~~~~~ baptism ~~~~~

this past easter sunday, i was able to witness and participate in a royal celebration. my dear friend's 8-year old son got baptized during the easter church service. it was such a celebration of victory and salvation and anointing.

i love the imagery that the pastor shared as he was describing the baptism service. he was discussing the greek words from the new testament descriptions of baptism. if you recall, jesus was baptized by john in the river, by being immersed into the water. it's not some "religious oddity," but an image of cleansing, purification, and celebration. we copy the efforts and introductions of our savior.

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bapto

1. to dip, dip in, immerse
2. to dip into dye, to dye, colour

Not to be confused with 907, baptizo. The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be 'dipped' (bapto) into boiling water and then 'baptised' (baptizo) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary. The second, the act of baptising the vegetable, produces a permanent change.

baptizo

1. to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk)
2. to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe
3. to overwhelm

Not to be confused with 911, bapto. The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be 'dipped' (bapto) into boiling water and then 'baptised' (baptizo) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary. The second, the act of baptising the vegetable, produces a permanent change. When used in the New Testament, this word more often refers to our union and identification with Christ than to our water baptism. e.g. Mark 16:16. 'He that believes and is baptised shall be saved'. Christ is saying that mere intellectual assent is not enough. There must be a union with him, a real change, like the vegetable to the pickle!
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i celebrate the full immersion, the permanent anointing of my little-brother-in-christ....i celebrate and remember when i chose to become fully immersed into the baptism of christ.

i love the imagery of being overwhelmed with something - something soaked into the depth and portion. i love the idea that i might be deep and steeped within the water cleansing and water pronouncement of my savior.