Everything in Jesus'...
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Everything in Jesus' ministry, and our lives as Christians, begins in the waters of baptism. How appropriate, since most evolutionary theorists hypothesize that water is the source of life. Not only did the first animals with a backbone have a common ancestor in first-like creatures, but the first life may have been one-celled aquatic creatures. More than likely, in ancient oceans there were chemicals which brought into existence complex organic molecules as a result of energy from the sun. To this day, all living cells require water, as it accounts for 65% to 90% of the body weight of all the earth's plants and animals. No wonder God uses water to give us new life.
The ancient African theologian Tertullian notes that waters bring forth life and that the Spirit of God hovering over the waters from the beginning (Genesis 1:2) continues today as the Spirit hovers over the waters of baptism to give new life (Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 3, p. 670). In the same spirit, Martin Luther described what God adds to the baptismal waters which make them so effective:
Who would call the baptism of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit powerless water? Do we not see what seasoning God throws into the water…. So it has become a priceless sugar water, fragrant nectar, and medicine because God has interposed himself.
(Complete Sermons, Vol. 5, pp. 221-222)
This sugared water is alluring, almost addictive. For those of us baptized it is as Pope Emeritus Benedict once said: In baptism we have "become fascinated by Christ." Baptism addicts us to Christ and sets us out on a life fascinated by him.
The ancient African theologian Tertullian notes that waters bring forth life and that the Spirit of God hovering over the waters from the beginning (Genesis 1:2) continues today as the Spirit hovers over the waters of baptism to give new life (Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 3, p. 670). In the same spirit, Martin Luther described what God adds to the baptismal waters which make them so effective:
Who would call the baptism of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit powerless water? Do we not see what seasoning God throws into the water…. So it has become a priceless sugar water, fragrant nectar, and medicine because God has interposed himself.
(Complete Sermons, Vol. 5, pp. 221-222)
This sugared water is alluring, almost addictive. For those of us baptized it is as Pope Emeritus Benedict once said: In baptism we have "become fascinated by Christ." Baptism addicts us to Christ and sets us out on a life fascinated by him.
