Jan. 12, 2025: Living Water

Old Testament Reading   Isaiah 43: 1-7
The Gospel: Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22                   

As I begin, I invite you to gaze upon the baptismal font and the blue tulle representing the living water of Christ.

Genesis 1 tells us that this world was water and “a wind from God swept over the face of the waters”(2). God began the acts of creation first by separating the waters “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters”(6). So God made the dome of the sky - a reflection of the blue waters but separate from it. And God reached into the waters and pulled up dry land - separating the waters of the seas. 

God birthed vegetation of all kinds and then called to the seas again, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures” (20) God said.

In the beginning, there was water - beautiful, shimmering, cleansing, refreshing, life-gving water. God brought forth life from the water.

We humans swim in the living waters of our mothers’ wombs before we emerge to breathe the air of this world. 

When humanity needed a new start, God led Noah and his family to build an ark with a pair all living beings to float upon the water. The water held, supported and nourished them until once again dry land appeared: a new beginning. 

Moses is rescued from the Pharaoh’s order to kill all male Hebrew children by being placed in a basket and floated on the waters of the Nile.  The same Hebrew word Tevah, meaning container, is used for Noah’s ark and Moses’ basket.

Moses later will part the waters of the Red Sea to save the Isrealites as God told him, “Tell the Isrealites to go forward. But you lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the Israelites may go into the sea on dry land” (Exodus 14: 15-16).

As Psalm 29 reminds us, “The voice of the Lord is powerful”, God strengthens God’s people. 

After escaping enslavement in Egypt and wandering for 40 years in the wilderness, God told Joshua to have priests from each of the 12 tribes of Israel carry the Ark of the Covenant into the Jordan River “and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap…Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho” (Joshua 3:15-16) to begin a new life.

Water not only cleanses and refreshes, water leads to freedom and salvation. 

God reassures us as we hear in Isaiah, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire, you shall not be burned…Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you…Do not fear for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east and from the west I will gather you” (Isaiah 43: 1-5).

With the foundation of water as creation of the earth and of our very bodies, of water as refreshing and cleansing, of water as hope, redemption and resurrection into a life of freedom, is it any wonder that John established a practice of baptism as a way to represent repentance, cleansing people of their sins, and welcoming them into the family of God?

Baptism was not practiced in Judaism, but baptism was practiced, unofficially, by some Jews as a way to show repentance in the century before and after Jesus’ birth. In an article titled, “Why did John the Baptist Baptize?” by Pat McCloskey, it states that, “ At Qumran on the west side of the Dead Sea, the Jews known as Essenes practiced a baptism of repentance during Jesus’ lifetime. Some scholars think this group may have influenced John’s ministry.”

As we see in our Luke scripture today, Jesus affirms the practice of Baptism by being baptized by John. Imagine how overwhelming this was for John who had stated to those who came to him, “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”(Matthew 3:11).  And we saw that Holy Spirit during Jesus’ baptism confirming John’s words. After his baptism, Jesus is praying to God the creator when “the heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my son, the beloved, with you I am well pleased.”

This was not heard just by John and Jesus. There was a crowd of people there including others who had just been baptized. They all heard God declaring Jesus as God’s son. 

Baptism is a new beginning; this baptism was the beginning of Christ’s ministry on earth.

Baptism is also a welcoming into the community of faith: the body of Christ. Around the world and right here in Ludlow - we are all different whether that be in ethnicity, race, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexuality, economics, ability or political persuasion yet we are all part of the Body of Christ. Here we are family; here we are community; here we are called; here we are forgiven; here we are precious; here we are reseemed; here we are loved. 

As our United Church of Christ Book of Worship says, “Baptism is the sacrament (or religious ritual) through which we are united to Jesus Christ and given part in Christ’s ministry of reconciliation. Baptism is a visible sign of an invisible event: the reconciliation of people to God”. Throughout history people have doubted or walked away from God. Baptism is a welcoming back, a sign of humility to put trust in God over self: a welcome into a community of faith.

That might seem strange since, for many of us, we were baptized as children and were too young to make that choice or to be humble and trusting in God. But babies and small children put their trust in their parents. Their parents, by choosing to baptize their children, show that they are humbly entrusting their children to God. But as adults, each time when we choose to talk to God, pray or come to church, we are acknowledging a power outside ourselves. When we say our prayer of confession, we are humbling ourselves in a way that harkens back to the promises of Baptism. When we are given the assurance of God’s love and forgiveness, hopefully we can feel the cleansing powers of the water of baptism and the Holy Spirit at work in our lives urging us to begin anew, to receive God’s love and to become love in action by following the life of Jesus Christ who welcomed all people, forgave all who asked, helped all who came to him, and led with love.

As we look on the beauty of this representation of shimmering water, let us recall the feeling of diving into water on a hot summer’s day: the water instantly cooling and refreshing us, holding us up as we glide through it. Or recall a time when you were so thirsty, maybe in the middle of a big hike or a hot day, where you downed a huge bottle of water and instantly felt restored. Remember the feeling of that hot shower at the end of a long day working outside in the garden, building something, working out or cleaning- that feeling of being clean, energized and whole again. 

These are all reminders of the restorative and energizing nature of baptism and faith in general. Through baptism and through faith we acknowledge that it is not all about us and it is not all up to us. We humbly give some of our stresses and worries to God. We humbly admit that we do not know it all and we cannot do it all. We seek the refreshing renewal that comes from cleansing, energizing, living water and we float on the gentle waves of God’s love and forgiveness. When we emerge from the water, we are welcomed into a community of faith that will sustain us through life’s storms and join us in celebrating life’s milestones.

Look upon, touch and drink the living water and be renewed. Amen.

Pastor Michelle Fountain

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