GREAT MOMENTS IN GREAT PLACES

A Community Near the Caves of Qumran: A Different Kind of

Baptism
MATTHEW 28:19–20
Dr. Mark L. Bailey

Introduction
When one visits the archeological site of the ancient community of Qumran in the Judean
wilderness at the edge of the Dead Sea, one is struck with efforts to which that community of
religious separatists went to bring water into their compound that would serve for both their
physical as well as their ritualistic needs. The community was known for their sacred meals as
evidenced by the stoneware from which they would eat and drink. They undertook the copying
of the biblical scrolls as well as composing the manuals of behavior for the community—
collections that would become known in the last century as the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Bathing
What also calls for attention was their well-crafted water system that brought water winding
from the hills, cascading over a step-stone designed for sediment filtration, flowing through
channels into the cisterns for bathing and drinking, and on into the special ritual baths known as
Mikveh baths. These baths were constructed for self-immersion whereby they sought to achieve
spiritual cleansing and consecration.

Baptism
The site of Qumran becomes a great place for a great moment and visual aid to distinguish
Jewish cleansing baths from Christian baptism. Jewish cleansing was active and self-initiated.
Christian baptism is passive, in that another person performs the rite for the benefit of the
recipient. Such a passive submission to the grip of another is a great reminder that we cannot
save ourselves. We must in faith trust in the merit of Jesus Christ. It is a reminder that
forgiveness comes from God and not something we can muster up by ourselves. Christian faith is
exactly the opposite of self-reformation.
When rightly understood the ordinance signifies identification with Jesus Christ who both
modeled and mandated it. He modeled it when Jesus asked John to baptize Him as an act of
fulfilling righteousness and identifying with the remnant who were putting their faith in God.
John preached the need to be baptized as evidence of the forgiveness of sin. Jesus mandated it in
the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18–20 as the initiatory sign of the discipleship process.
Such a baptism is triune in that it is to be done in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit.
The ceremony of baptism becomes a confession of faith in that baptism in the names of all
three members of the Godhead expresses a faith that Jesus is equal to the Father and the Spirit
and they to Him. A belief in the doctrine of the Trinity is a core confession of faith that
distinguishes Christianity from all the other religions and “isms” of the world.
Conclusion
Water baptism is a one-time event that is followed by the continuous communication of the
life and teachings of Jesus and the obedience that it should enjoin. The mandate to disciple the
nations came with the accompanying promise of the presence of Him who said, “And remember,
I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20 hcsb).

© 2013 by Thomas Nelson