Is Baptism relevant to daily life? I fear the answers, like “it’s a custom,” “it’s nice for children” (like the Easter Bunny), “it’s fire insurance,” and such drivel. Surprisingly, Baptism, not the mere ritual but the real working of God’s Word in our grubby lives, is relevant for a surprising reason. You see suffering in a hopeful way.
At first reading, the third penitential psalm is from a person who is physically very sick, and the butt of slander and schemes from everyone around him. “There is no soundness in my flesh. There is no health in my bones. My wounds stink and fester. My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague” (Psalm 38:3-5, 11). We identify with the poor guy’s plea, “Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation” (verse 22).
More reflectively, this psalm is about us. When trouble comes, there seem to be only two ways forward, hope or despair. Despair was not the psalmist’s final word, but hope. “For you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.” (verse 15). We ministers should always encourage hope, but if we don’t analyze suffering, you’re getting pablum instead of the substance you need to get through hard times.
Whatever your hurt, death is still coming, but when it does, your suffering will be over, and you’ll no longer sin. You won’t be annihilated, cease to exist, but you will come into the full possession of what God has prepared for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). But right now, in bad times? Read Psalm 38 not about some guy long ago, but about you and Jesus. Jesus was rejected, even by His disciples. His soul “was very sorrowful, even to death” (Mark 14:34). And that prayer, “O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath!”? God did reject Jesus so that God will never reject you. Jesus was rejected and died so that your afflictions are momentary (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). “You have borne the pain of all” (Lutheran Service Book, 423:1).
In the night of hurt, meditate on Who is carrying your awful load with and for you. “You were buried with Christ by baptism into death” (Romans 6:4). Baptism’s mysteriously puts you there, sorrowful to death with Jesus. And Baptism leads you to know Easter is coming, no more death, no more mourning, no more crying, no more pain. Joy comes in the morning, you know? (Revelation 21:4; Psalm 30:5).
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