February 22 2015 “Covenants
Under Construction” *Mark 1.9-15
Water is so essential
to life. Humans have been known to live 40 days without food, but after 3 days
without water,[ slide #1 water in desert] the health of the body is at risk. Water is refreshing.
You know this if you have ever meditated before a trickling stream or caught
fish [ slide #2 fishing ] on the shores of a
lake. Water is necessary for our physical cleansing. [ slide #3 handwashing
]. We can clearly see the value
of including something as precious as water in worship. It is obvious that our
physical connection to water reminds us to connect spiritually in order to be
alive, refreshed, and healthy.
Water rituals are
universal and have been for ages. Sources say the Buddhists provide water for
the deceased during funerals; for Hindus all water is sacred; Muslims, Shintos
and numerous others share pools, fountains, and basins filled with water that
foster the feeling of being spiritually clean and healthy.
The bible has many
references to the symbolic power of water. It begins with the flood that
covered the earth in Genesis, forcing humanity into a fresh start. There is the
apparent medical cleansing using water after touching a carcass, corpse, or exposure
to body fluids. Priests and worshippers
washed hands before service and meals. Even our ancient ancestors understood
something of the blessing of washing away physical and spiritual bacteria.
Water wells surrounding flowing springs were the center of towns built by those
seeking to settle. Wells naturally became a social meeting place. [slide #4 a well] The waters of a mother’s womb held
miracles and the waters of deliverance were found in the depths of the Red Sea.
Even Jesus was baptized by his cousin John in the historic waters of Jordan
River.
In Jesus’ time the
way to spiritually cleanse yourself was to do what the Baptist church does. They called
this a “tevilah” [ slide #5 tevilah]. They were too totally immerse
themselves in living waters, like a stream or river. [ slide #6 river bank
]
This was a new
tradition. You do not find immersion in the Torah or the Law of Moses or the
Old Testament. It reminds us that traditions changed even for Jesus. Today
messianic Jewish brothers and sisters immerse from head to toe in a mikvah [slide #7 mikvah - a
bath for which the Hebrew root word is “hope”]. The Mikvah is similar to
a baptismal pool built in many churches. The one you see here is from a
Messianic church in Alabama. [slide #8 baptism pool ]
Baptism by immersion
was required for non-Jews who wanted to convert to Judaism.* Yet Jesus
was baptized by immersion. This was indeed a modification of the culture, the
tradition, and the law. [slide #9 Jesus’ baptism]Jesus’
baptism reminds us that rituals contribute best to our spiritual well-being
when they are fluid and flexible. First century followers of Christ were
developing meaningful rituals and ways of living a holy life. Many came
to John to be baptized in the Jordan River. It was all new.
Are we Methodists any
less Christ-like for having a baptismal font instead of going down to the
Schuylkill River or French Creek? Of course not. Methodists honor baptism
through sprinkling, pouring, AND
immersion. [ slide #10 Methodist cross and flame] If
you have been baptized, it is not because Jesus commanded you to be baptized.
It is because you have received one of many gifts of grace and one of many
reminders to be clean and holy like our Creator is clean and holy.
Baptism seals our
covenant, like a kiss seals a marriage in a wedding, [slide
#11wedding kiss] like a notary seals a court document, [slide #12 notary seal ]like applause seals approval,
like wax seals a jar of beans, [slide #13 canning jars]
or a robot seals a bottle of mineral water. [slide
#14 mineral water seal]Baptism signals that a covenant has been made and
every intention exists to keep a promise. [ slide #15 baptism
]
We all know, however,
that a kiss is a just a moment of bliss but the marriage means constant
exercise of faith, forgiveness, and fun. The evidence of a court is affirmed by
following through with legal demands. Once the applause stops, we
prepare for the next performance. Sooner or later, the seal on a jar is broken;
we must eat or the product will be spoiled, and once the water is open, it is
better shared than horded. [ slide #16 glass of water]
Baptism is just the
beginning, just a first sign of something wonderful God has in store for us. Our
covenants need to be made and kept with or without the rituals that a culture feels
it can’t live without, or that a culture puts pressures on us to take on. We
are called to construct a covenant, to make it and maintain it.
Just as we are
building and maintaining a physical house of God, we are constructing a spiritual
place that includes all who are willing to be in covenant.
A healthy spiritual
atmosphere comes from God. God guides us through the highs and the lows of
building. God guides us through the busiest days and darkest nights. God guides
us to be a peculiar people, producing plenty of the fruit of the Holiest
Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control.
We grow as we exercise
spiritual discipline – as we meditate, fast, pray, give generously, forgive,
study God’s word and do good. We especially grow when we bless those
experiencing a moment of being the least, the last or the lost.
We must walk with God
in order to grow. Surely, this Lenten season we will find in our time with God
that we will be baptized with the Holy Spirit, dunked in many blessings, inundated
with love, and overwhelmed by the power to accomplish more than we could ever
think or imagine.
Just as we are
pledging and planning and preparing for the next steps in our physical renovations,
we are doing the same to build an atmosphere that pleases God. We are also
preparing to maintain that atmosphere. When the spiritual roof leaks, we climb
high. When spiritual crumbs are on the tables we wipe them clean. When the spiritual
audio system needs a hand, we plug in. When spiritual crock pots and coffee hour
sustenance is needed, we prepare. When the spiritual Jr Church schedule is
blank, we fill it in with our name.
We are to be constantly
building and maintaining the covenant we made at our baptism. We are affirming
our belief in God the father, son, and Holy Spirit. As Mark notes in verse 15,
“’the kingdom of God has come near; we repent, and we believe in the good
news.’” [slide #17 “’the kingdom of God has come near;
repent, and believe in the good news.’”
] All we do, we do by the mercies of God.
May our baptism
remind us that we are sealed with a kiss, [slide #18 kissing
a baby] that the covenant is ours to keep Sunday by Sunday. [slide #19 hands
together to worship]
I close with the instructional
words rabbi Jeff Marx in California tells his converts to say when they are
baptized by immersion. He tells them to say – and I am translating it into
Methodist heritage - +‘may my baptism inspire me and strengthen me
in my resolve to enter the ancient and endless stream of a holy life. May I be
among those who will help that stream to continue strong and unbroken.’ Amen.
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_to_Judaism#Requirements
+http://www.ritualwell.org/ritual/ceremony-tevilah
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