What Is Baptism About?
“Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Matthew 3:11, 12
The baptism of Jesus is an important moment in the Gospels. It sets the stage for Jesus’ life and upcoming ministry. John’s words indicate that the Messiah’s coming will be fateful. There are both good and bad to come from it. He will bring judgment to the nation. “Every tree that does not bear fruit will be cut down.” He will also bestow God’s blessings. “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Jesus’ baptism foreshadows another baptism he will experience. Jesus said, “I have a baptism to be baptized with” (Luke 12:50). He was referring to his crucifixion. In his first baptism, he went down into the water and came up to hear the voice of his heavenly Father. In his baptism of suffering on the cross, there will be no rescue. It will be Easter morning on which the voice of the Father will bring forth resurrection and new life. Jesus’ first baptism will be in the refreshing waters of the Jordan. His baptism on the cross will be in the darkness and pain of suffering, both physical and spiritual.
Christian baptism is a symbol of death and resurrection for us. In our baptisms, we symbolically die to sin in order to rise to new life. This is a process that takes place over our lifetimes with the help of the Spirit. The vow of our baptism is the promise to let go of the old ways of living in order to allow God’s Spirit to live fully in us.
Jesus came to baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire. Why is the image of fire used? Fire does two things. One is purify. The fire of God purifies us within to burn away the dross of sin. We need this cleansing because sin clings stubbornly to our lives. Along with purification, fire adds energy and power. The Holy Spirit in us gives us power to serve God with greater confidence than we otherwise would have.
It is not the baptism of Jesus in water that saves us. It is his baptism in suffering on the cross. Because of his great sacrifice, we are redeemed from our sins and given new life in Jesus Christ. The sacrifice of Christ invites us not just to honor God but to love God. We might honor and acknowledge God because he created us. This is a wonderful gift and makes God worthy of great honor and admiration. But what makes God worthy of our love? There is no better reason to love God than his great love for us. We love him because he first loved us. We see this love displayed most clearly on the cross.