One of my favorite Sundays of all is baptism Sunday. I think that Easter is the only Sunday that beats it. I just love the community and the atmosphere the day brings. Everyone shares a certain excitement as we celebrate brothers and sisters being reborn. The demonstration of their faith is an inspiring action.
At my church, each person that is baptized starts by sharing their testimony of faith. This not only helps the congregation understand how momentous this day is but also gives each person a chance to think about why they are pursuing the next step of baptism. It can be really humbling and encouraging to hear other Christians open up about their struggles and triumphs with the Lord.
Personally, my favorite part is when someone goes under the water and comes back up. The clapping that immediately follows is deafening and filled with joy. When I was baptized, I remember how quiet it was leading up to the moments I went underwater. However, as soon as I was out of the water, the first thing I heard was clapping. Everyone around me was so happy and congratulatory. Before I declared my love for Christ and my will to live for Him, it was quiet, but afterward, everyone was happy. It was a whole new world. Being dunked in the water made me feel overcome with God’s Love.
However, as I look through God’s word I am constantly reminded that having water poured over me or falling back into a tub of water does not make me a new person, but Jesus dying on the cross for me does. In Luke 3:16, John the Baptist tells the people, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” That person was Jesus.
Yes, being baptized is an important and happy step in a journey of faith, but it is not what makes you a new person. Jesus makes us new, and we’re alive because of Him. When I was baptized it was not the water that gave me a passion for Christ, but the fact that I was sharing with the world my desire to light a fire for His Kingdom. I still love Baptism Sunday and everything it stands for, and I will always be happy to share in the joy of others declaring their faith.
If you haven’t been baptized but have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, think about taking the next step of baptism. Pray about the decision. Ask your pastor about what baptism means. I believe baptism is an important step in the faith journey, which allows individuals to declare their faith. If you have already been baptized, celebrate with others when they are baptized, but take time to think back on the decision you made to be baptized. Remember that you have the choice every day to declare your faith, through your words and actions. Finally, remind yourself that water symbolizes the new life we have in Jesus, but He is the real reason we are made new. Without Jesus, baptism would be powerless.
