If we are to become true talmidim, we must understand the reason and process of baptism (immersion). Yeshua gives His talmidim instructions on this before He ascends to the Father, in Matthew 28:19: “Therefore go and make talmidim of all the nations, immersing them in the Name of the Father, Son, and Ruach HaKodesh, teaching them to obey all I have commanded.” So, what exactly did immersion look like in the first century? You may already know that the Jews were immersing themselves in “mikvahs” (sometimes spelled mikveh) for several centuries before Yeshua was born on the earth. What did it all mean?
The Mikvah
First of all, what was a mikvah? In Hebrew, it means “gathering of waters”. Usually, it was an in-ground bath connected to a spring of living or flowing waters. They were mostly built around the Temple in Jerusalem, as immersion was required before entering the Temple grounds. You had to be cleansed with water to enter the holy grounds of the Temple. A recent dig in Jerusalem found 48 different mikvah baths near the Monumental Staircase leading into the Temple Complex.
There were different reasons why one would have to enter a mikvah and be cleansed; some were Scriptural, some were from oral tradition. Reasons would include immersing before entering the Temple grounds, converting to Judaism, a woman being cleansed after a menstrual period, people seeking to be cleansed from sin and therefore immersing for repentance, and, finally, cleansing new pots and eating from clean utensils.
Immersing Alone
Jewish people would immerse themselves in a mikvah without the help of anyone else. Also, they would be naked. Being free of anything that touched the body was imperative. So they would walk into the water with their hands held out in front. Usually, one would have a witness. A new convert to Judaism, being baptized, may say the words “I will do, and I will hear” regarding following the Torah. Some would immerse three times, because the word “mikvah” occurs in the Torah three times.
What is really interesting is that in rabbinic writings, the mikvah, the baptismal water, was referred to as the “womb” of the world. When a Jewish convert came out of the water, it was like a “new birth” separating him/her from the pagan world. He/she may be called “a child just born” or “born again”. Isn’t that just what Yeshua was talking to Nicodemus about? He says in John 3:3 “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of Heaven.” He goes on to explain in verse 5, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of Hashem.” Yeshua was instructing this ruler of the Jews, who knew full well of the value of immersion, that not only being born of the water of the mikvah was important, but so was being born again by the Spirit. Being “born of the Spirit” was like the wind blowing, he would continue, not knowing where it came from.
I believe Yeshua meant that repenting, being baptized (that is, what you did when you were immersed), and trusting and returning to HaShem were two actions needed to share in eternal life with HaShem. As with most of His teachings, it was not only about following the Law, it was about looking at our hearts; it was a “heart issue”. It was about believing, trusting, and loving Him with your whole heart and obeying. Through obeying, you would, of course, be following Torah.
We see John the “Immerser” baptizing before Yeshua begins His ministry. Doesn’t it make sense that He was getting people ready – purifying them by the waters and repentance – to be in the presence of the Holy One – Yeshua? And isn’t that a reason why we would do the same – as Talmidim – to get ready to be in His Presence – eternally?
Immersing as Needed
So, should baptism or immersion be a one-time thing? Some would say yes. But the Jewish people immerse themselves on a regular basis. Even today. There are beautiful mikvahs in synagogues and sometimes in people’s homes, which give them an opportunity to be cleansed, both spiritually and physically, daily or weekly. Wouldn’t that be so wonderful if we had that today?
Yeshua told His talmidim that immersion was part of the process of becoming a follower of Yeshua. It was important. But there is more to this. I believe He was requiring an immersion as a symbol of becoming a talmidim. Like a “rite of passage” or even a symbol of conversion. You have to know that, as Paul writes, Gentiles are outside of HaShem’s Covenants. He writes, “That at that time you were without Mashiach, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without Elohim in the world. But now in Yeshua HaMashiach, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Mashiach.” Ephesians 2:11-13
I have researched and prayed intently about “who I am” in relation to Israel. If I am not a bloodline Jew, then how can I have access to the promises of the covenants as spoken about by the Fathers? How can I enter Israel? And then one day, I felt like Hashem clearly spoke it to me. I am a part of Israel through the “seed of Abraham”, Yeshua HaMashiach. When I put my trust and faith in Yeshua the Rabbi, who came to bring the people back to Hashem, I became a part of Him. John 15:4 says, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” By abiding in Him, or surrendering my life to his teachings - the Torah.
And if I am a follower of the Jewish Mashiach from Israel, the “Lion of Judah”, a Jew from the tribe of Judah, then maybe he has given me a place to be part of who he is part of: Israel. Now I belong to Israel and all the promises and covenants of Hashem's people. This is very humbling. I do not take this lightly, and neither should you. The process of immersion, repentance, and cleansing through obedience formally makes us part of him. Immersion is the “rite of passage” that makes us the talmidim of Yeshua HaMashiach. Isn’t that so wonderful and uplifting?
One Family, One Israel
Becoming a talmidim of Yeshua and who He is, a Jewish Rabbi, might make you appear Jewish. If you are following and imitating a Jew, you may look like one by default. Does that make you a Jew? No. What it does is make you a disciple of the Mashiach. I believe there are Jews by birth and disciples of Yeshua, the Jewish Rabbi, who are part of him by attaching themselves to Hashem and His Covenants. Two distinct groups of people, yet of the same family. The Jews and Hebrew people are my brothers and sisters. It really looks like adoption. And maybe in a sense it is. But remember Scripture says that Jews are also adopted, “They are Israelites."
The adoption as Elohim’s children, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the worship, and the promises belong to them.” HaShem adopted them first, and through Yeshua, He adopted us later. Ephesians 1:5 “Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Yeshua HaMashiach to Himself, according to the pleasure of His will.” Maybe we are both adopted into the same family. One Elohim, one family. “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Hashem, one faith, one baptism; one Elohim and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:4-6 (I would believe “one baptism” is your original immersion into Mashiach.)
Immersion is a command. And it sings like a duet. For alone you can be made clean, but you must also be immersed in the Spirit (Yeshua). Both water and Spirit are necessary to enter the Kingdom of Elohim.
This past summer, my “Shabbat” group and I went to a camp by a lake. We sang Hebrew songs, gave short testimonies, and then walked out into the lake to immerse ourselves in the faith of Hashem. I believe this is exactly what Yeshua commanded us to do. And it was beautiful. We walked out of the water, clean and dedicated. Dedicated to following Hashem's commands and to loving Him forever.