The Mikveh 

The Historical Background 
Leviticus 14: 1-4, 7,9 click here

With the destruction of the Temple, the custom of mikveh changed. The cleansings for the priests and the related healings were no longer practical.  However, modern Judaism maintained the need for mikeveh in some situations.  One is for the cleansing of a woman through the purification of the     niddah      (literally "removed or separated"), after her menstrual period.  The Torah specifies that a woman shall be separated from her husband for seven days at this time of the month, abstaining from sexual relations (Leviticus 15:19-24) .  The rabbis commonly interpreted this to mean seven days from the end of her period: hence, a total of about twelve days.  After those days, a Jewish woman is to go to a local mikveh. However, before immersion, she must meticulously bathe herself to remove even the smallest speck of dirt.  Only then can she take the full immersion in the mikveh.  Immersion is clearly intended for spiritual purification, since it occurs after the cleansing bath. Orthodox men will also immerse in the mikveh in spiritual preparation for the Shabbat (Friday night -Saturday worship), or for one of the holy days.

Another modern use of the mikveh is for the immersion of Gentiles who wish to convert to either Messianic Judaism or Rabbinic Judaism.  The details may vary but the ceremony is needed to ensure the reality of the conversion.  After a series of studies, usually including Hebrew and Jewish customs, the new convert is required to be fully immersed in the waters of a proper mikveh.  Since it is considered important that every part of the body be immersed in the water, a normal t'vilah ceremony usually takes place in a private bath house.  A loose garment may be worn for modesty reasons, and the immersion should be witnessed by a member of the same sex.

Relevance to the New Testament

As previously mentioned, baptism sounds foreign to the Jewish ear, yet the concept comes entirely from the ancient Jewish practice of mikveh.  Water baptism is not therefore something "Gentile", or even pagan.  Therefore, both Gentile Christian and Jew should look back at the historical reality of mikveh.  As one reads the New Testament's teaching concerning water immersion, Christianity's connection to its Jewish roots becomes more obvious. 

The most prominet example of t'vilah is found in the early Gospels.  "Yokhanan the Immerser" (John the Baptizer) practiced t'vilah as in integral part of his ministry. It was during those days that Yochanan the Immerser arrived in the desert of Y'hudah and began proclaiming the message. "Turn from your sins to God, for the Kingdom of heaven is near!" This is the man Yesha 'yahu (Isaiah) was talking about when he said

    "The voice of someone crying out
in the desert prepare the way of Adonai!
Make straight paths for him!"

Yochanan wore clothes of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.  People went out to him from Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) from all Y'hudah, and from the whole region around the Yarden (Jordan). Confessing their sins, they were immersed by him in the Yarden River (Matthew 3:1-6)

This account matches many of the details already known about mikveh and its significance in the Jewish culture.  Yokhanan was sent to prepare the way for Messiah.  In so doing he preached the message: Turn and Repent.  From the chronological studies of the Gospels, it is believed by many that this event took place in the fall of the year.  This message (i.e. T'shuvah!" "Repent") is a familiar one for the Jewish people during that time of year (i.e. during the High Holy Days).