Baptism is an ancient practice of immersing something in something else. We are most familiar with it as a religious practice where people are immersed in water, or sprinkled with water, or have water poured over them. But in one way or another, when we think of someone being baptized, we normally think of water in some way. Right?

But the word, "baptize" was not originally a word, which necessarily had anything to do with water. It just meant "to dip" or "to immerse." The Greek word "baptizo" was used, for instance, of the symbolic practice of soldiers dipping or immersing their swords in blood prior to battle to identify their swords with victory.

The word "baptizo" was also used in a very practical or physical sense to speak of women who would dip white cloth in colored dye, thereby changing the color of the linen and also of blacksmiths immersing their burning hot iron in cold water to cool the iron they had shaped.

Whether used symbolically with the blood on the sword or physically with the colored dye or cooling waters, the word "baptizo" always meant "to dip" or "immerse" and also carried with it the idea that the thing into which something was immersed had the power to change the thing which was placed in it.

The sword would become powerful. The linen would change colors. The iron would become cool. The object would take on the characteristics of the thing into which it was placed... or baptized. So when baptism began being practiced in religious circles, it must have originally carried this same sort of mystical meaning with it too.

When a person was placed into and under the water, that water was thought of as either physically being able to create some sort of spiritual change in the person, or became a symbolic representation of a change that had already taken place.

Now what the Bible seems to teach concerning water baptism of those who choose to follow Jesus is that the water of baptism is not itself mystical in that it creates some sort of actual change, besides making the person wet, but that it is highly symbolic of a real change that has already taken place.

Baptism is a symbol of surrender: a choice to give up trying to control my own life and do everything my own way, and surrender to the control and choices of God in my life.

Baptism is an external expression of an internal surrender to the love and leadership of Jesus. And as such, it is really a public statement of one's intent to follow Jesus for the rest of their lives. In a real way, baptism is to my relationship with Jesus what a wedding ring is to one's marriage. 

A wedding ring doesn't make a person married. A person is married whether they are wearing a ring or not. If they lose the ring, they are still married. This ring is a symbol of their life-long and exclusive commitment to their spouse and of their vow to live with him or her and love him or her for the rest of their living days.

Baptism is like the wedding ring. One would still be a follower of Christ even if they never got baptized. And getting baptized can never make a person a Christ-follower. But it is a beautiful symbol for others to see that we have surrendered to the love and leadership of Jesus and that we intend to follow Him for the rest of our life. That's what being a Christ-follower means and that's what baptism represents.

It's also important to mention what baptism isn't. It isn't:

A sign that I have arrived.

A statement that I am complete, mature, and (humbly) perfect.

The point at which life becomes easy and full of happiness.

The thing that will make God always seem real to me.

It is a symbol of surrender and an external expression of the internal changes that are going on because of my intent to follow Jesus and live life and do relationships His way. Baptism is another step of faith in the journey of learning to love and follow Jesus.

Then WHY DO IT? Why get baptized?

I mean, if it doesn't actually change me or make things the way I wish they were, why do it? Well, I think there are three basic reasons. The first and most important is:

1. The Model of Jesus:

And the first part of that model is that He was baptized Himself.

Read Matthew 3:1-17

I've wondered about this for years. Maybe you have too. If you've ever read this passage about Jesus being baptized, have you ever sort of scratched your head and thought: "I wonder what that's about?" Look at it again.

After all these years of study and careful thinking, if we are still a bit confused by what Jesus might be meaning, do you think John understood at the moment? Do you think at first hearing, John got it? That he clearly understood what Jesus meant?

I seriously doubt it. I spent years trying to understand what Jesus might mean and why he had John baptize Him. Now, I'll gladly concede that John is likely much brighter than I, but I still doubt he fully grasped what Jesus was saying or what was actually happening.

And here's why I think that is so important and devotional. John obeyed Jesus anyway. He did what Jesus said. Even though he likely didn't fully understand what Jesus was requesting, he did it because Jesus said to, not because it made perfect sense. Not because he could figure out exactly why Jesus would say or do this, but just because Jesus said it. That was enough for him.

