This is like part two of if you want to walk on water, expect a storm.
It’s about the storms that Jesus calmed – and it asks the question – what is it about Jesus and water?
if you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend doing that – either now or after this one.
What is it about Jesus and Water – part 2?
This is what the “original” baptizer, John the Baptist, had to say about water baptism and Jesus –
Lk 3:16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Oh. From water to the Holy Spirit and fire.
Of course, Jesus was first baptized – with water – by John.
The Baptism of Jesus
Mt 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
Mt 3:15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
Mt 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Now – we are baptized with water – in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All inclusive.
But the water – it’s still there.
And there’s still that Jesus and water thing going on.
Don’t believe it?
The beatitudes includes this statement –
Mt 5:11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
And when Jesus sent out His disciples, among other things, He told them this –
Mt 10:17 “Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Mt 10:21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
And, when His disciples asked about the “End Times”, Jesus told them this –
Mt 24:4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Mt 24:9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Gee. Doesn’t all of that sound just wonderful?
And yet, they are things that we should all want to do after we make the choice to be baptized.
The Great Commission
Mt 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Yes – this is what we all signed up for.
Willingly.
By our own choice.
At some point during the storms, we wonder –
was this a really good idea?
Can we really do this?
And, like the previous article on the topic of walking on water – there’s something to remember (although it’s a different thing here, so you still need to read the other one) –
Often, people think the Bible tells us that God will never give us more than we can bear.
Context – that’s not really what it says.
Jesus’ own disciples, except one, died horrible deaths. Even the exception – John- was boiled in oil, but it did not kill him. John died in exile in a tiny little cave on the island of Patmos. I’ve been in that cave – it really is tiny. And in spite of the beautiful surroundings, none of them can be seen from that cave.
No – what the Bible really teaches us is that with God, all things are possible.
That’s where the Holy Spirit comes in –
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
Jn 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
Jn 14:22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
Jn 14:23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
Jn 14:25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
And just in case that’s not clear enough, there’s the thing Jesus told His disciples when they asked how could anyone possibly be saved.
Mt 19:25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Mt 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Conclusion
So, if you chose to be baptized, you did sign up for a water adventure with Jesus.
The intensity of that experience is pretty much up to us.
Should we choose to do nothing – there may not be any experience beyond the actual baptism.
Maybe we get involved a little. For those who remember, maybe an “A ticket” ride. Google that if you don’t know what it means.
Getting really involved – prepare for the “E Ticket” ride.
And whatever else – do not forget the things pointed out here in these two articles that Jesus said.
Jesus and the Holy Spirit are the only hope we have for completing the water adventure successfully.
I found that out. And while I may get down on myself for not always remembering, I also have to consider that Peter was in the same place. More than once.
Something for you to remember too.
Maybe not about about me,
But certainly about Peter.
Have a great ride!
Hope to see you at the end.