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Luke 3:3 – A Baptism of Repentance
John preached a “baptism of repentance” (Lk.3:3). This repentance is not something simply and solely theological or personal. It is spiritual and practical; it reaches out to all because God reached down to us. Repentance is not just in the heart or mind. Repentance is not just looking to our sinful past. Repentance is a way of life.
We know that baptism is connected to repentance. My question is, in what way? Is it simply that repentance motivated baptism? Could it be more? Baptism is an immersion which implies “what is dipped takes on qualities of what it has been dipped in – for example, cloth in dye or leather in tanning solution” (David Stern, Jewish New Testament Commentary). Dipping in water implies taking on the characteristics of water which symbolically represents purity. Being immersed in the Holy Spirit gives us the characteristics of the Spirit, which is life enabling us to produce the fruit of the Spirit.
I am wondering if when baptized in literal water people were also baptized symbolically in repentance, taking on the characteristics of repentance. Since this was a baptism of repentance, and we see actions of repentance following this baptism, this theory would definitely enhance the impact of repentance. When baptized, the people, soldiers and tax collectors took on the characteristics of being overwhelmed with repentance.
Consider the following as a parallel. Jesus said He had a baptism to undergo (Mk.10:38-39; Lk.12:50). Commonly this is referred to as a baptism of suffering. Just as Jesus was overcome, overwhelmed, and immersed in suffering; John’s “baptism of repentance” caused people to be overcome, overwhelmed, and immersed in repentance. This overwhelming led to an extraordinary outpouring of good towards others (Lk.3:10-14).
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