 For his death was a unique event that need not be repeated; but his life, he keeps on living for God. 11 In the same way, consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive for God, by your union with the Messiah Yeshua.”

When we enter into the mikvah/Immersion of Yeshua, we are dying with Him in His death and being raised with Him in His life. Water has long represented death and sheol (holding place of the dead) in Judaism as well as life and purification. This dual understanding is seen in the ritual of water immersion. We die to our old lives of sin and are washed clean in the water of life in order that we might begin anew, living our lives in the Spirit of G-d as children of G-d.

Therefore the rite of Mikvah/Immersion/Baptism is practised in obedience to Yeshua’s instruction as a testimony to both the believer and to others.

In conclusion, the ritual of Messianic Jewish marriage requires the premarital immersion of both groom and bride. Yeshua was immersed by Yochanan (John) the immerser prior to His death (Matthew 3:13-17), which was also an immersion (Mark 10:38), in preparation for His future marriage to the community of believers at the end of the age. As believers we also enter into immersion as a sign of our having received His wedding proposal and of our willingness to prepare ourselves for that future wedding day.

Prior to Israel’s entering the promised land (Yehoshua/Joshua 3), which the writer of Hebrews (Hebrews 4)  tells us is a picture of the Shabbat rest of the Olam Haba (World to come/eternity); Israel is lead through the parted Jordan river by Yehoshua (Joshua/Jesus/Salvation). This mikvah/immersion/baptism is Israel’s final preparation for her entry into the land of promise, Eretz Yisrael.

One day we will all enter this final mikvah, the mikvah of death, in preparation for the eternal rest of G-d, but as believers in Messiah Yeshua we will not enter it alone. Yehoshua/Yeshua (The names are synonymous in Hebrew) goes before us, He is behind us and beside us and He is within us. We will enter the mikvah of death in the same way that we briefly entered the water mikvah/immersion/baptism of our faith, breaking through the surface of the water of life and into the fresh air of eternity. This is the ultimate hope of all mikvot (immersions) and it is found only through the mikvah of Yeshua our L-rd and King, our Redeemer and friend, our Mashiyach, Melekh ha-melekhim (King of kings).

Therefore we gladly and willingly keep His instruction:

Yeshua (Jesus) said:

"Go therefore and make talmidim (disciples) of all the nations, immersing (baptizing) them in the name of the Av (Father) and of the Ben (Son) and of the Ruach Ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit), teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." –Mattitiyahu/Matthew 28:19, 20

© 2015 Yaakov Brown