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| Q: | The Catechism states: The Sacrament of Holy Baptism was instituted by Jesus' command to baptize all nations in the name of the triune God. Jesus instituted baptism in Galilee near the end of his earthly ministry and shortly before his ascension. Was the baptism performed by Jesus' disciples, and perhaps by the Savior himself prior to its institution, the same as our sacrament, and simply performed in anticipation of its institution as a sacrament in the church? | ||||||
| A: | The Catechism reference is, of course, to the sacrament as defined and instituted by our Lord as recorded in Matthew 28:18-20. This is the only reference that tells us Christ commanded his followers to administer baptism "to the very end of the age." The baptism administered by John the Baptist and by Christ's disciples prior to Christ's commission to his church certainly had key things in common with the one formally instituted by Christ. It was commanded by God (Luke 3:2-3, Matthew 21:24-26). It had to do with repentance and forgiveness (Mark 1:4) and was a genuine means of grace that granted rebirth (John 3:5). It focused on Christ's work (Matthew 3:11). And there were certain differences and possible differences as well. The baptism of John and of Christ's disciples prior to the culmination of Christ's atoning work still looked forward to the accomplishment Christ's saving work and were similar to Christ's preaching prior to his atoning work (compare Matthew 3:2 and 4:17). There is no way to determine what word or divine promise was spoken with the application of water in those cases. It may or may not have used the so-called Trinitarian formula that we are so familiar with. To say much more than that is unnecessary speculation. To say it was "the same" as our baptism is to say more than we can say with certainty. But it was certainly sufficient for the God's saving purposes and the people's need. | ||||||
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