Baptism

Baptism is our welcome into God’s family. 

In the New Testament we meet John the Baptist, childhood friend of Jesus and a prophet who lived in the desert, baptizing people in the River Jordan as a symbolic act that people wanted to change their lives  to act more in line with God’s purposes (repentance). John described this in terms of pursuing justice and cautioned those with religious or civil power to pay attention to the vulnerable in society. Baptism itself can be full immersion in water (as it was in John’s day), or the sprinkling of water, and is proclaimed ‘in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit’. 

Jesus himself was baptized by John, as part of his entering into our full humanity. When he rose from the River Jordan the Holy Spirit rested upon him like a dove, and God the Father spoke upon him that ‘you are my Son, with you I am well pleased’. Our baptisms are also an entering into the life of the Trinity, as humans made alive in God’s love, knowing that they are well pleased with us before we do anything for them. Only once he was baptized did Jesus begin his ministry, empowered by God. 

Baptism is therefore our entering into the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Through all that may come our way, we proclaim in baptism that we are in Christ, and that he will for ever dwell with us.

Baptisms today are often done as part of church services, and sometimes in smaller settings, particularly if someone appears close to death. Even in those profoundly difficult situations, they are a proclamation that God draws near.