Today we celebrated “the Baptism of the Lord” in our worship service. I didn’t know that this particular event in Jesus’ life received a Sunday all its own, even though I’ve been doing this “liturgical” dance with the Methodists all of my life. Christ’s baptism certainly is worthy of remembrance as are all his moments, but this one in particular marked the beginning of something special.
It marked Christ’s beginning journey to the cross—his public ministry on this earth. What began in the Jordan would climax at Calvary. When John baptized Jesus in keeping with the fulfillment of Scripture, God introduced his Son to the world with a few words of sacred commendation. With his affirming love and with his “well-pleased.” The Holy Spirit lighted upon Jesus in the form of a dove, empowering him to walk the earthly road assigned to him.
Today, my preacher (a.k.a. “my man”) admonished us to “remember our baptism” as well. To acknowledge that moment from our past when we first “went public” with the grace of God. My public moment came as a young adolescent, kneeling at the altar railing of the Wilmore United Methodist Church. Dr. David Seamands spoke the moment over me. I remember my white dress, the one I desperately searched for because it was so very important to me to look pure—to be adorned in white raiment in keeping with the sacred occasion. A few friends joined me at the altar that day. They other details have long since faded from memory, but I do remember thinking that this occasion was something more than in keeping with religious protocol. It was a day that marked the beginning of something bigger in my own journey… a walk to the cross of sorts, where my heart and life identified with the heart and life of Jesus Christ at a deeper level.
Long before I ever felt the “wetness” of Dr. Seamands’ hands upon my head, God’s grace was working on my behalf. There has never been a time in my life when Jesus wasn’t real to me. He’s always been present; always been part of my thoughts. He began the sacred conversation with my soul at the earliest of ages. It continues to this day, and I cannot imagine my life without him.
I suppose there have been seasons when I tried… tried to live free from him. Times when I deliberately chose flesh over faith, but even in those moments of willful rebellion, the conversation continued. Muffled some days because of my freely chosen decisions, but present nonetheless. Jesus Christ has kept me, friends, all the days of my forty-three years. He is the reason I have peace in my heart. He is the reason I gather with the saints on a Sunday morning to reflect and remember, rejoice and relive the single truth that has claimed me and transformed me.
Today I remembered Christ’s baptism. I remembered my own. I dipped my hand into the water and clutched remembrance to my chest. I knelt at the altar again and considered my “long ago and far away.” I considered Christ’s as well, and I was thankful for his “entering into” that Jordan River so that I could, one day, enter into my very own moment of “going public” with God.
Please don’t misunderstand me. Baptism, for me, exceeds religious practice. I understand the huge denominational divide that separates our views along these lines. I simply don’t get hung up on it. God’s grace and his Son’s moment at the Jordan are too big to allow me to linger in my limited understanding therein. Some of you are dearly devoted to Jesus Christ and have never had a moment of “going public” with your heart. No water has sprinkled its wetness upon your head; your body hasn’t been submerged in a baptistery, much less the Jordan River. Let me assure you of this…
You are no less precious in our Father’s eyes. If Christ has entered into your broken and weary estate, if you have received him as your Lord and Savior, then you have “gone public” with your Jesus. You have been baptized with the renewing power of his Holy Spirit. When it comes to the matter of our hearts, we answer only to One. And if your heart belongs to the King, then all of heaven rejoices and bends low to offer their chorused applause. Your wetness on the inside far exceeds any public display of “wet” on the outside.
Does that mean that “baptism” is nothing, that it accomplishes nothing, isn’t important or not an appropriate response to the working of the Holy Spirit within us? Not at all. Baptism is an outward and visible sign of an inward working of grace. It is one of the ways we “go public” with our Jesus and our profession of faith. And I happen to believe that “going public” with Jesus is always in keeping with his plans for the crucified life. A life that identifies, in part, with the Savior who went public with his commitment to the cross so that you and I could better walk our commitment accordingly.
Today I remembered my baptism, I remembered Christ’s as well. Tomorrow I pray to remember the same—to never walk a single day without the grace of Calvary pulsing through my veins. I want my life to be the lavish expression of the life that he lived and breathed and walked and surrendered some 2000 years ago on my behalf. To offer any less to him, is to live less. And the last time I checked, “less” didn’t fit with God’s agenda of more.
