Waters of Change

From the very beginning God has done new, amazing, and unheard of things. And a good many of these new, amazing, and unheard of things use the image of water. Deep disordered chaotic waters were tamed by God – who then created things most amazing and new and unheard of == light, sun, moon, stars, sky, land, vegetation, every living thing --and us. And from out of the destruction of the flood waters, ..came renewal…and something new - an everlasting covenant between God and every living thing. God empowered Moses to part the waters of the Red Sea -making a way for the people to be delivered out of slavery – so that they could become a new people. And again waters stood still, rising up in a single heap so that Joshua and God’s people could cross over on the dry river bed of the Jordan…. To lay claim to the land that God promised them – and begin a new chapter in Israel’s history. Waters being parted to one side and to the other marked an end to Elijah’s mission – and at the same time- the beginning of Elisha’s. The parting of that water signaled the completion of one man’s service to God – and the beginning of a new man’s prophetic work. This Sunday we remember an event that marked the beginning of something new – something that changed not just one life – but millions and millions of lives. I recently read that a better rendering of the Greek word baptize – would be the word WASH. Jesus came to the river to be washed. For Jesus who was a Jew – there was no such thing as a baptism and so this washing would probably have been more of a ritual cleansing – a rite of purification perhaps. We who use the term baptism use it in the way it has come to mean for us – not Jesus. And because we believe that a part of baptism is the washing away of sin – we still insist on asking the question – if Jesus was perfect and sinless – why bother with John and the Jordan in the first place? And I have an idea One of our calls to confession comes from the letter to the Hebrews, it is: Jesus, tempted as we have been tempted, yet without sin. Is it possible that as Jesus considered his life and his future – and as this call from God relentlessly tugged as his heart – is it possible that Jesus was struggling with this decision – and tempted to live just a plain ol’ normal life? Married, with children, making a living as a carpenter, spending time with friends and family, enjoying grandchildren, old age, and quiet sunny afternoons on the porch? Are we forgetting that Jesus was as much human as he was divine – and that the human in him could have been tempted to live out a life like everyone else he knew? Except,,,,in his heart of hearts, he knew that would never happen. Is it possible that Jesus believed he needed that washing – that Jewish rite of purification – repenting of his temptation to stay at home and be ordinary…maybe that dunk in the Jordan- supported by his cousin John -was the thing that steeled his nerves for the deadly task he was about to take on. Could it be that this washing was for Jesus an outward sign – and being witnessed by others – was exactly what he needed to be held accountable and commit to the difficult mission ahead? From the very beginning God has done new, and amazing, and unheard of things. And a good many of them use the image of water. From then to now, Jesus’ washing in the Jordan River evolved into our baptism. A watery baptism in which we die to sin and raise up to new life and become a new creation in Jesus Christ. Christ set the example and it is Christ who we are then called to imitate. But let us remember that imitating baptism is only the beginning. Once dunked or sprinkled – we look to the pattern of Jesus’ life and imitate that: Follow me – he said - and be a servant to others; follow me and have compassion and understanding; follow me and boldly proclaim what may not be the most popular or the most politically correct things to proclaim; follow me and welcome those who society has ignored, condemned, hated, and ostracized; follow me and spend time in study and prayer so you know who you are as a Christian and how that is to change your life; follow me and love your neighbor and pray for your enemy; follow me and do these things in remembrance of me; follow me and may your discipleship make a real and profound difference in a world that has been broken to bits. Perhaps not in every place in Scripture –but in many places - the image of water marks change, and transition. In God’s world – water ushers in the most amazing, unheard of things – and with water comes all things new.