Who are you? What is your true identity? Each week during Lent, members of Saint Luke will share reflections about who we are in Christ here on our blog. These writings will serve to stimulate our own personal reflections and prayers throughout the lenten season. They’ll also bring us together and propel us into a weekly time of discussion on Zoom as we journey towards Easter.
Kicking us off is Marty Meyer. Enjoy her thoughtful reflection on being rescued.
The warm water enveloped me as I walked down steps into the baptistry toward my pastor. He asked if I believed in Jesus as my Savior. And when I said yes, he clasped my hands and said, “I baptize you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.” Then he gently immersed me in the water.
What are your memories of being baptized? Many Lutherans rely on parents and family for their memories. Perhaps someone took pictures of you and your family at the baptismal font. Maybe you have a video of the moments when the pastor held you, sprinkled you with water and said, “I baptize you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.” Later when your confirmation drew near, everyone had a story from that special time in your life.
It may seem odd that I would want to write about baptism to Lutherans. Our experiences are different so I was curious to see baptism from another perspective and to read Luther’s Catechism on baptism.
Luther starts with the basis for baptism: Jesus’ command “to make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit" (Matt 28:19). Then he cites Mark 16:16 “whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” To become a disciple of Christ, a person must believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and be baptized.
Where does the idea of baptism with water come from? In Gen. 6-9 God tells Noah that He will cleanse the world of its evil with a great flood. He promises to protect Noah and his family. Noah builds an ark, fills it with mating animals and his family, and they safely ride out God’s great flood. The flood “washes” away evil. God’s protection of Noah and the animals gives new life to the earth.
One day, Jesus, a carpenter from Nazareth, walked to the river Jordan to find John the Baptist. John had been preaching repentance and baptizing people. Jesus asked John to baptize him. After Jesus was baptized, the Spirit of God descended on him, “like a dove.” A voice from the heavens said,
“This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased,” (Mark 1:9-11).
Wow! With his own baptism, Jesus takes things to a new level. The old image of flood waters and God’s rainbow promise takes on a new dimension. Baptism becomes an act of repentance and the beginning of a new life. It becomes a sacrament because, as Luther explains, “…the word of God (is) in and with the water…”(Gen 1:2) that washes away the old life and begins our new life in Christ.
Titus writes, “He (Jesus) saved us…through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5-8). That is the strength and beauty of being baptized. Our sins are washed away. We are filled with the Spirit of God and given new life in Christ.
Thanks be to God!
Thank you, God, for keeping us firmly in your love. Help us daily to seek forgiveness and to be renewed by your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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