What Baptism Have You Experienced?

Scripture:

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

(Mark 1:4–8 NRSV)

Observation:

There is great significance in John’s baptism in the wilderness. For Israel the wilderness had always been the place of new beginnings, and here, he is ushering in a new beginning for all of humanity. At the same time, the people had always fled to the wilderness (and would continue to do so) when they were fleeing persecution. The cities were the centers of power and outside their boundaries there was more freedom. The prophets would leave the city and dress in sackcloth as they lamented the fate of God’s people. The desert had also been used as a place of staging before the mobilization of God’s people for victory over evil. John is drawing the people away from Jerusalem and to the side of the Jordan where they stood, just before entering the promised land. 

John’s baptism was one of preparation. He could only baptize with water, but the one coming after him would have much greater power. Again, there is a historical connection, for on Mount Sinai, tradition tells us that God’s people prepared themselves for receiving salvation by means of immersion. This cleansing was simply in preparation for the receiving of God’s Spirit. Now, this is repeated in the action of John, and his baptism simply becomes one piece in the mobilization of God’s people in preparation to receive the baptism which was to come. 

Application:

Baptism is a sacrament that is practiced within the life of the church. For some periods of time there were places that barely practiced baptism, because it was viewed as far too “high church.” What’s sad is that we missed out on the beauty of baptism and the significance in the life of the believer. 

Interestingly, writing in the 4th century, Gregory of Nazianzus identifies five different types of baptism in his Oration 39, On the Holy Lights.At the time Gregory was the bishop in Constantinople, which was at the heart of the Roman Empire. To serve as bishop in Constantinople at that time was to be on par with the bishop of Rome, the Pope. A deeply spiritual man, Nazianzen was a major theological force at the Council of Constantinople in 381, presiding over portions of the meeting. Such a great thinker that he is often simply referred to as The Theologian. Let us consider his idea on the five kinds of baptism.

Moses baptized, but in water, in the cloud and in the sea; but this he did figuratively. John also baptized, not indeed in the rite of the Jews, not solely in water, but also for the remission of sins; yet not in an entirely spiritual manner, for he had not added: “in the spirit.” Jesus baptized, but in the Spirit; and this is perfection. There is also a fourth baptism, which is wrought by martyrdom and blood, in which Christ himself was also baptized, which is far more venerable than the others, in as much as it is not soiled by repeated contagion. There is yet a fifth, but more laborious, by tears; with which David each night bedewed his bed, washing his couch with tears. 

I must confess that I had never thought about the last two forms of baptism. If we don’t talk about what may be considered “normal baptism” — why in the world would we go on to talk about the baptism of persecution and martyrdom. Those words make us exceedingly uncomfortable because, most Christians have not had to face this reality. At the same time, there are many parts of the world in which persecution and the thought of martyrdom are very real. And as the world becomes more and more secularized, Christianity, in places where it was once the norm, will find itself out of favor with those in power. The baptism of persecution will become a greater reality, and I wonder whether we ready. 

The final baptism, that which comes from great labor and tears, is one that some of us may realize. David’s tears came as he poured out his heart to God in prayer. Day and night he brought his burdens before the Lord. His baptism of tears appears to be a precursor of Jesus’ baptism of tears in the garden of Gethsemane. There Jesus pours out his heart to the Father and sweat-drops of blood drip from him in a baptism of will as he is wholeheartedly joined to the mission of God. This baptism is a call to ever-increasing participation in the heart of Christ and it does not come easily for the closer that we come to the heart of God, the more our hearts will break and the greater our need to intercede. 

As we lay our heads down on our pillows tonight, will we take a few moments to draw near to God? A warning — it may make sleep difficult. As you join the heart of God you will discover the daily news played out before you in 3-D living color and your hearts will be crushed for the hate and violence that has been unleashed. You will literally ache as your pillow is stained by the tears that Jesus is shedding over his people. You will writhe with pain in the gut of your soul over the prodigal, interceding into the wee hours of the morning. After the baptism of the night, we arise in the morning, just as David and Jesus, ready to actively engage and participate in the mission. 

So many baptisms. Who knew. Maybe it’s time to seriously consider what baptism we have experienced. 

Prayer:

Please help me to live into my baptism — every single one. Amen.