Renewal in the River
Baptism was first practiced in ancient Judiasm as a means of penitence. Lamintations 2:19 says: "Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord."
It was said that to receive the Spirit of God, or to be permitted to stand in the presence of God's Shekinah, men must undergo baptism. There is also a belief expressed in the Talmud tht the Holy Spirit can be drawn as water from a well.
The powers ascribed to the Jordan are expressly stated to be that they restore the unclean man to the original state of a new born. This is expressed in unmistakable terms in
the Mandean writings and teachings (Brandt, "Mandäische Religion,"
pp. 99 et seq., 204 et seq.) This is what
John the Baptist preached to the sinners that gathered around him on the Jordan;
and herein lies the significance of the bath of every proselyte. He was to be
made "a new creature." (Gen. R. xxxix).
From my understanding, you can never repent too much,and so this baptism in my new name Mandee was significant as I received refreshment and re-filling of the Holy Spirit.
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