Droplets of Transformation
John 8:21-30
Jesus said to the Jews, “I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” Then the Jews said, “Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.” They said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Why do I speak to you at all? I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.” As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
I remember everything about my baptism. Our pastor had spoken to me about the importance of baptism and the commitment we make when we’re baptized. He spoke of the importance of doing it with the whole congregation present to celebrate, and yet I was too anxious to come forward right away. It wasn’t the number of people in the seats waiting to see what would happen, nor was it the possibility of being on TV as our services were broadcast on a local channel. Rather, it was the weight of the commitment I was making to God.
To be honest, it was a mixture of everything that kept me from coming forward to declare my intention and be baptized. In time, I was prepared for baptism and confirmation with my classmates. With their support, my Friend-in-Faith (sponsor), and my family, I was baptized and confirmed on the same day. It happened so quickly that I almost missed it. The water barely made my hair wet, and I got back in line with my classmates to be confirmed.
Baptism is more than a moment of water and words. Baptism is a new life in Christ. We are reborn to follow Jesus, even if we can’t see the path clearly. Jesus knew where his journey would go. He knew that he would be humiliated, put to death, and no one could follow him on this path. People believed in him, and yet didn’t know what life would be like to actually follow him.
What do we risk to follow Christ? What do we risk to turn our lives upside down, to be reborn in Jesus, and seek to follow him in the world? We risk speaking truth to power. We risk ridicule for speaking the truth of the Gospel. We risk alienation for loving our neighbor, or having empathy for others, or weeping when creation is harmed. Jesus gave his life for the sake of the world, and we risk very little to follow Jesus in a world in need of healing and love and care.
We are at the precipice of the holiest time of year. We will gather together to remember the journey of Jesus from the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, to the garden, torture, and death. This time together is only a moment, like the water of baptism barely wetting our hair. So we prepare ourselves to come forward, not just for worship, but for transformation. We prepare for our hearts to be filled with love, and we prepare to go into the world more alive in love to change and transform the world.
prayer
Almighty God, through the incarnate Word you have caused us to be born anew of an imperishable and eternal seed: Look with compassion upon those who are being prepared for Holy Baptism, and grant that they may be built as living stones into a spiritual temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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