Reflection: Like It Never Even Happened (January 13, 2013)

The Baptism of Our Lord
Isaiah 43:1-7; Romans 6:1-11; Luke 3:15-22


The current advertising campaign of the cleaning and restoration company Servpro features the slogan "Helping make fire and water damage 'like it never even happened.'" If you've ever experienced the misfortune of water or fire damage, you know that Servpro is making an impossible claim. While they may be able to repair and restore the physical damage caused by a disaster, they could never make things in life the same as they were before the damage. The effects of the hardships, stress, hurt, inconvenience, expenses, insecurities, etc. that are part of the experience of a water or fire disaster remain long after the clean up and restoration is complete.

Fire and water are powerful forces, but friendly fire and water can be serene and relaxing. We build fireplaces in our homes more for effect than for heat. We love to visit the beach and take in the sights and sounds of the ocean. But when fire and water grow wild, there are few forces in nature that are more destructive. The destroying power of water in floods, hurricanes, and tsunamis is incredible. The ravages of wild fires are apocalyptic. Destructive fire and water leave their mark. But so do the positive powers of fire and water. Fire that is harnessed is used in many ways, including to purify things that have been contaminated. Water is essential to life; our whole world depends upon water to survive. Fire and water are integral to our lives—physically and spiritually.

John the Baptist warned people about the “unquenchable fire” of the Judgment. He called them to escape that fire by being baptized in repentance with water. He also spoke about the power of Baptism to cleanse us of our sins when he proclaimed that the greater Baptism of Jesus would include the Holy Spirit and fire. His descriptions of Baptism fill the prophecy of Isaiah with rich meaning for us: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through waters, I will be with you … when you walk through fire you shall not be burned.” The fire and water of Baptism bring new life in Jesus. They purify those who have rebelled against God through the destructive sins of thoughts, words, and actions. We have passed through the waters of Baptism and been purified in His refining fire. Our sin, all of it, has been purged by His grace—like it never even happened.

Audio file of the sermon "Like It Never Even Happened"