Cathal BarryJesus spoke of his Passion as a Baptism which he had to receive, writes Cathal Barry
All the Old Covenant prefigurations find their fulfilment in Christ, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
The key teaching document of the Church notes that Jesus begins his public life after having himself baptised by St John the Baptist in the Jordan and after his Resurrection gives this mission to his apostles:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19-20).
The Church holds that Christ voluntarily submitted himself to the baptism of St John, intended for sinners, in order to “fulfil all righteousness” (Mt 3:15). Jesus’ gesture is a manifestation of his self-emptying (Phil 2:7). At this moment, according to the Church, the Spirit came upon Christ and the Father revealed that he was his “beloved Son” (Mt 3:16-17).
The Catechism notes that Jesus spoke of his Passion as a Baptism which he had to receive (Mk 10:38). The water and blood flowing from his side symbolised Baptism and Eucharist. After Jesus’ death, the Church teaches, men could “be born of water and the Spirit” (Jn 3:5).
St Ambrose stated: “See where you are baptised, see where Baptism comes from, if not from the cross of Christ, from his death. There is the whole mystery: he died for you. In him you are redeemed, in him you are saved.”
The Catechism states that on the day of Pentecost the Church celebrated and administered holy Baptism.
It notes that St Peter told the crowd: “Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). After Pentecost, the apostles provided Baptism for anyone who believed in Jesus.
Newness of life
According to the Apostle Paul, the believer enters through Baptism into communion with Christ’s death, is buried with him, and rises with him:
“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:3-4).
The Church teaches that the baptised have “put on Christ” (Gal 3:27). Through the Holy Spirit, according to the Church, Baptism is a bath that purifies, justifies, and sanctifies (1 Cor 6:11).
Hence, the Catechism states that Baptism is a bath of water in which the “imperishable seed” of the Word of God produces its life-giving effect (1 Pet 1:23). St Augustine says of Baptism: “The word is brought to the material element, and it becomes a sacrament.”