The joy of baptism
Last Sunday we celebrated baptism.
Two people, who in different ways and with different stories have discovered the Treasure that is Jesus.
(Or maybe it’s the Treasure that has discovered them).
Two people upon whom the Spirit has breathed new life.
Two people who have heard and heeded the voice of their Good Shepherd calling them “Come, follow me”.
Two people who are discovering the truth that in some deep and mysterious way, life is to be found in Jesus…
…and who have pledged themselves to live into that life.
Two people who, by faith, understand that Jesus’ death and resurrection was for them.
And who sense that what Jesus offers them is better than any alternative.
And as imperfect as they are, have pledged themselves to the One who has pledged Himself to them, and filled them with His Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing that they are His.
I may have shed a tear on Sunday.
And not just because one of the two was my daughter.
But because of what baptism represents.
A beautiful picture of abandoning yourself to Christ, of participating in His death and in His resurrection. Of leaving the old and walking onwards into the new. Of surrender to Jesus. Of His love towards us, which He invites us to receive and experience and know.
Oh, baptism is beautiful.
As I’ve been replaying Sunday in my mind, four thoughts have struck me.
One: The role of the community of faith.
Neighbourhood is pretty much the only church family Megan has known. She has discovered and grown in faith in the context of community. People who have taught her, prayed for her, involved her. People who took us to Spring Harvest as a family; who have modelled faith; who have started girl’s group when there were only a few young people; who have encouraged her and cared for her. I love how her faith has flourished in and amongst a loving, faithful community of believers. So many people’s fingerprints are on Megan.
Two: The power of invitation.
My heart was full of joy knowing that Lesley was baptising her neighbour. She and Roy are neighbours to Peter – literally, neighbours…their living rooms are separated by a wall! And it was through neighbourly friendship that they extended an invitation to Peter to Alpha. And here he is, getting baptised, testifying to the difference Jesus makes to his life. There can’t be many people who have baptised their neighbour.
Three: The joy of baptism
I love seeing people gathered around the tank….celebrating together the work of Jesus in a person’s life. I love seeing the smiles, hearing the tears…the clapping. Baptism is a community event. It keeps before the community of believers the task before us – to participate in Jesus’ work of making disciples. It reminds us of the joy of new life…it reminds us of what we are to be about. It keeps the brilliance of the Treasure that is Christ before us.
Four: The privilege of obedience
Jesus told his church to baptise people. I wonder if part of His thinking was so that we would get to the experience the joy of last Sunday on a regular basis. Making disciples is not a chore….it’s not a calling designed to crush us…it’s not a burden...it’s a joy, it’s a privilege. Jesus invites us to participate in His work of breathing new life into and upon people. And I wonder if He gives us baptism as a little window of understanding into how our Heavenly Father must feel. He tells us, doesn’t he…of the rejoicing in heaven each time someone turns to Him.
Will you join me in praying that the joy of baptism will become a regular part of our life at Neighbourhood.