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We have been discussing the connection between baptism and Jesus in this space in recent weeks. We find Jesus referenced in passages about baptism more than anything else; baptism is in or into the name of Jesus, meaning that we united with him, commit to follow his teachings, and enjoy the blessings he bestows. Last week, we looked at one of those blessings prominently discussed: forgiveness of sins. Baptism unites us with the death of Jesus, where he shed his…

In our last article, we discussed how, above anything else, baptism is associated with the name of Jesus: we commit ourselves to become his followers, we unite ourselves with His teachings, and we receive His blessings. What are those blessings? First and foremost is the forgiveness of sins. The Day of Pentecost Imagine the scene that Luke records in Acts 2. Jerusalem was bursting at the seams with pilgrims who had come for Pentecost. Suddenly, a sound like a violent…

Last week in this space, we considered the work of John the Baptist. John’s baptism was something unique in its time, though it drew on Jewish background. Like other Jewish ritual washings, John’s baptism was an immersion. Like them, too, it was associated with purification and cleansing. But John’s baptism was something altogether different in several ways. It was administered by him rather than being self-administered—hence his title “the Baptizer” or “the Immerser.” Further, while related to cleansing, it operated…

Many things change in the 400 years between the close of Malachi and the opening words of Matthew. Baptism is one of those things. It seems to appear from nowhere; suddenly, it is everywhere. John the Baptist emerged, and he was baptizing (Mk 1:4). As an adult, Jesus was baptized by John (Mk 1:9-11). Jesus himself then started preaching baptism, and his disciples baptized people for him (Jn 3:4, 22; 4:2). After his resurrection, Jesus said to make disciples by…