Unveiling

Acts 19:1-7; Mark 1:4-11

Luke writes of Paul’s experience in Ephesus, where he found people that were following Jesus, but without the Holy Spirit.  They did not even understand what Paul was talking about, so Paul asked then about their baptism and they responded with water, that is John’s Baptism.  Notice Paul did not denounce them for not getting it, rather he explained that John’s Baptism was in preparation of the one to come, Jesus.  They were thus baptized with the Spirit and all was well with these dozen believers.

So what is baptism to John.  Was it simply a preparation for Jesus coming?  Paul clearly explains it as a “baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come…”  This is confirmed by Mark in verse four as it says John was “…proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” In Matthew’s account John preached this:

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near (3:2)

That is not to be confused with repent to call heaven near, or repent to get into heaven.  It is repent for God’s realm has come near, and it was John’s job to prepare the way through proclamation of forgiveness.  There were other sects of Jews and even Pagans who utilized similar ritual of water and the idea of washing someone clean.  John makes it clear that his baptism is however not the baptism we are to live for, and Paul makes that clear to the dozen in Ephesus.

Even today there are Christians that emphasize John’s water baptism, over that of Jesus’ Baptism by the Holy Spirit.  Let me be clear, just as Paul doesn’t dismiss John’s baptism, nor do I.  There is great validity in the idea of being “washed clean” of sin (forgiveness), of “turning to God” (repentance), but John had people baptized of water in preparation of the Spirit.  They repented in the Jordan because God’s Kingdom was at hand.  However, to have the baptism act like a gate, such as babies getting into heaven, or adults for that matter, leaves baptism as an archaic earthly ritual and not a way to unveil the divine in our lives. 

We still use the water, but we believe it is an outward physical sign of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus’ own baptism changed the ritual forever.  The dove came down.  Now did John continue to baptize?  Did Jesus start baptizing?  Well clearly John’s ministry stopped shortly after Jesus baptism, and no where did Jesus baptize anyone, and actually according to Mark 10, He expected the disciples to be baptized in the future.  This came about when James and John approached Jesus with an awkward request, or so it seems to us who know the entire Gospel:

And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’ They replied, ‘We are able.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’ (Mark 10:37-40)

Were they baptized by John?  Does it matter, they obviously did not receive the Holy Spirit at that time.  According to Luke it would be at Pentecost after the Resurrection , or according to the disciple John in the upper room after the Resurrection. So when they ask about being part of Jesus’ power, His Glory. Earthly power was their model for His Glory, even though they had heard Him preach and heal.  Something else must happen.

As Jesus alludes to in His response to the brothers, baptism would be combined with the cup.  The cup representing the New Covenant, fulfilled by His blood on the cross.  Thus baptism is not simply repentance but participation in Jesus’ baptism, death, and resurrection.  For Jesus the cup and baptism are combined, and when we know that we accept the calling with the help of the Holy Spirit, who is unveiled in us and the entire church, the Body of Christ.