A Baptism of Repentance

Reflections on Mark 1:4


John's baptism was a baptism of repentance which made it different from Jewish washings in a second way. 

Jewish washings were prompted by a desire to purify oneself from uncleanness caused by contact with unclean animals, unclean objects, unclean people, or dead bodies. Even cups and pots and copper vessels, which make no moral choices, could become "unclean" and need to be washed according to Jewish traditions (Mark 7:4). Jewish washings were intended to purify them from any uncleanness in the environment which may have defiled them.

John's baptism had nothing to do with things which defiled a person from without, but with sin which defiled a person from within. It was prompted by a recognition of one's sinfulness and a desire for cleansing from that sin. Hence, John's baptism was a baptism based on repentance or prompted by repentance. Those who came to John sought God's mercy by confessing their sin and moral bankruptcy.  Again, this made John's baptism unique, different from Jewish washings which preceded it.

John the Baptist

Reflections on Mark 1:4

The messenger God sent to prepare the way for Jesus the Messiah appeared in a most unusual way - baptizing in the wilderness. The baptism he preached was not Jewish baptism for Jews did not baptize others but only themselves. Rather, John was sent by the God of heaven to baptize those who came to him in repentance (John 1:33; Luke 7:29). Because people did not baptize themselves, they could not imagine that it was their own efficacy which obtained whatever benefits resulted from baptism. The efficacy was of God who was working through his messenger whom he had sent to prepare them for the coming of the Messiah.

Giving Up Our Sin for His Righteousness

In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Darnay did not believe Sydney Carton could help him escape from prison; nevertheless, he reluctantly removed his own clothes so he could dress in the clothes Sydney Carton was wearing. Indeed, both acts were necessary. He had to remove his own clothes so Carton could become a prisoner. He also had to dress in Carton's clothes so he could leave prison and become a free man.

Likewise Jesus has offered to accept the guilt and penalty of our sin, but we must be willing to let go of our sins. We cannot cling to our sins if he is to accept them. Jesus said we must repent of our sin: "I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish" (Luke 13:3). He said this not because he wishes to spoil our fun, but he wants to save us from sin's penalty which he is willing to take upon himself.

Then, when our sin is removed, we can be dressed in his righteousness. Paul tells us how this happens: "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ" (Galatians 3:26-27). We allow Jesus to clothe us in his righteousness at baptism because we believe that only through his righteousness can we escape our penalty and become free persons.