It’s been a long time since my “long ago and far away” moment of “going public” with Jesus. There are few remaining persons in my life who actually remember that moment. I don’t imagine they think on it very often. The water that poured down my head has long since dried up, and the godly man who put it there? Well, he walked home to Jesus not long ago. But there is One who thinks on it very often. His memory is clear, and his rejoicing still resounds throughout all of heaven to announce that I am his, that his working grace continues on my behalf, and that the indwelling power of his Holy Spirit has found a good and spacious rest within my soul.
I am the living temple of God’s living Spirit. So are you. In wearing him, we wear our “going public” display of his witness for all the world to see.
Wear your baptism this week, friends. Remember it well, and walk it into a world that needs the pulse of Calvary moving through its midst. As always…
peace for the journey,
PS: Friends, please refrain from allowing our comments to become a heated debate regarding the practice of baptism. This is not my intent with this post, but rather to allow us remembrance and reflection regarding the importance of wearing our “baptism”–whatever that has been for us–as a living witness to the world. Shalom.
Copyright © January 2010 – Elaine Olsen
I seem to go progressively 'more public'. Last year, I made the decision to step in a little deeper on my blog…to become 'more public' in the expression of my faith. I was a 'late bloomer'. Didn't become a Christian until around my late 20's. Prior to that, I had been really turned off by 'religion'. Actually, I still am.
Hugs, my friend!
Absolutely beautiful my friend. Your timing is so perfect. We celebrated "going public" in both our morning and evening services today as we watched several people take this step of following Christ. It too caused my heart to remember…and yes…I wore my white dress.
I pray I will wear my baptism well this week and always,
Joy
PS. Dr. David Seamands…author of "Healing for Damaged Emotions"?
that is so beautiful! thank you elaine. xo
Another touching post, friend! I remember hearing a pastor friend say in a sermon, "Our love for Jesus is very personal, but it ain't private!"
I wish I could have heard Billy's message this morning. 🙂
Love,
Beth
Our baptism is God reaching down to us. What a beautiful thing that is.
I was baptized as an infant, on April 2, 1972. My best friend in grade school was baptized on the same day, by the same preacher, in that same little-town church.
Later in life, I reached up to God to say: "Thank you for 'going public' for me. I now accept your offer. I'm 'going public,' too."
God is good. There is life in His water.
Great post, as always, Elaine. You bless me. Today's post reminded me of the meaning behind my own baptism. What a great gift you've given me!
Such a lovely post.
Elaine, this was beautifully written. The Spirit of the living God lives in me. That is so amazing to me and yet I know it is so true. It causes me to pause and ask myself "do people see Jesus in me?". As I am His temple am I living a holy life?
Ann Graham Lotz was here in Phoenix yesterday and she spoke on Isaiah 6 when he encountered God in His glory. Isaiah realized that he was a man of unclean lips even though he was a prophet of God. When we encounter the living God for ourselves, we will be changed. Baptism to me is a public demonstration of what He has done inside of me.
Wonderful post Elaine.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
PS I made my confirmation as a teenager in a Methodist church.
Beautifully expressed, my friend. I distinctly remember the day of my "going public" in baptism…it was 1978, I was 12 years old. That day has always been so very special to me…even during the seasons when I tried to walk my own way.
I have always so loved reading about the baptism of Jesus and how beautiful it was to hear those words…"this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased."
Desiring to wear my baptism well…
Tracy
I was captured by Christ at the age of four and He has never let go of me. I thank God for the surety He gives to us, that He will never let us go.
Nice post.
Beautiful Elaine!! N'ough said!
Love ya sister!
I was "dunked" in the Father's love when I was seven, by my daddy, who was also my pastor. (I'm baptist) I can still remember the smile on my Dad's face. I have always thought and imagined God's smile that day too.
I teach kindergarten Sunday School. Would you believe that our lesson yesterday morning was on the Baptism of Jesus?!!! Amazing, huh?
Praise God! Thank You Father for Your baptism as well as mine!
I remember my own so well, though it dates back nearly 40 years now. I also remember hubby's. It took place just last year – a long awaited dunking in the life-giving waters of God's amazing grace!
