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Water!
Water is the most distinguishing characteristic of our planet
from the others in our solar system and, from all we know to
date, from any other heavenly body in all creation. Water covers
most of the earth, and is the reason that, from a vantage point
in space, it has a distinctly blue color. Most school children
know that now, thanks to a very popular NASA photograph taken
from space of this beautiful blue planet with shining oceans,
swirling clouds and gleaming polar ice.
The ancient creation theorists had little idea of either the
vastness or roundness of the earth, or of the extent to which it
is a watery world. Nevertheless, they reasoned that the world
originated from and was founded upon a watery abyss, which in
some translations of this passage is called "the deep." Their
story is that the word of God brings forth creation from
primordial chaos. God speaks and it happens. Creation by the Word
of God expresses the idea of the absolute sovereignty of God in
bringing something out of nothing. Thus, at God's Word light
bursts forth and is separated from the night, which is regarded
as a remnant of uncreated darkness. So the story goes on that
creation proceeds at the Word of a creative God. Not a scientific
theory, but a powerful statement of faith. Indeed, powerful
events are still put in motion by the Word.

It is important for us to pause a moment and understand what
is meant by the (capital letter W) Word of God, as distinguished
from a word, or words. By Word we are to understand the very
self-expression of God rather than mere words of communication.
Thus the scriptures are often referred to as the Word, as we
understand God is continually expressed anew through them. So
creation took place by the Word or creative expression of God.
Probably few of us regard our own baptism as one of those
powerful and creative events, but perhaps it has more potential
than we are inclined to believe.
In the springtime, when the winter snows are still melting in
the High Sierras, the Yosemite Valley of California echoes with
the thunder of waterfalls. Streams and rivers come together in
torrents of rushing water, rushing over sheer rock walls in a
display of power and beauty. On one such spring day my wife and I
approached the base of mighty Yosemite Falls, or at least as
close to the base as visitors are allowed to come. Even there one
is drenched with the wind and spray from that river gushing over
a sheer cliff to crash onto the rocks below. But there was one
young man, in his early 20s, who had gone beyond the viewing area
to a rock platform off to the side and closer to the falls, where
for safety's sake the park rangers would rather people not go.
For a long time this young man sat on that rock platform, being
buffeted and splashed by the cold spray and wind. He stood up,
attempting to shield his eyes from the spray, and tried to look
up at the water coming down. Then he raised his arms up in a
gesture that seemed to be one of celebration and joy. When at
last he had enough drenching he picked his way back over the wet
rocks to the pathway. His soaked clothes clung to him, dripping,
and his water-filled shoes made a squishing sound with every
step. His face was red and numb with cold, but he was laughing
and exuberant. "God, I can't believe it." He was almost shouting
over the roar of the water, but to no one in particular. "God,
what an experience! I'll never forget this as long as I live!
I've never felt like this before. Oh, God! It's so awesome!"

His frequent mention of God seemed to be more an expression of
emotion and exhilaration than anything religious, but there was
clearly some theological implication to what had happened. He
went on down the trail waving and smiling at the people who were
coming toward him, looking rather surprised as he sloshed by them
leaving a trail of water behind. It had clearly been an
experience more deeply moving and unique than for most of the
people who would probably look a couple of minutes and maybe snap
a picture or so and then move on. From his excitement it is
likely he would never forget that day. Undoubtedly he would tell
of it many times to others who would listen. And one might even
surmise that in years to come he will tell it all again to yet
undreamed-of children and maybe even grandchildren.1
Was your baptism like that? Will you tell of it in glowing
terms to anyone willing to listen, or to children or
grandchildren? Not likely. Most of us don't even remember our
baptism because for us it took place when we were infants or
little children. But we know we were baptized. Words were spoken
and promises were made; prayers were uttered and water poured,
and we were baptized. Baptism, like marriage, is not just done.
Rather the sacrament that is begun in churchly rite allows us, if
we will, to fill it with meaning as we go along. The indelible
mark of the Christ is upon us, ready to remind us of who we are
and to whom we belong. It is largely up to us to fill in all the
hope and intent that was present at our baptism, and come to
realize that we are indeed God's children. God's presence is in
us, and upon us the favor of God rests.
On one Sunday morning when there was going to be a baptism, I
wanted to help the children present in church that day to
understand a little more about what was going on. So at a certain
time in the service they came forward. They looked at the
baptismal font and the water, and I talked to them about the fact
that most of them had been baptized as infants. Water had been
placed or poured over their heads and the pastor called them by
name and said, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and
Holy Spirit" and perhaps then also made

