The Method That Matters
October 13, 2025
"At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan."
Mark 1:9 (NIV)
Little six-year-old Nick loved church, loved the Bible, and loved Jesus. One afternoon, his mother found him reading Scripture to the family cat. An hour later, she hears a terrible racket outside and discovers Nick trying to dunk poor Muffin in a bucket of water. "Nick, what are you doing?!" she asks. "I'm baptizing Muffin!" he declares. "But cats don't like being put under water," she protests. To which Nick confidently replied: "Well, then he shouldn't have joined my church."
What Nick understood that many of us miss is that baptism means going under water. When Jesus begins his ministry, no PR agent would have introduced the Son of God this way. No Hollywood producer would script this scene. But Jesus chooses to kick off the greatest ministry in history by being dunked in a little river called the Jordan.
The Greek word used in this verse is "baptizo" and it means “to immerse”. That's why John needed plenty of water to baptize Jesus. You don't need much water to sprinkle someone, but you need plenty to immerse them. When Scripture says Jesus came "up out of the water," it's because he first went down into it.
When you choose to follow Jesus, the first place he leads you is under water. You can't separate the meaning from the method. Jesus chose to be baptized to give us an example and to foreshadow His death, burial, and resurrection—which you and I are also called to follow.
It's not about the water. It's about the declaration. When you go under, you're saying, 'I died with Christ. I'm buried with Christ. I'm raised with Christ.' Your old life is gone. Your new life belongs completely to Jesus.
If Jesus was baptized by immersion, shouldn’t you be?
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for showing me the way through Your own baptism. Help me recognize the truth that I died with Christ and my life is now hidden in Him. And Lord, give me the courage to follow your example completely. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Topics: Obedience