Introduction
Today I want to talk about water. God created water to have many uses. For some reason, God chose water as an external symbol in baptism. The way water is used in this world reflects what’s happening in baptism.
1. Water washes clean
I’m a city boy, and one of the things I’m still learning about rural life is that there’s a lot more dirt out here. My car gets dirty pretty quickly. I’ve had to buy one of those high pressure cleaners to wash the car!
Water is used to wash clean. We use it to wash clean all sorts of things: muddy cars, dirty dishes, grubby children. Imagine trying to clean a car or dishes or your body without water!
Water is used in baptism because you are washed clean in baptism. You might think: ‘These two children scrub up pretty nicely. Clean faces and dressed in their nice clothes — they don’t need to be washed clean.’ But King David offers a different perspective. In our first Bible reading David declares:
“Indeed, I was guilty (crooked) when I was born; I was sinful (impure) when my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51:5)
Just a few cells after conception have not committed any sinful deeds, so how can he be sinful?! The sin and guilt spoken about here is our very state — our standing — before God. God is pure and holy, and in-and-of-ourselves we are not clean or pure enough to be in his presence. So David appeals to God: “Wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:2). David cries out to God to “have mercy” on him. Why should God answer? Because God is full of “faithful love” and “abundant compassion” (Psalm 51:1).
Just as David asked God to wash him clean with water, we too have cried out and asked God to use water to wash clean these children. They, like all of us, were born in sin, and were impure before God. But we’re confident God has heard our cry and washed them clean. This washing is nothing they or I or you have done; rather God alone has washed and cleansed them. Now that they have been made clean in the waters of baptism, they are ready to begin their relationship with God.
2. Water drowns
What else does water do? Water is dangerous — it can drown people.
It might sound strange, but today these children have spiritually drowned. Their old, sinful, guilty, impure bodies have been plunged into the water as it was splashed onto them. Being plunged into the waters of baptism is like being buried with Jesus in the tomb. St Paul says it like this: “We were therefore buried with [Christ Jesus] through baptism into death.” (Romans 6:4)
When someone is baptised they enter into the tomb with Jesus; they are drowned and lie dead next to his crucified body in the dark tomb. The old self, that’s sinful from conception, is killed.
But that person doesn’t stay dead in the tomb, under the water. As they’re drawn out of the water, they’re raised with Christ — just as Christ is raised to new life, those who are baptised are also raised to new life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:5)
These children have been plunged in and drawn out of the water. Just as they participated in Christ’s death, so too they have participated in his resurrection. They have been re-born as new people.
3. Water gives life & growth
Water is essential for all life on earth.
I found this time-lapse video on YouTube of a plant that receives a much needed splash of water — watch what happens!
Water is vital for life & growth. We only need to think back a few weeks ago, when the fields were dry and dusty and brown. After just a few days of good rain, the grass and fields are now green and thriving.
We’ve just splashed much needed water onto these children. In their baptism God has planted a seed. And through His Word spoken into their lives, God waters the seed so that it might grow into a fruit bearing plant.
God has decided to use people to water the seed and nurture faith; he works through ‘gardeners’ who bring God’s Word into the lives of newly baptised Christians, like watering a thirsty plant. We have some ‘gardeners’ with us here today:
- Parents are God’s gardeners, speaking God’s Word to nurture faith.
- Sponsors are God’s gardeners, as they pray for and support the young in faith.
- We as the church are God’s gardeners, as we support each other to grow as followers of Jesus.
Water + Word = Baptism
But how can ordinary Walla water (out of the tap) do all these things?
It’s not just water that’s accomplishing this. Rather, it’s water + God’s Word. It’s water infused with God’s Word. And God’s Word is the most powerful force in our entire universe. It was God’s Word alone that brought the whole universe into existence. In the creation accounts from the Bible we hear:
God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:3)
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth. (Psalm 33:6)
When we splashed water onto these children, and when we spoke God’s creative Word together with the water, God acted. He washed clean, drowned and raised again, and began to bring new life & growth. He did not do this because we deserve it or because we are worthy. We are unworthy and impure and conceived in sin. God acts through water in baptism because He is full of “faithful love” and “abundant compassion.” He has shown His love by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to be crucified on a cross, buried, and raised to new life — all for you. And now we have the wonderful opportunity to participate in Christ’s death and resurrection through baptism.
May you remember your baptism. May you be washed clean. May you live as new people. May you grow as a follower of Jesus — all through the power of water infused with God’s Word. Amen.