What a powerful testament to God's gift of new life.
Kathleen
Thanks once again for sharing from your life, Elaine. I was baptized shortly after asking Jesus to be my Savior. I was just a couple of months short of being 8 years old. Am so thankful that I, too, have walked with Him nearly all of my life. What a blessing!
I love your thoughts on baptism. I don't know if I've ever intentionally "remembered my baptism" but the idea of going public with Jesus, of celebrating our union with Him is incredibly beautiful.
I've missed visiting here. Thanks for the beautiful and encouraging words, my friend.
This is wonderful. I so vividly remember "going public" – going to our church's ladies' Bible study for the first time and sharing what I'd done two days before. Blessings to you.
THere is nothing my husband loves better than baptizing new Christians! Just that symbolism of dying to old self under the water and then rising out of the water anew in Christ, brings him such joy!
This was great..what a beautiful post Elaine. Thank you for reminding me of my baptism. Love you buches, sweet friend.
Hugs!
Susan
–That picture is adorable!
This was a wonderful post. It made me think of other ways we can go public for Jesus.
Blessings my friend
This is a very sweet story of baptism, and the photo of the altar is handsome.
I never thought about celebrating Christ's baptism.
But I sure want to now!
I love how you talk about Jesus going public at His baptism and even more public on the cross.
I want to go public to.
I love Him. My Savior, Jesus Christ.
You teach me good things.
Love you.
Sweet dreams.
Hi Elaine:
Thanks so much for the beautiful post. I can remember my baptism so well. It was very special and one of my dear friends was baptized at the same time. I was 11 years old at a Youth Camp at the time. It was a super fantastic summer in 1975. Two Months later in September my precious Poppy (grandfather) who was 86 "went public", that next February he went home. 🙂 He left an incredible legacy.
Going public is the only way to go. I like what Beth said about our love for Jesus being person but it should not be private. Love it and so true!
I remember the day my son, who was 17 years old chose to be baptized and shared his heart to the church. He said "when I was three years old my mommy told me how to have Jesus in my heart". Going public, and presenting Jesus wow, amazing words.
Your testimony made me think of Ruth Bell Graham's as she too said she never remembered a time in her life when she did not love Jesus.
As others have already stated, a beautiful post.
Blessings
There is wisdom in what you have written. It's so refreshing to know that we don't have to get caught up in the rituals, just the Maker of the Universe.
My 12 year old daughter is ready to go public with her life for Christ and is preparing for baptism next month. This post was refreshing to my soul.
I would do it all over again..and again…because it is the meaning in commiting to God. I was so young that I didn't have this full concept. I have a daughter who has professed Chrust at an early age but still is not ready for baptism. God understands her heart. I want her to fully get it. She's 12 now. Pray for her.
Blessings!
In His Graces~Pamela
wifeforthejourney:
How my life, and the lives of each of our children has been blessed by your "going public." We continue to find in you such a worthy example of the baptized life – a life surrendered to serving Jesus.
Your "public" life is proved time and again by your faithfulness. Though you are enormously gifted, (and have many admirers both far and near) you remain genuinely humble in all your offerings.
Ladies, you should know that when in my first days of serving our church home of these last six years, I was approached by a group of good-humored women who told me "Billy, the Bishop can move you any time he needs to, but your wife and your children have to stay!"
Its always good to know where you stand, and how good I've got it!
Love always,
Billy
Wonderful ….. thank you Elaine!
He is so real to me….your words echo within my heart…
"There has never been a time in my life when Jesus wasn't real to me. He's always been present; always been part of my thoughts. He began the sacred conversation with my soul at the earliest of ages. It continues to this day and I cannot imagine my life without him." Oh, what a constant and REAL friend is He!! Praise His Holy Name!
Sweet Blessings!
Jackie
One thing I've done as a gift for the people who get baptized is make a bookmark with the date, their favorite verse (if they stated one) and a picture about how they came to the Lord (Hume Lake, Sunday School, friend, etc.). Even though we don't attend our church anymore because we had to move, I hope to continue this practice, either by visiting when they have a baptism service or just keep in touch on the website and find out that way. I still have my card that was given to me by my pastor when I was baptized as a teen.