Does it mean that baptising as understand now did not exist in "Jesus' " times?
Regards
Sometimes one group will adopt a tradition of another group, but alter it slightly and giving it a different meaning than the original use. That makes it into something new. Based on something older. But still new.
First I will address the origins of baptism in Jewish immersion, then how christians reinterpreted the whole thing, and then finally answer your question of whether baptism existed in Jesus' time.
Christian baptism is inspired by Jewish immersion, but has become its own thing.
Historically among Jews (including some today), immersion (whether in a constructed mikvah, or in appropriate natural waters, such as the Jordan river) is primarily for ritual purity. This has nothing to do with sin. For example, a menstrual woman is ritually impure, but has not sinned. A mortician who cares for the bodies of the dead is ritually impure, but not only has he not sinned, but is doing a wonderful good work. Anyhow, the various forms of ritual impurity are addressed by these immersions.
A second far less common purpose for the mikveh is for repentance, although repenting does not require it, and this is not practiced in all Jewish traditions. The immersion by John the Baptist was of this sort.
And finally, in rare cases of conversion to Judaism, the final step is immersion. It symbolizes the convert's complete transformation and entry into the Jewish people. This immersion is seen as a spiritual rebirth, but it is not limited to that. Judaism does not pull religion out of its context of the entire culture of our People. Becoming a Jew is the complete assimilation of the ENTIRE culture of Israel, not just its religion.
Now, what Christians did was appropriate and reinterpret immersion. They altered the rite a little, some saying it must be done in the name of the father, son, and holy spirit, and others say it must be done in the name of Jesus. Some require full immersion, and others will simply pour or sprinkle. You get the idea.
Traditionally, it is still connected with repentance, although there are Christian groups that baptize babies that have nothing to repent from. Although few Christians would use these words, I would say that it has morphed into an entrance rite into the Christian church.
For most of the Christian world, baptism is the dividing line between who is a Christian and who is not. This is especially true for the older traditions: Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Oriental Orthodoxy, who believe baptism is salvific. The newer Protestant denominations put their own spin on it, seeing it as a metaphor for one's death to the old man, and rising to new life in Jesus, and as an external confession of faith.
Now let's deal with the question of whether baptism existed in Jesus' time. The answer depends on how loose or tight the circle of your definition is.
If you want to expand "baptism" to include Jewish immersion, then yes, baptism existed in Jesus' day. Indeed, it would mean that Jesus himself was baptised by John.
However, if you are using "baptism" the way it is commonly understood today, referring a Christian rite done the Christian way and meaning what Christians mean, then the answer is no. Christianity did not exist while Jesus was alive.
Since your post seems to stress baptism "as it is understood NOW," I think for you the answer is no.
