What was unusual in John's Baptism was that he performed the baptism on others, whereas under the law each one accomplished it for himself. E. W. Bullinger
What John preached, that he also symbolized by a rite which,Though not in itself, yet in its application, was wholly new. Edersheim, Bk. 1, P. 273
Gentile proselytes, who had attained the position of "Proselytes of the Gate" or of "Righteousness," were baptized. Except for the installation of
Aaron and his sons in their High-priestly offices, a Hebrew baptized himself.
The locals of John's Baptism was where Israel first entered the Promised Land; it was the crossing of the Twelve Stones. John's Baptism was, in effect, a
re-entry to their promises, a national awakening, a call for a new-birth of the nation, a people made ready for the advent of their Messiah. It was therefore fitting that his baptisms were at
Bethabara, beyond Jordan. This was the site of Gideon's victory; here the kingdom was first divided (Judges 7:24). "Bethabara" was indeed, "The House of
PASSAGE." From Enon (John 3:23) to Bethabara, John pointed men away from himself and to Christ, John 1:36,37.
The mode of John's Baptism is inferred from the following passages:
. . . were baptized of him in Jordan . . . Matt. 3:6. I baptize you with water unto repentance . . . Matt. 3:11; cf. Mark 1:8; John 1:26.
. . . when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water . . . Matt. 3:16; crf. Mark 1:10.
. . . and were baptized of him in the river of Jordan . . . Mark 1:5.
. . . and John also was baptizing in Ainon, near to Salim, because there was much water there. (Aenon/Ainon=Springs). John 3:23
In summing up the mode of John's water baptism, the following is apparent:
1 It was with water, in water, and of much water.
2 The subjects went into and out of the water.
The use of WITH, IN, and OUT, used in connection with this watery O.T. ritual are used of both the BAPTIZER and the BAPTIZED. Both could have been
dipped, or both could have gone into the water, stood in the water, and John could have sprinkled (the mode of Eze. 36:25 and Isa. 52:15) or dipped the subject in water, or have poured water upon him
or over him. A very old engraving shows John pouring water over Christ from a clam-shell. From any of these modes both would "come up out of the river." The being
"in" the water was from the Jewish preference that the water be running, regardless of its depth. Peter expressed the feeling of many dippers or immersionist in the following:
. . . Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and head . . . John 13:9.
The Lord graciously pointed out to Peter that for a person that had bathed, it was only necessary to wash the feet - in that country walking the dusty roads with open sandals
would cause the feet to be soiled and it was a mark of hospitality for the host to pour water over the feet of his guest and to towel them.
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia gives a broad synopsis of the Baptist, Lutheran, and Anglican views on water baptism.
It is unfortunate but must be taken into account that, while the early Christians were close to the source of truth, they were closer still to the fount of paganism, hence
the simple rite became one of nakedness, thrice-dipping, partaking of milk and honey, and other elements associated with pagan mysteries.
JOHN THE BAPTIST AS ELIJAH
The following texts give a compendium of John's person and ministry as they lend meaning to his unique singular baptism, for this last and greatest O.T.
prophet was a God-sent Herald of Israel's Messiah.
The Prophecy: (Young's Literal Translation).
And thou, child, Prophet Of The Highest
Shalt be called;
For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord,
To prepare His ways.
To give knowledge of Salvation to His people
In the remission of their sins, through the
Tender mercies of our God, in which the Rising
From on High did look upon us,
To give Light to those sitting in darkness and
Death-shade, to guide our feet to a way of peace.
Luke 1:76-79.
As it hath been written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet, sayding, A voice of
one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, straight make ye His paths; every Valley shall be filled, every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall
become Straightness, and the rough become smooth ways; And all flesh shall see the Salvation Of God. Luke 3:4-6. (Young's Literal Translation).
Christ's Testimony of John:
. . . and if ye are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who was about to come; . . . Matt. 11:14 YLT.
Verily I say to you, there hath not risen among those born of women, a greater than John the Baptist . . . Matt. 11:11. YLT.
The Proclamation of John:
. . . reform, for come nigh hath the reign of the heavens . . . the axe unto the root of the trees is laid . . . Matt. 3:2, 10. YLT
. . . John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, 'Lo, The Lamb of God, Who is taking
away the sin of the world; this is He concerning Whom I said, after me doth come a man, who hath come before me, because He was before me: and I knew Him not, but that HE
MIGHT BE MANIFESTED TO ISRAEL, BECAUSE OF THIS I CAME WITH THE WATER BAPTIZING. John 1:29-31. YLT
. . . and I have seen and have testified, that this is THE SON OF GOD. John 1:34. YLT
THE MEANING OF JOHN'S BAPTISM
It is surely the intent of the Sacred Writer to go beyond the mode of John's Baptism to its meaning.
In Christ's person, in His Messiahship and Saviourhood, John could truly proclaim that the Kingdom Of The Heavens (Heavens-God) drew near, and should there be a repentent people to own the
Messiah as their Lord and King; their renewal of heart and mind attested to by confession of sin and the bringing forth evidence of their changed lives in their obedience to the Laws of Moses and
of God, and by submitting to the symbolical "Baptism of Repentance" under John's ministry. This rite
of washing, so fraught with meaning in the O.T., would identify them as a company looking for the ONE of Whom John was the Forerunner. The doctrine was still O.T., John was looking for an
immediate setting up of the kingdom and the installation of a king. When this did not follow, John
asked the sad and plaintive question, "Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?"
Matt. 11:3. So John, imprisoned, wondered. But, always John pointed men away from himself to
the Christ. For himself, he sought nothing. Compared to the varied baptisms associated with Christ
(Power from on High, Fire, and Christ's own Death Baptism) John's baptism was mere water as he
so well contrasted it with the others. John pointed his disciples away from himself to Christ; some,
if not all, became the first apostles, Acts 1:21, 22. The hopes of Israel were bound up in the Land,
the history of the sites where John baptized, the message he proclaimed, and the Christ He presented. Those who were awaiting their Saviour-God responded to his message and turned
their footsteps away from John to the Christ he served. The spirit of humble service that marked
this greatest of prophets is summed up and stated poignantly in Marshall's translation of John 3:30:
THAT ONE it behoves TO INCREASE,
Me? But to decrease.
Those seeing and hearing John must have sensed something of this humility of spirit. John did no
miracle, his ministry was short, he died at the whim of a vengeful woman, he was without a formal
education, without recognized authority, his ministry was carried out far away from the cloistered
sanctuaries of men, he dressed in rough garb, in short, he sought only to point out the greatness and the glory of Christ. The following is a worthy epitaph to grace this man's life:
There was a man, sent from God,
Whose name was John,
The same came for a witness, to
Bear witness to THE LIGHT, that
All through him might believe.
John 1:6,7.
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Scripture Research - The Baptism Edition 
