“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
Baptism is a mysterious sacrament.
It’s an attempt to depict outwardly what has occurred inwardly in a person. It’s a way of celebrating that the miracle of salvation still exist. The savior is still saving people, he is still continuing his grand work of making all things new.
When we go under,
we stop breathing,
(Momentarily of course, although some, I think we should've held down a little longer. Joking.) water covers our entire body,
and in that split second our imaginations are escorted back to the moment of creation.
Creation. Yes, that's what this is about. New Creation.
In baptism we embrace the “death” and “chaos”, the darkness.
But this time, someone is there with us.
Hovering over us as the waters splash about over our head.
He grabs us, pulls us, speaks into the chaos,
and takes us out of the miry clay.
His breath,
his wind,
breathing through his church,
begins to form us.
And he does it again... creation.
In turn we are reminded
that God is in the business
of creating beauty from ashes,
bringing order out of chaos.
Chaos,
rebellion,
darkness
and pride has kept us from wanting God.
From becoming fully human.
We simply did not care for him.
The miracle we are witnesses of is that God has softened the once hardened heart.
The miracle we are all a part of is that God has given us a new heart.
How can desire change?
That’s the mystery, that’s the miracle we celebrate.
That in his kindness he has led us to repentance.
His love is truly greater than our desire to rebel, to run, to hide.
It’s attractive,
it’s powerful,
and it’ll transform us.
“For here’s what I’m going to do… I’ll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean. I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands.”
And as the church, we marvel at the miracle of new creation.
The miracle is not that people want to be church-goers.
The miracle is that people want to be God’s dwelling place.
The miracle is not that people want to be identified as a “christian”.
The miracle is that people want to be like Christ.
Baptism doesn’t celebrate man’s will to change.
Baptism celebrates God’s will to change.
Each baptism is a shout of hope in the sea of silent rebellion.
And this...
this makes me say
"amen".