On the Sunday before we celebrate the baptism of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we hear St. Mark's account of the ministry of the Forerunner of the Messiah - St. John the Baptizer. This morning, I would like us to consider the last phrase from the last verse of the Gospel reading, that St. John baptizes with water, but Christ will baptize with the Holy Spirit. This is a significant distinction, especially as we prepare to celebrate the Feast of our Lord's Theophany, and as we remember and give thanks for our own baptism into Christ
St. Mark's Gospel records (1:4) that St. John came baptizing, and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. The Father's say this second mention of baptism is another baptism, not his own...so he came baptized and preaching of another baptism which was to come for the remission of sin. In Judaism there was and is a type of baptism, a rite of total immersion in specially prepared baths for ritual cleanliness [if you did something that would make you ritually unclean, then you had to go through this rite of immersion]. Baptism for cleanliness. Gentiles who wanted to convert to Judaism also had to go through this baptismal service. This baptism is not about removing sin or the effects of sin, but of cleansing a person and restoring them to an original state of purity - close to our understanding, but not the same.
So if we understand in St. Mark's Gospel and from history that the baptism of St. John was not for the remission of sins, then what was it? Venerable Bede, in his commentary on this particular passage, writes - "John's baptism is properly called a ‘baptism of repentance' because there is no other reason for anyone to want to be baptized in the font of life except for repent[ance]...and even though the baptism of John did not unloose the bonds of sins, nevertheless it was not entirely unfruitful for those who received it. Although it was not given for the forgiveness of sins, it was a sign of faith and repentance. All who were inititated by this were to recall that they should keep themselves from sins, devote themselves to almsgiving, believe in Christ, and as soon as he appeared they were to hasten to his baptism, in which they would be cleansed for the forgiveness of sins."
St. Bede makes clear that the function of St. John's baptism was to call the people to repentance. It wasn't just to make them ritually clean, but a call for them to remain clean, especially from sin. St. John called them to an ascetic life (a life very much like he was living in the desert)- to following the commandments given by God. And their baptism served as a sign and a reminder of their commitment to repent. So John's baptism was not exactly the same as the usual baptism of the Jews. Blessed Theophylact writes in his commentary, "All those who came and were baptized by John, by their repentance were loosed from the bond of their sins when they later believed in Christ...[John's baptism] did not bestow the forgiveness of sins, but instead only led mankind to repentance."
In the U.S., Orthodox Christians rarely get the opportunity to feel good about celebrities. There are quite a few people who claim to be Orthodox who work in movies, in politics, and in the arts. Unfortunately, almost all of these people are not what could be termed spiritual role models. Nominally Orthodox politicians get busted for corruption, Hollywood Hellenes live tabloid lives that shame everyone, and our artists cause no end of mischief. We are so used to this state of affairs, most of us don't even react anymore. Which is why when someone who is genuinely Orthodox, and famous, does something important we need to take notice.