Is Baptism symbolic?

[Waggles]

Mark 10:35  And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 
10:36  And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 
10:37  And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 
10:38  Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 
10:39  And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 

this is significantly more than just symbolic

[Waggles]

Matthew 3:13  Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 
3:14  John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 
3:15  But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 
3:16  And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 
3:17  and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” 

Water baptism must be more than just symbolic for Jesus said that it was necessary to fulfill all righteousness > implying that not being baptized was not fulfilling all righteousness (with God). 

Further we have God himself undergoing water baptism despite John's protests. If it is good enough for my Lord and Saviour to be water baptized and Spirit-filled then how much more should I obey and follow in his example as a good disciple?