All Water

Tuesday in Epiphany 5
9 February 2010

Some years ago, the inclusion of Luther's flood prayer in the baptismal liturgy of the LCMS caused some consternation. Unaware that Luther loved, and perhaps even authored the flood prayer, someone cast doubt upon its orthodoxy. While, of course, Luther is not above the suspicion of false teaching, it is not likely that this prayer, used as it was in Lutheran baptismal rites from 1523, is subject to that suspicion. It is hard to imagine what someone might have objected to in the prayer, referring as it does to the types of baptism in the Old Testament. Noah and his family were saved through water (1Pt 3:20). The people of Israel were rescued when the waters of the Red Sea were parted. The threat of hard-hearted Pharaoh and his chariots was extinguished when the Lord closed the canyon of water-sided cliffs to its place (Heb 11:29). What's not to like?

These Old Testament uses of water by God to bring death and grant life are types of the New Testament gift of baptism. All waters are gracious flood and a lavish washing away of sin. Water is a single thing. It flows toward its lowest level. In other words, it runs down hill to where the rest of the water is. Despite all the legal squabbles about water rights, the water doesn't belong to anyone, it just flows away joining itself to the sea, evaporating and condensing into precipitation in a never ending and life-supporting cycle (Is 55:10-11). Water is water, no matter what else happens to it. This is why all waters have potential as a lavish (there is so much of it!) washing away of sin. The crystal clear water of a high altitude lake in a Colorado mountain pass is the same water that is scooped out of a wadi near the Dead Sea, hundreds of feet below sea level. There is one water and thus but one baptism; water and baptism both from one God. Water flows into the church's font from the Jordan. It's the same water.

Water can drown. It can sustain life. When the Lord baptizes He is killing through downing, slaying death. He who called Lazarus to life raises us to a life that cannot die. The water of baptism gives a life that is lived. We live in baptism by daily killing the old Adam, through contrition and repentance. We do not fear this daily killing because we are people that have been raised to newness of life. The life which is given by Christ can be killed but never die. We who live and believe in Christ will never die.

Tertullian

"How many are the pleadings of nature, how many the privileges of grace, how many the solemnities of discipline, the figures, the preparations, the prayers, which have ordained the sanctity of water? First, indeed, when the people set unconditionally free (Ex 8:25, 28, 10:10, 11, 24), escaped the violence of the Egyptian king by crossing over through water, it was water that extinguishedthe king with his entire force (Ex 14:27-30). What figure is more manifestly fulfilled in the sacrament of baptism? The Gentiles are set free from the worldby means of water. The devil, their old tyrant, they leave quite behind, overwhelmed in the water.

"Again, water is restored from its defect of 'bitterness' to its native grace of 'sweetness' by the treeof Moses (Ex 15:24-25). That tree was Christ in Himself, the veins of once envenomed and bitter nature converting them into the all-saving waters of baptism. This is the water which flowed continuously down for the people from the 'accompanying rock;' for if Christ is 'the Rock,' without doubt we see baptism blest by the water in Christ. 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 is Himself baptized in water (Mt 3:13-17). He inaugurates in water the first basic displays of His power, when invited to the nuptials (Jn 2:1-11). He invites the thirsty, when He makes a discourse, to His own eternal water (Jn 7:37-38). He approves, when teaching concerning love, among works of love, the cup of water offered to a poor child (Mt 10:42). He recruits His strength at a well (Jn 4:6). He walks over the water (Mt 14:25). willingly crosses the sea (Mk 4:36); ministers water to His disciples (Jn 13:1-12). Onward even to the passion does the witness of baptism last. While He is being surrendered to the cross, water intervenes. Witness Pilate's hands (Mt 27:24). When He is wounded, from His side bursts forth water. Witness the soldier's lance (Jn 19:34)!"

Tertullian, On Baptism, 9