All seven of our sacraments must have a valid form, valid matter, and proper intent. For baptism the valid matter is water. Water is the symbol of freely given grace that brings us healing salvation.
The baptism administered by John is not the baptism of our sacrament. John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. But in Christ all things are made new. With the baptism of Jesus the old symbol is transformed into something new. Jesus is the archetype of all those who will be baptized after Him. All will receive the Holy Spirit from above and be reborn as Children of God.
Water, formerly a symbol, has now become part of a sacrament, necessary for anyone who is to be “born again of water and spirit” and thus share the divine life.
This water, this grace of salvation, is freely given. We cannot live without grace just as we cannot live without water.
But in addition to spirit and water, there is blood. It was blood and water that flowed from the side of Christ upon the cross. Spirit, water, and blood have become a single “testimony for His Son.” As a baptized people we are children of God by the unity of the water and blood of Christ.
We enter into the life of Jesus through baptism. And eventually we will stand where He did. In the end, with the Holy Spirit, we will be called upon to testify to our faith in Christ.
Pax Vobiscum
The Baptism of the Lord
The Baptism of Jesus, stained glass, Lois Comfort Tiffany studios