fortheDeclaration,
In essence you are correct. But the WATER (or cleansing) is symbolic of Baptism and think of the love God is showing for us, His children, when he chose water as the symbol. Not something difficult to find and use..... just plain ole everyday easy-to-find water. And it easy to understand the analogy too. Even easy enough for children to understand the relationship of cleansing with the spiritual rite of Baptism.
When I was in Israel this past fall, our Jewish guide pointed out the "Mikvas" in all the historical ruins we toured and explained to us that by Jewish law, all homes had access to a "Mikva" (special bath house)where they went to immerse in water as an act of ritual purification.
And all the while, I am thinking, how like a loving Father is our God, who taught us about the spiritual reality through an easy to understand symbolic act... first his chosen people, then the rest of us through reading His Word.
Later in the week, standing in the shallows of the Jordan River, it was a very emotional moment to think about the powerful Symbol this "water" is and what it really means, and to have the opportunity to privately reaffirm my belief and love of my Savior Jesus Christ. That moment could of course have happened anywhere, on any day, but somehow it meant more to me, there in the "water".
I filled a used water bottle with water from the Jordan and brought it back with me to keep. Not that I think it is magical or special water, but because the memory of it will remind me of those spiritual realities you spoke of. We mre humans need symbols to help us understand.... don't you think?
Thank you for explaining that point.
The water is symbolic of the death and burial of Christ and coming up from the water represents identification with the Resurrection.