One man in scripture who came from the Essenes was John the Baptist, a man who lived a life that was diametrically opposed to the religious dogmas and culture of his day. According to the Holman Bible Dictionary, “Because of his life in the wilderness, his priestly background, his preaching of repentance to Israel, and his practice of baptism, it is often suggested that John grew up among the Essenes at Qumran.” He was not concerned about an outward appearance, as he was clothed with camel’s hair and did eat locusts and wild honey in the wilderness. His ministry was not ever present in a temple or synagogue, but rather on the Jordan River, where he baptized people. He showed no interest in becoming the next “top shot” prophet or preacher. The last thing he dreamed of doing was establishing a name for himself. He knew his mission, and he purposed in his heart to complete it. His divine proposition was to prepare the way of the LORD, and he accomplished this goal by being one of those “Consecrated Chasers.”

John the Baptist’s mission here on earth was to prepare the way for Jesus Christ to come upon the scene. His message of repentance and acts of baptizing, which was passed down from the Essenes, paved the path for the coming of our beloved Savior. While people like the Pharisees believed the Messiah would come through their lineage and establish a fleshly kingdom here on earth, the Essenes were a humble people who were fully consecrated to God’s plan and purpose. They did not necessary believe Jesus would come through them, but they believed upon the scripture, that He would be born of a virgin womb, die for the sins of the world, be resurrected and ascend to the right hand of the father (Isaiah 7:14; 53). In the midst of these Dark Ages, they were looking for His arrival with tremendous expectancy. The way that they demonstrated their faith was through baptizing believers.

The word “baptize” comes from the Greek word “baptizo”, which means, “to dip (as in dye), to make fully wet, to immerse.” (Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Definitions) This indicates that a change has taken place. Just as when you dip something in dye or paint a wall a different color, being baptized indicates that someone has had the born again experience and has become a new creation in the sight of God. With the new look, unless someone had known and remembered the old you, they would not recognize you because of the encounter you have had with the presence of God. We must be “spiritually” baptized before we actually take part in the sacrament of baptism itself!

Baptism, along with Communion, is one of the two sacraments that is celebrated in the Protestant church. White (2000) states that the Greek word for sacrament is “mysterion”, which means “mystery”. It indicates the secret thoughts of God being made manifest to the authentic Christian believer (p. 181). The hidden messages shown in the various sacraments, such as baptism, communion, laying hands on the sick, and marriage, all reveal Christ’s dear and tangible love for humanity, which was at its greatest demonstration on Mount Calvary. White (2000) revealed an incredible expression of sacraments from a medieval definition of sacraments that is derived from Augustine, which is the “visible form of an invisible grace” (p. 182). God’s grace, which cannot be truly seen, given, or understood by the world’s government, is made visible through the various sacraments that exist within the body of Christ. The reason is because they reflect on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who serves as the primordial sacrament. They are prime indicators of not only God’s love for the very people that He created in His image, but also symbolize the only way for one’s salvation, healing, and total deliverance!Baptism is a public demonstration of an inward transformation that has taken place. It shows that someone has truly become Christlike, in which they die and bury their old character and identity in order to become a new creation, one who has undergone a spiritual resurrection.

Baptism, which is when someone is dipped in water, follows the format of Christ’s baptism, illustrating one’s hope for the receiving of the favor of the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit. The first occurrence of baptism in scripture is when John the Baptist began to baptize people because he was the forerunner for Jesus Christ, who was about to come on the scene. He himself even baptized Jesus, and concerning this event, the scripture says, “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”. (Matthew 3:16-17) It also symbolizes someone’s sins being buried and them coming up a new creation in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:4  says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” The emersion of a believer in water reflects the time when Jesus was buried in the tomb, and when that individual comes up out of the water, it represents the moment that Christ resurrected from the dead. Colossians 2:12 says, “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” The Christian believer shows how he or she is like Christ by being baptized in water.

*White, J. F., (2000). Introduction to Christian worship. (3rd ed.). Nashville, TN: Abington Press.