Baptism: John's and Christ's

Please join with me the crowds trudging out toward the Dead Sea, read with me at the back of this massive group of people listening as John the Baptist preaches. They have come into the region to the immediate W of the Dead Sea—an utterly barren desert. This area was known as the realm of the Jewish sect of the Essenes, and they had significant communities in this region. Of course, there is no biblical evidence to suggest that John was in any way connected with that sect. John also seems to have preached near the northern end of this region, close by where the Jordan flows into the Dead Sea, rather than midway down the shore.

John was the last of the old, as well as a messenger of the new. As he stood thundering the call to repentance, he pointed to the Lamb of God who by one sacrifice would pay the sufficient price for the sin of the world. His powerful words are recorded by God, through the eyes and ears of Peter, by the hand of Mark, and under the inspiration of God. Please read Mark 1:4-8

In Mark 1:4-8, John the Baptist preaches to repent and be baptized, we wonder, what does that mean to us this side of the Cross? And what was his baptism? Did it save? Can baptism save anyone? Is baptism an option, tacked on like a business meeting to a church service?