ONHL Hospice Chaplain Drumright, Oklahoma
Hulk Hogan’s Final Victory: Total Submission to Christ
Terry Bollea, known around the world by his stage name, Hulk Hogan, died earlier this month. For decades, he was a global pop-culture icon — famous for his strength, charisma, and larger-than-life personality. He packed arenas, headlined movies, and experienced a level of fame most people only dream about.
But just eighteen months ago, Hogan shared that he had experienced the greatest day of his life — not on stage, not in victory, and not under the spotlight, but in humble submission to Jesus Christ.
Posting a video of his baptism, he tweeted: “Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life. No worries, no hate, no judgment … only love.”
Hogan tweeted that he accepted Christ at age fourteen, but now, approaching age severnty, he wanted to make a public declaration of faith. “It was about the theme of surrender, service, and love.
Hulk Hogan’s baptism, that moment of humble surrender to Christ — seen now by more than 6.6 million people — serves as a visible reminder to all of us that it’s never too late to yield to Christ.
It also illustrates that God ordained baptism as far more than a religious ritual or a mere “act of obedience.” It is the physical, observable response to God’s amazing offer of forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life.
Jesus commanded, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16) That’s why there’s a consistent pattern throughout the New Testament; those who believed in Christ immediately expressed their new faith by being immersed in baptism.
Baptism in itself doesn’t save us, but it is a clear benchmark of our submission to Christ as Savior and Lord ofourlives. SimonPeter stated, “… and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also — not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:21) Baptism is the God-ordained expression of our faith and a visible testimony of God’s amazing grace working in our hearts. In baptism, we die to self, are buried with Him, and rise to walk in newness of life (see Romans 6:4).
The famous news commentator Paul Harvey shared his baptism testimony in Guideposts magazine years ago: “The preacher said there was nothing miraculous in the water, but when I descended into the depths and rose again, I knew something lifechanging had happened to me. Afterward, I cried like a baby. The evolving joy this simple act has made in my life is so immense as to be indescribable.
Since totally yielding to Christ through baptism, my heart can’t stop singing. I’ve shaken off a lifelong habit of fretting over small things. A thousand little worries and apprehensions have simply evaporated. Also, perhaps because baptism is such a public act — and because one’s dignity gets as drenched as one’s body — I’ve discovered a new unself-consciousness in talking about my beliefs.”
If Hulk Hogan, and Paul Harvey were humble enough to follow Jesus in baptism by immersion, maybe you should too. Maybe you’ve believed for years, but have never taken that step. Or maybe your story with Jesus is just beginning.
Like the Apostle Paul, you may hear God’s call: “What are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name” (Acts 22: 16).