MORE THAN WATER · PART 3 OF 9
Quick answer: Jesus commanded baptism in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20), and He was baptized Himself. Baptism isn’t how we earn God’s love. It is an act of obedience that flows from already being loved and one of the first steps in becoming His disciple.
In this article
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
— Matthew 28:18–20
Over the years, we have heard a version of the same honest question many times: “We love Jesus and have followed Him for years, but do we really need to be baptized?” They didn’t ask out of rebellion. It wasn’t an attempt to avoid obedience. It was simply someone trying to understand whether baptism really mattered.
Perhaps you’ve wondered the same thing: Doesn’t God already know we believe? Isn’t faith what really matters? If baptism doesn’t save us, why should we do it? Those are important questions. And the answer to each of them begins in the same place—not with baptism itself, but with Jesus. Because ultimately, baptism isn’t about water. It’s about trust.
One of the greatest misunderstandings about Christianity is that obedience is how we earn God’s love. Nothing could be further from the truth. We obey because we are already loved. Jesus couldn’t have been clearer.
“If you love me, keep my commands.”
— John 14:15
Notice what He doesn’t say. He doesn’t say, “If you obey Me, then I’ll love you.” He says, “If you love Me, you’ll obey Me.” Obedience isn’t the price of God’s acceptance. It’s the evidence that we’ve received it.
Think about any healthy relationship. A husband doesn’t faithfully love his wife because he’s trying to become married. He does it because he already is. Children don’t honor good parents because they’re trying to become part of the family. They honor them because they already belong. Love naturally expresses itself through trust and obedience. The same is true in our relationship with Christ. When Jesus asks something of us, our first response shouldn’t be, “Do I have to?” It should become, “Because I trust You, I will.”
One of the most remarkable things about baptism is that Jesus Himself chose to be baptized. Think about that. Jesus had no sins to confess. No forgiveness to receive. No need to repent. Yet when John the Baptist hesitated, Jesus replied:
“Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”
— Matthew 3:15
Why would Jesus be baptized? Because He was identifying Himself with the people He came to save. From the very beginning of His public ministry, Jesus demonstrated complete obedience to His Father’s will. His baptism marked the beginning of His earthly ministry. Ours often marks the beginning of our public walk as His disciple. Jesus never asks us to do something He Himself was unwilling to do.
A person’s last words often carry extraordinary weight. Families remember final conversations. Leaders remember final speeches. Parents remember final blessings. Jesus’ final words before ascending into heaven are known as the Great Commission. Notice what He says:
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
— Matthew 28:19–20
Jesus could have emphasized many things. He could have focused on church growth. He could have emphasized generosity. He could have spoken about worship. Instead, He gave His followers a simple mission: Make disciples. Baptize them. Teach them to obey. Baptism wasn’t an afterthought. It was built into the Church’s very mission. That tells us something important. Jesus doesn’t view baptism as optional. He views it as one of the first steps in becoming His disciple.
If Jesus clearly commands baptism, why do so many believers delay? Over the years, we’ve noticed several common reasons. Some people fear standing in front of others. Some feel embarrassed because they’ve been Christians for many years. Some assume they’ll “get around to it someday.” Others come from traditions where they were baptized as infants and aren’t sure what to do next. Still others simply never understood why baptism mattered.
Whatever your reason, let us encourage you: Jesus isn’t waiting to shame you. He’s inviting you to trust Him. Obedience is never about looking backward with regret. It’s about taking the next faithful step forward.
This may be one of the more challenging parts of this article. But we offer it with love. Sometimes we convince ourselves that partial obedience is enough. We tell ourselves, “We’ll do it eventually. We’ve been meaning to. We’re waiting for the right time.” But imagine saying something similar in another relationship.
Imagine someone continually postponing a meaningful commitment while insisting they’ll follow through eventually. Delayed obedience is still delayed. Thankfully, God’s grace is abundant. He doesn’t reject us because we’ve delayed. He simply continues inviting us. Every day becomes another opportunity to say yes.
Perhaps Jesus commands baptism because He knows we need one another. Every baptism reminds the Church that Jesus is still saving people. Every testimony reminds us that grace still changes lives. Every act of obedience strengthens the faith of someone watching.
Your baptism isn’t only about your story. It’s about what God might do through your story. Someone in the congregation may need the courage they’ll receive from watching you obey Jesus. Never underestimate what God can do through one simple act of faithfulness.
This article is part of More Than Water, a series on the beauty, meaning and mission of baptism. Start with the complete guide to baptism.
Whether you’re new to faith or have followed Jesus for years, we’d love to celebrate this step with you. Register for baptism, email our pastoral team or call 952.944.6300.
Wooddale Church is a multigenerational, Bible-teaching church in Minnesota with locations in Eden Prairie, Edina and Minneapolis near the University of Minnesota. Whether you’re looking for a church near you, exploring faith for the first time or simply curious about what happens at church, we invite you to join us.
If this article has raised questions, encouraged you or helped you see baptism in a new way, we’d love to continue the conversation. Whether you’re exploring Christianity for the first time, considering baptism or simply looking for a church family where you can continue growing in your faith, we’d be honored to walk alongside you. Following Jesus was never meant to be a journey you travel alone.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
