CTK GREETINGS CHILDREN OF GOD,
This Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord. I wonder what a beautiful question about Jesus’ baptism would sound like? I immediately go to the tangible and concrete. Baptism is a sacrament for us demonstrating God’s grace in a tangible way. Baptism is holy and set apart. These are foundational and fundamental responses. An internet search reveals mostly common and doctrinal questions about baptism like why was Jesus baptized? When should someone be baptized?
But what is a beautiful question about baptism?
Where did John the Baptist get the idea of water baptism?
Was Jesus’ baptism an apocalyptic event as the heavens were torn open and God is revealing and making known to us something of God that is hidden from us?
Is Jesus’ baptism a beautiful portrayal of the loving union of the Trinity?
Is Baptism a beautiful picture of our sinful lives dying with Jesus and our new life beginning when we are “raised” from the water?
Does Jesus’ baptism bear witness to us and God?
To celebrate Jesus’ baptism find the beauty of it and maybe some beautiful questions. Search for those who can speak beautifully about baptism whether it be Jesus’ baptism or baptism in general. You have your favorites. Pay them a visit.
In seeking beauty, I was drawn to Walter Wangerin’s children’s book, Water Come Down where Wangerin invites the members of creation into the story of baptism. Then The Jesus Storybook Bible popped into my head, and I had to read what Sally Lloyd-Jones had to say and how she told the story of Jesus’ baptism. Then on to music to find beauty in Jesus’ baptism, All Creation Sings give us Susan Briel’s hymn, To Christ Belong, In Christ Behold (958) and Sylvia Dunstan’s Down Galilee’s Slow Roadways (916). So spend some time thumbing through the hymnal or searching your playlist.
What a wonderful journey. I think I’m ready to celebrate Jesus’ baptism. What preparations do you need to make to be ready to celebrate Jesus’ baptism? What beautiful questions do you need to seek in Jesus’ baptism or your own? God richly bless you on your journey.
Bold Inquisitive Belief Loving Expansively,
Pastor Connie Spitzack