You see, what Jesus wanted was clear. It was only why He wanted it that was not. But John did what he was told, even though he probably wasn't sure why Jesus told him to do it. Now I'm not advocating mindless obedience or surrender. But I am advocating obedience and surrender.

Jesus has clearly been identified by John as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Jesus did that, took away our sins, by sacrificing Himself, as a man, upon the cross, for us. That required that He actually become our sin, as II Corinthians 5:21 said He did, that He might take it away from us and give us, in exchange, His righteousness.

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That is not at all an easy concept to understand or believe, necessarily. But that is what the wisdom of God teaches us in the Bible. This is how you and I can be forgiven and set free from our compulsions and addictions we use to hide our pain and sadness, our boredom and loneliness.

I believe this is what Jesus is doing in the waters of baptism. He is beginning His ministry of taking our sins upon Himself that He might die for us, that we might live for Him. It is a baptism of profound identification... and exchange.

And He knew it. And He did it anyway, willingly.

Baptism: WHY DO IT?

2. The Rich Tradition of the Church:

For nearly 2000 years, followers of Jesus have been publicly identifying themselves by the tradition of water baptism. And when we come into that huge, historical family of those who have experienced the love of God personally, and we connect with God in surrendered relationship, we too can join with this tradition of baptism in water.

We too can publicly identify ourselves as one who has sent up the white flag of surrender, who has given over leadership of our lives to the love of Jesus. And we can step into the waters of baptism just like our Jesus did... and just like millions of Christ-followers have for 2000 years. I think that's pretty cool. Not doing it simply because of tradition, but this rich tradition can encourage us that we are certainly not alone.

WHY DO IT?

3. A Powerful Symbol of New Life:

I want you to look at a couple of verses from the Bible with me. But as you do, note that the word "baptized" here is not actually talking about water baptism. Remember, the word itself simply means "to place into" or "to immerse."

Here, in these verses I'm going to show you in a moment, the word doesn't mean to have been immersed in water, but to have been placed into relationship with Jesus... to have become a part of this historical family of God. In a sense, to have been immersed in Jesus: hidden in His love.

Read Romans 6:3-4

You see, the real baptism we experience when we move from seeking to following Christ, is that we actually get placed into a genuine relationship with Him and therefore we vicariously identify with both his burial (the putting away of our old, self-centered way of doing life and relationships) and His resurrection (the taking on of a new, Christ-centered way of thinking about things and relating to people).

That's what "newness of life" means here. A new way of doing life. A new way of living in relationship with others. And that comes from relating and connecting with Jesus Himself, not from getting into some water. But the waters of baptism are a powerful symbol of that relational reality.

So, when we are lowered down under the water, like Jesus was lowered into the tomb after His death, we symbolically say, "we want to let go of our old, self-centered life." And when we come up out of the water, not by our own power, but raised up by others, we are symbolizing our need for God to raise us up, with Jesus, to a new, God-centered way of thinking and living. That's the powerful symbol of new life in water baptism. Remember what the Father said of Jesus right after He was baptized. The Father declared for all to hear: "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

Now what is the very next thing that happens to Jesus after this wonderful affirmation of divine Sonship? He was led up into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And you can read the temptations on your own later. Every one of them starts with or implies the sharp taunt: "If You are the Son of God...” The very thing the Father affirms, Satan attacks: His Sonship! Do you see it? God says, "You are My beloved Son." Satan says, "If you are the Son of God. . ."

Learn a lesson from this, friends. Our identity as sons and daughters of the Father, in whom He is well pleased, is a favorite target of the enemy. He wants to rob us of the very security God affirms. We belong to God: His banner over us is love. And nothing, nor no one, can ever snatch us out of His hand.

- with thanks to Keith M. Zafren 
   of New Song Church in Bellevue, Washington