THE SIGN OF BAPTISM

JOHN 1:24–28

I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know

(John 1:26).

The priests who came to question John wanted to know whether he had the right to baptize. In the Old Testament only the priests possessed the right to administer modes of purification. Because John had denied (according to their understanding) that he was a prophet, Elijah, or the Messiah, they concluded that he acted on no divine authority. Even though John had already answered them by saying that he was the forerunner of Christ, they did not believe him. As a a result, they were blinded to the purpose of his ministry, the significance of his baptism, and the presence of Christ who had already begun His ministry.

John’s answer to the question “Why do you baptize?” is significant in understanding sacraments in general and the difference between John’s baptism and Christ’s.

First, John declares that he only baptized with water but One was coming who would baptize with the Spirit (Mark 1:8). John is not saying that the baptism he administered was totally different from the one Christ would administer. He was simply enlightening the priests concerning his role in administering the sacrament of baptism, which consisted in a merely outward administration. All John could do as a minister, as a mere man, was administer the outward sign of baptism, which was water. Only Christ was able to bestow the thing signified by water—the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The priests had assumed that because John was baptizing, he was administering this rite in the power of the Messiah Himself (according to Messianic prophecies as they understood them, Ezek. 36:25; 37:23). But John was only a prophet, a forerunner who relied solely on Christ Himself. Because the priests did not know Christ, they did not understand baptism as signifying the great riches that come through faith in Christ.

Second, John directs everyone’s attention away from himself toward Christ. His role was to bear witness to the Light, which he did faithfully. John tells the priests his baptism is only a sign. That sign would be fulfilled in Christ, who alone can bestow the gift of the Spirit. Therefore, the people should not focus on the lowly minister, or even on the sign of baptism, but on Christ Himself.

CORAM DEO

Exodus 13–15

Matthew 19:1–15

This passage teaches (as do the verses below) that someone can receive the sign of baptism without receiving the thing signified (the Holy Spirit). Some receive the sign after receiving the Spirit while others receive the sign before (infants). Why is it dangerous to believe that the outward sign of baptism “saves” you?

For further study: Isa. 44:1–5 • Mark 1:1–11 • Acts 1:4–8; 11:1–18; 19:1–7

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