There is a need in every one of us to get right with God. When John preached about confessing and repenting, people showed up. One of Roman Catholicism’s most important practices is the rite of confession. We all know the truism “confession is good for the soul”. Other well worn phrases include, “coming clean”, “fresh start”, “clean slate”. We all desire to be washed and clean before God.
Yet every effort at getting past our sin results, at best, in a fresh start wherein we simply begin to fall short before God all over again.
This is why Jesus’ baptism is greater than John’s. John is just a man who motivated others to choose to admit their sins and want to change. That’s a necessary start but it doesn’t do what only God can do: wipe away our bad record, and empower us to live, not sinless, but above and beyond what our weak human will can do.
Washing with the water is a great symbol which points beyond itself. Immersion in the Holy Spirit is that to which the water points.
Good point about Jesus' baptism being greater than John's. We did Mark in our bible study up at school and that was definitely a very important observation that I personally had to make before I understood it completely.
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