Pastor's blog

Many people who grew up in church and went to Sunday School remember these funny little boards with blue cloth on them. All of the Sunday School lessons came with paper figures that would "magically" stick to the cloth board. All of the characters needed to tell on of the Bible stories could be stuck up on that board and moved around. It was pretty fun. One story in particular helped me answer the Stump the Pastor question for this past Sunday.

The scene is the inside of a house. Jesus is teaching. There is a crowd around him. They have filled the house and blocked even the doorway. There is no way in or out. Outside a group of people have brought their friend who is paralyzed. Apparently, no one is willing to let them through. So, seeing no other way, 4 friends take this man to the top of the house and start digging. They open a hole in the roof and lower the man in front of Jesus. Seeing their determination and their faith in him, Jesus says to the man, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Of course, the religious leaders in the room complain that only God can forgive sins. Jesus answers their complaint by healing the paralysis and sending the man off on his own two feet.

The Bible is filled with stories like this. There is the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years, who makes her way through another crowd and is healed when she touches Jesus' robe. There is the story of Lazarus who dies from an illness, but whom Jesus raises from the dead. In each case, it seems that these people have been baptized. The only thing that's missing is water.

It sounds odd to say because baptism means "washing" or "immersing" in water. But Christians believe that there is more to baptism than water. We believe it is a sign of God's promises to forgive our sins, to welcome us into his family, and to one day resurrect us to eternal life. That's what the man, the woman, and Lazarus experienced when they came in contact with Jesus. Does it really matter if there was water or not? On the other hand, we could say that Jesus, himself, was the water, the living water that he promised to be.

So, one way to answer the question was that Jesus baptized, but he didn't use water. At the same time, there are a few references in the gospel of John that seem to say Jesus did baptize. You can go read the passage (John 3:25-4:3) if you want. You'll find, though, that they are very understated. It's almost an afterthought. John's gospel complicates it by saying that "it wasn't really Jesus but his disciples who baptized." Matthew, Mark, and Luke don't say anything about Jesus baptizing anyone. I think there's a good reason for that.

There is another baptism that the gospel writers and the Bible as a whole care more about: the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Rather than just a few verses, we know that the Bible spends whole chapters talking about the Holy Spirit. The one who bears fruit, the one who grants gifts to the church, who intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words, who bears witness with our spirit that we are sons and daughters, children of God.

In our baptisms, we received the promise of the forgiveness of our sins. Many days we rest in that grace, but there are others where sin becomes to tempting. There are days when guilt becomes a burden or shame sends us into the shadows. Many days we know that, through baptism, we have been adopted into a greater family of faith, welcomed along with brothers and sisters around the world. But there are other days where it feels more like a dysfunctional family and like we are the only black sheep in the flock. Many days we know we can hold onto the hope of eternal life that is promised in our baptism, but there are other days where death seems too close and fear creeps in; hope seems slippery. Itâ??s for everyday, but especially for those other days, that God pours his Holy Spirit into our hearts.

To sustain us through those other days when we feel less like redeemed and more like rejected, when we feel more guilty than glorious, God has given us the Holy Spirit; a gift to continually renew us and cleanse us. Baptism with water is a physical sign and seal of that spiritual grace. So, whether or not Jesus ever baptized with water, we know for sure that Jesus opened the door for us to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. That is Jesusâ?? most important baptism. So, despite any number of those other days, we will always have hope. And, hope will not disappoint us because Godâ??s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.