Monday after All Saint’s Day
November 2, 2009
The Lord be with you
“How mighty is the grace of water, in the sight of God and His Christ, for the confirmation of Baptism! Never is Christ without water: He who is Himself baptized in water (Matt 3:13-17); inaugurates in water the first display of His power when invited to the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11); in His preaching He invites the thirsty to His own eternal water (John 7:37-38; John 4:6ff.); He approves, among the works of charity, the cup of water offered to a poor child (Matthew 10:42); He gathered His strength at a well (John 4:6); walks over the water (Matthew 14:25ff.); calms the waves (Mark 4:39); and serves His disciples with washing by water (John 13:5). Even His Passion bears witness to the power of Baptism’s waters, for while He was being handed over to the cross, water intervened and was a witness against Pilate’s hands (Matthew 27:24). And when He is wounded, after His death, water bursts forth from His side that had been pierced with the soldier’s lance (John 19:34).”
Tertullian, On Baptism IX.
This quote is found in Treasury of Daily Prayer, published by Concordia Publish House. Tertullian (160-230 AD) was an early Christian theologian and founder of Western theology who was the first great Latin Christian writer.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert
It makes me think of Creation - with water hovering around, waiting for the Word, who spoke it into existence, to tell it what it should do next. Jesus truly never is without water, except perhaps when he is in the desert tempted by Satan & then is ministered to by the angels. Feedback, anyone?
ReplyDeleteIndeed water plays a large roll in the OT. How often do the Patriarchs meet their wives at a well? Look at the roll of water in the poetic and prophetic books. Think of the flood, which is tied to baptism in the NT. It can represent trials or blessings, depending on the context. It is a wonderful study.
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