a special mark -- the sign of the cross -- on their forehead. The
congregation was amused that three or four of the children
hearing that reached up and touched their foreheads as though to
see if there was anything still there. So we talked about that
invisible mark of Christ upon us -- a sign of God's love for us,
and to remind us whose we are.
Knowing that children like secret messages I had prepared
slips of paper, each with a simple message written upon it in
lemon juice, so it was invisible. "But, if you take this home and
have your mother use a hot iron on it," I said, "the message will
appear and you can read it." It is a sign of the passing of time
that I forgot that this is a wash and wear generation. On the way
home one little girl asked her mother, "Mom, what's an iron?"
The children understood the point, though, that at baptism we
are indelibly marked with the reminder that we are children of
God. It is not baptism or the symbol of water that makes us
children of God. We are all that from the beginning. That is a
universal truth of all of us. But in baptism we recognize and
affirm that truth with the intent that it will make a difference
in us. That is why in baptism parents, and often godparents as
well, take upon themselves the obligation to raise these children
in the knowledge and love of God and of Jesus Christ, with the
intent that when they are older the children will affirm their
own faith as believers in God in the way of Jesus.
In the great cathedral of Ghent, in Belgium, there is a
wonderful old baptismal font in the shape of a giant globe. The
globe is painted bright blue, like our blue planet, and decorated
with stars. The globe is surrounded by a great serpent as a
reminder that there are less than godly influences loose in the
world. At the top of the globe is a cross, to remind us that it
is still God's world, but in the world we constantly have to
choose between good and evil.
When a child is to be baptized, this globe is hoisted apart by
a large chain above the font, and the child is held inside the
world. By baptism we do not escape the world. We are

simply given the means and power to live in it with the assurance
that we are beloved by God, with God's favor upon us. Favor not
in terms of privilege, but of the recognition of the opportunity
of the power of God to flow through us to change the world. As in
the creation story from Genesis we become the new creation by the
power and word of God. And the knowledge of who and whose we are
in large measure determines our choices in the world.
A fellow pastor had three teenage daughters. They were normal,
wonderful, bright, exuberant young people, living life to the
fullest. I remember being present one evening when they were
going out to a party at the home of one of their friends. They
said their good-byes to me and to their parents and headed for
the door, which their father held open for them. As they went by
he said, "Have a great time, and remember whose you are." It was
not said in any heavy or particularly cautionary sense. In fact
it was said rather cheerily and lightly, but with just the
reminder that there are always choices to make, and those choices
are conditioned by who and whose we think we are.
Mark began his gospel with the baptism of Jesus. John the
Baptist was preaching and calling people to repentance and
baptism in the waters of the River Jordan, symbolic of cleansing
and forgiveness of God. He was calling them to new life, and
their baptism by water was to be the sign of that turning point
in their life. He proclaimed:

"The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not
worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have
baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy
Spirit." -- Mark 1:8

The inference is that the baptism with water is the beginning.
There will be something more to fill and complete it.
Then came Jesus of Nazareth to be baptized. It was clearly a
choice Jesus made to define the role he had chosen in answer

to the call of God in his life. And here Mark gives us a vision
as though through Jesus' eyes.

Just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens
torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a
voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I
am well pleased." (Or "upon you my favor rests.")
-- Mark 1:10-11

Behold what the Word of God has created this time!
Theologians have differed as to why Jesus came to John to be
baptized. Yet by doing so he invites each one of us to our own
fulfillment of the baptismal covenant, and to live as people who
know we belong to God. He goes before us so we may imitate him
and be bearers of the light to all those who suffer in the
darkness of adversity or oppression, pain or grief. That's
another part of that early creation story; the Word of God once
again bringing forth light from darkness. So the fulfilling of
our baptism is when the word continues to go forth through us.
Imagine that! That means that our part of the baptismal covenant
is to live by decision and intent as children of God.
There are so many who live on an accidental basis, and very
often with disappointing results. We all need some principle
around which to organize our lives so as not to live in selfish
or uncreative ways. Certainly there are other reasonable
principles around which good and fruitful lives may revolve, for
we all know good people who are not the least religious, at least
not in any traditional sense. But we have been initiated by our
baptism into the way of Jesus as a means of putting us in accord
with the Source and Creator of life; the Speaker of the Word. We
come to this church today because we continue to make that
choice. We do not leave the direction of our lives to chance, nor
to someone else's choice, but choose to walk in the way Jesus
leads us.

That young man washed by the spray of mighty Yosemite Falls
was overwhelmed and inspired by the power of that natural wonder.
"God, what an experience," he said. "I'll never forget this as
long as I live." So may it be with us who are washed and renewed
and changed by the power of God in our lives!

1-From a sermon by Frederick C. Edwards, published by Liturgical
Publications, Inc. Excerpt from Good News c published by
Liturgical Publications, Inc., 2875 S. James Drive, New Berlin,
WI 53151.