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Friday, March 29, 2019

Finding Meaning in Baptism and Its History

Ash Wednesday is the traditional start of Lent, observed by Catholics and many Orthodox Christian denominations. For forty days the faithful fast and pray in preparation for Easter Sunday. The number of days mirrors Jesus' 40 day fast in the desert as recorded in the Gospels. But before Jesus started His fast the Bible tells us He was baptized in the Jordan River. What did Jesus’ baptism mean to Him? As I examine the history of baptism I find possible clues as well as new meaning for the day on which I was baptized in Jesus’ name.

Jesus' baptism is mentioned in three of the four Gospels with the fourth mentioning things that happened during his baptism. All four tell us that John the Baptist's ministry involved baptism but the concept did not start with John. Ritual cleansing was part of Jewish culture going back at least to the times of Moses and Aaron. So finding John in the Jordan River baptizing may not have been an odd sight. His way of dressing and his diet were perhaps a bit strange but there was nothing unusual about water cleansing for those of the Jewish faith.

In fact Jewish people have the word "mikveh" which is the name for a bath built for use in cleansing rituals. In ancient times anyone entering the Temple would be required to enter the mikveh. This purification ritual was a necessary part of spiritual preparation for entering before the Lord without profaning His sanctuary. It was also a requirement for the priests prior to starting their duties in service of the Lord.

The mikveh was one of six acceptable options as places where one could conduct spiritual washing. The others were: a pond, a collection of rainwater, a natural well, sea water and natural flowing water. Choosing something other than these options would render the water unclean. The mikveh (with special rules about how it was filled) ranked in the middle of the list, better than a collection of rainwater but not as acceptable as a natural well.  At the top of this list are the "living waters" found flowing in rivers. Thus John's choice to baptize in the waters of the Jordan River fit what had been passed down through the oral tradition.

With ritual washing as his basis, John the Baptist carried out a ministry of baptizing for the remission of sins. He called for repentance, challenging those who came to him for baptism to commit to a new way of living. With this emphasis on cleansing and change John was surprised when Jesus came to him seeking to be baptized. Jesus had no sins to forgive, having come from heaven and having lived without sin. Jesus chose to be baptized though He had no need, following the instruction given Moses on having Aaron (and any other priests) wash as part of his consecration for service (Exodus 29:4).

When I was baptized my understanding of what it symbolized was incomplete. Baptism was simply the next step following my receiving Christ and preceding my joining a church. Having grown up in a baptist church I had always felt pressured to get baptized but had never asked anyone why I should do so. I went to baptism classes where I learned about the public proclamation represented by baptism and how I could identify with Christ’s death and resurrection, but a lot was missing from my understanding of what it meant to go into the waters in the name of Jesus.

Now I have a better understanding of the unity represented in one simple act. In becoming believers each of us join a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). Baptism represents our joining with Christ as we take on this important role. Like Him we are prepared and consecrated for the work of the great commission. We are prepared for life as a branch on the true vine, a life in which we bear fruit for our Father. Baptism is about being unified with Christ in His death and resurrection, being intertwined with Him in a way that I still do not fully comprehend. I did not understand all of this back when I was baptized. All I knew was God’s love and how He was reaching out to me with an invitation to something different from the co-dependency that so defined my life before.

Now I have a better, though still incomplete, understanding of the meaning of baptism. Now I have a better understanding of what it means to be dead to sin and alive to God in Christ. Though baptism did not save me it was an important milestone representing my decision to publicly identify as a child of the living God. Baptism was my declaration that moving forward I would live a life of repentance and of embracing my Lord.

Thursday, March 7, 2019

Ash Wednesday and Repentance from Sin

Attribution: Lolcatss [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)] via Wikimedia Commons

For many Christians Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, a period of time lasting forty days (not counting Sundays) during which believers take part in traditions designed to help them grow closer to God. I must admit that I have never observed Lent beyond recognition of Jesus' death and resurrection. But this year my understanding of Lent was broadened during a conversation with a brother who expressed concern that those who have Easter without Lent may be missing an opportunity for growth. So I decided to explore the traditions of Lent while examining my own understanding of the events leading up to Easter and would like to share some of my thoughts in a series of posts.

As a believer who does not observe Lent let me start by saying this is neither an endorsement nor a criticism of the traditions associated with this time of year. This is only to satisfy my own curiosity about something I was not exposed to as a child, starting with a look at Ash Wednesday.

I don't remember seeing anyone with ashes on their heads prior to moving to the east coast. I'm sure there must have been people in the area who took part in Ash Wednesday services as a matter of faith, but I was not aware of the practice. And so it caught me off guard when, on my way to work a few years ago, I saw someone with what looked like a dirt smudge on their forehead. I'm glad I didn't say anything as I would have looked like a complete idiot.

Back then everyone on Philly's Broad Street Subway kept to themselves and I was more than willing to uphold that tradition. But then a second person with a smudge passed by me on their way out of the train. By the third forehead smudge I realized that this was not just a lack of available mirrors. That's when I took a closer look and realized I was seeing the cross smeared onto the forehead of a passersby. By the evening commute these crosses were more prevalent. It was at that point that I understood why the day is called Ash Wednesday.

Traditionally the ashes used on Ash Wednesday are from the burning of the palms from last year's Palm Sunday celebration. The ashes represent dust and are a reminder that we are made from the dust of the earth and will eventually return to that dust. The ashes also symbolize the believer’s grief over their sin, as the day starts a 46 day period of fasting and prayer called Lent. For the next few weeks leading up to Holy Thursday the faithful observe a period of penance during which they demonstrate their repentance from sin.

Lent is a reminder of the seriousness of sin. As believers we speak of being saved by grace but that grace was not free. God paid a price on the cross so that we might receive the gift of salvation. Our sins were poured out upon Jesus Christ who received our penalty that in exchange we might receive His righteousness. His death satisfied our debt and in His resurrection, we have life.

As it is a gift of grace, we easily receive by faith the salvation of God. As you enjoy this gift don't forget that we are called to repentance from sin. Remember the price paid so that you might live free from the bondage of sin. In  response, open your heart that God may do the work of moving you to a life of repentance. Remember His grace and how by faith you receive mercy instead of the reward that you truly deserve, an exchange made possible by His sacrifice.