Exactly what was the meaning of “baptism of repentance” and
the importance of it? Though today the word baptism generally evokes thoughts
of identifying with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, baptism did not
begin with Christians. You do not find baptism mentioned in the Old Testament. For
years before Christ, the Jews had used baptism in ritual cleansing ceremonies
of Gentile proselytes. Also ritual cleaning by water was require by the priest
in the Old Testament and for anyone who would enter the tabernacle or temple.
Each time I have visited Israel we always go to place
called Qumran located on the west side Dead Sea just south of the Jordan River
and in an area called the wilderness where John began his ministry. This is
where the Essenes lived. The Essenes were copyists. It is believed that they
were the ones who wrote and hid the Dead Sea Scrolls in the caves near their
dwellings. At these ruins you will find their cleansing baths that were very
elaborate. It is believed that John the Baptist was with this group for a
period of time. It may be where the God revealed to him to begin what would be
known as the “baptism of repentance”.
John the Baptist took baptism and applied it to the Jews
themselves, because it wasn’t just the Gentiles who needed cleansing. Many
believed John’s message and were baptized by him (Matthew 3:5–6). The baptisms
John performed had a specific purpose. In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist
mentions the purpose of his baptisms: “I baptize you with water for
repentance.” Paul affirms this in Acts 19:4: “John’s baptism was a baptism of
repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is,
in Jesus.”
John’s baptism had to do with repentance. It was a symbolic
representation of changing one’s mind and going in a new direction. “Confessing
their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River” (Matthew 3:6). Being
baptized by John demonstrated a recognition of one’s sin, a desire for
spiritual cleansing, and a commitment to follow God’s law in anticipation of
the Messiah’s arrival.
There were some, like the Pharisees, who came to the Jordan
to observe John’s ministry but who had no desire to step into the water
themselves. John rebuked them sternly: “When he saw many of the Pharisees and
Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: ‘You brood of
vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping
with repentance’” (Matthew 3:7–8). Even the religious leaders needed to repent
of their sin, although they saw no need of it.
Christian baptism today also symbolizes repentance,
cleansing, and commitment, but Jesus has given it a different emphasis. When
Jesus was baptized by John it was not for repentance because He never sinned.
But to “fulfill all righteousness”, Jesus was baptized as the Sinless One to
identify with the sinner who needed forgiveness. Christian baptism is a mark of
one’s identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Baptism for the new believer is an act of obedience and is
representative of a cleansing that is complete and a commitment that is the
natural response of one who has been made new. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross
completely washes away our sins, and we are raised to new life empowered by the
Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17–21; Romans 6:1–11). With John’s baptism, a
person repented of sin and was therefore ready to place his faith in Jesus
Christ. John’s baptism foreshadowed what Jesus would accomplish, much as the
Old Testament sacrificial system did.
In this way John prepared the way for Christ by calling
people to acknowledge their sin and their need for salvation. His baptism was a
purification ceremony meant to ready the peoples’ hearts to receive their
Savior.
Have you identified with the Lord Jesus since you have
given your heart to Him and received His forgiveness of your sins?
God bless!
