Did Jesus Baptize Anyone?
It's not clear, but probably not.
At first, it seems that John tells us Jesus baptized people. But then he clearly states it was the disciples who were baptizing. Truth be told, whether or not Jesus baptized is actually beside the point of baptism. It doesn’t matter who does the baptizing, only that the baptized has chosen to be so baptized. It is the work of the Holy Spirit in and through the individual that is the point.
Indeed, the ambiguity of whether Jesus was baptizing people or his disciples were actually reinforces this point. No one can receive anything unless it is given from heaven.
John 3:22-4:3
After this Jesus and his disciples went into Judea, where he spent some time with them and was baptizing. John was baptizing at Aenon near Salem because there was a lot of water there, and people were coming to him and being baptized. (John hadn’t yet been thrown into prison.)
A debate started between John’s disciples and a certain Jew about cleansing rituals. They came to John and said, “Rabbi, look! The man who was with you across the Jordan, the one about whom you testified, is baptizing and everyone is flocking to him.”
John replied, “No one can receive anything unless it is given from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said that I’m not the Christ but that I’m the one sent before him. The groom is the one who is getting married. The friend of the groom stands close by and, when he hears him, is overjoyed at the groom’s voice. Therefore, my joy is now complete. He must increase and I must decrease. The one who comes from above is above all things. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all things. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever accepts his testimony confirms that God is true. The one whom God sent speaks God’s words because God gives the Spirit generously. The Father loves the Son and gives everything into his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever doesn’t believe in the Son won’t see life, but the angry judgment of God remains on them.”
Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was making more disciples and baptizing more than John (although Jesus’ disciples were baptizing, not Jesus himself). Therefore, he left Judea and went back to Galilee.
Prayer
God,
Do you ever feel as though people treat you like a really expensive, vintage baseball card? What I mean is, sometimes I think we do - we hope to collect you in ways that make you out to be shown off. Of course, who you are is invaluable. But not like a Honus Wagner. And you are of course to be displayed and publicly declared. But not like a thing on a pedestal.
This is what I’m so thankful you sent Jesus. A human. A guy who ate food and cried tears and said angry words. Someone who knew puberty and hunger and grief. Someone who considered the beauty flowers and birds and children.
So help me, God: Help me to cling to the person of Jesus, both human and divine.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.