One of the grand celebrations of the Christian faith is baptism. Several times a year, we perform baptisms in obedience to our Lord to “Make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:18). In so doing, we are graced to hear of the simple faith of young and old alike, who are obeying Christ as disciples. It is exciting, memorable, and truly beautiful.

What makes baptism so beautiful is its simplicity. There is great beauty in simplicity: A single flower, a rock we find on a hike, a chair with a simple design, or an elegant, simple necklace. We are drawn to the beauty of simplicity but often want to make things more complicated than they are. Leonardo da Vinci said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” So sometimes, we must take at face value the beauty of simplicity.

And so, in baptism, we see:

The simplicity of faith.

Faith is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). It’s not complicated. Yes, faith and the things of the faith are deep and sometimes complex, but at its heart, faith is simple.

Baptism is simple, as it is a declaration of personal faith in Christ. Children can understand and indeed do comprehend their own faith and the meaning of baptism. In the words of Jesus, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14).

The simplicity of the symbol.

Baptism symbolizes Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. What a beautiful picture it is of the work of redemption. As the old adage says, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” That does not mean that redemption has no words or is not complex, but that those profound truths are portrayed in the beautiful, simple act of baptism. In simple faith, the Christian is united with Christ in His death and resurrection. For you are “buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12).

The simplicity of the Gospel.

The Gospel by which we are saved is simple: Christ died for our sins and was raised from the dead. This must be understood and believed to become a child of God. This is good news, for that is the meaning of the word “Gospel.” Baptism declares this good news. We are sinful, lost, but now found. We were blind, but now we see.

Whether young or old, male or female, the disciple becomes a preacher of the Gospel at baptism. In the simple act of baptism, the disciple declares the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And that is a beautiful thing.

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” Romans 10:15.