It’s not the first time we’ve heard someone say they don’t want to baptise their children so they can decide for themselves which religion to follow when they grow up. What do you think about this? Why do we baptise?
Today we are celebrating the Baptism of the Lord in the River Jordan. I imagine the first question that comes to mind is: if Jesus is God, why did He need to be baptised? To answer this question, we need to start with the baptism of John the Baptist. As we heard in today’s Gospel, John the Baptist baptised with water; this means that John’s baptism was a human action, a sign of repentance or sorrow for sins committed. The people would listen to John’s preaching, recognise their sinfulness, and feel remorse. As a gesture of repentance, John would baptise them in the Jordan. Therefore, John’s baptism was purely a human gesture and could not bestow God’s grace; it was like water that cleanses the outside but cannot purify the heart.
Today’s Gospel from Luke tells us: “...after all the people had been baptised, Jesus was baptised as well...” The water of the River Jordan had no power to cleanse sin from the heart of man, and so the river became more a symbol of the people’s sin than a means of purification. So why did Jesus choose to be baptised?
Jesus was baptised, first and foremost, to sanctify the water, not for the water to sanctify Him. He did this so that when you and I step into the same water sanctified by Him, our lives and His become one. Thus, we receive Baptism so that our lives and the life of Jesus become one.
The second reason Jesus was baptised is that, as we said, the River Jordan symbolised the sin of the people. Jesus had no sin to confess when He descended into the Jordan, but He took upon Himself the sins of the people so that He could destroy the power of sin on the Cross. Therefore, when we are baptised, we open our hearts to the salvation Jesus gives us.
So why do we baptise babies? Why shouldn’t parents leave it up to their children to decide whether they want to be baptised when they grow up? Parents make many decisions for their children while they are young: what medicine to give them, which school to send them to… They do this because they are convinced it is for their children’s good. Only parents who doubt the immense benefit of Baptism would leave the decision to their children when they grow up. Baptism is the foundation of a new life in Christ, a life that does not end here on earth but reaches its fullness in Heaven. Parents who truly love their children should never deprive them of this heavenly gift, which, unlike earthly possessions, never ends and cannot be taken away.
Lord Jesus, today we remember when You were baptised for us. Help us to remember that Baptism is not just a one-time event in our lives but a grace You give us daily and a commitment we must embrace and live every day. Amen.