Prior to Jesus time, Israelites had repeated ritual washings for purification. Jerusalem had many "mikvahs" which were ceremonial basins for washing.
Kabla ya kuja kwa Yesu, Waisraeli walikuwa wakijitakasa mara kwa mara kwa kuosha miili yao. Yerusalemu ilikuwa na "mikvahs" nyingi ambavyo vilikuwa ni visima vya kufanyia ibada ya kujitakasa kwa kujiosha.