To baptize means to wash. Making pickles a two step process or washing dishes washing and rinsing would be a good comparison to be used in respect to the ceremonial law that governs ceremonies. Not a moral law that governs morals. No judging. Not the work of the Holy Spirit He is not served by human hands(will) in any way shape or form .
It has its foundation in a Old testament ceremonial law it continues today to represent the washing away of sin in preparation of entering the kingdom of priest (all believers) .
Water, moving as in living is used to represent blood. In that way we can say the blood (Spirit) of Jesus washes away sin.
Blood and water both represent the Spirit of Christ not seen . While the life of the flesh is in the blood, literal blood without the spirit essence of life has no life to offer.
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
Mar 7:4 And when they come from the market, except they wash(907 baptize) , they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing (909 baptismos ) of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.Mar 7:3
Bible Study Magazine, James Montgomery Boice, May 1989.
The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be 'dipped' (bapto) into boiling water and then 'baptised' (baptizo) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary. The second, the act of baptising the vegetable, produces a permanent change. When used in the New Testament, this word more often refers to our union and identification with Christ than to our water baptism. e.g. Mark 16:16. 'He that believes and is baptised shall be saved'. Christ is saying that mere intellectual assent is not enough. There must be a union with him, a real change, like the vegetable to the pickle!
Bread or corn represent the flesh of Christ. Washed or dipped into vinegar represents the change not seen. Sort of like the last supper. Christ of his own flesh informs us it cannot profit. To eat my flesh and drink my blood is a parable in that way, the spiritual meaning is hid as in all parables like the one below that is used to preach the gospel of Christ in respect to his suffering beforehand...
Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.Rut 2:13
It would seem vinegar is used to make a change like a kernel of corn parable if not planted it will not change
Psa 69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
