Talking Points with Pastor Lucas - By Water and the Word

Photo: LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford

Observing how God created and uses the element of water is a marvel to behold. Water is a fascinating part of our lives. Over 70% of the earth is covered by water. Of that, 97% is salt water and the remaining three percent is made up of fresh water. Glaciers and ice caps make up 2.4%, while lakes, rivers, and streams make up 0.6%. What’s fascinating is that there is over 33 times more fresh water under the earth than there is on top of the earth. It’s estimated Americans used about 323 billion gallons of surface water per day and about 84.5 billion gallons of ground water per day.

God’s use of water is remarkable. He created it out of nothing and yet He makes it an essential part of life. In fact, without it, there can be no life. Consider the human body. Lean muscle tissue contains about 75% water, blood contains almost 70% water, bone has 22% water, and body fat contains 10% water. Even our skin has a significant amount of water. The winter season reminds us of this when our chapped hands are longing for a little lotion, while during the summer season our sunburned skin needs some aloe.  In all, the human body is about 55% water in adult females, 60% in adult males, and 78% in infants. It’s contained in the cells of the body (intracellular fluid), in the arteries and veins (blood plasma—which my college bodies would often go and give to earn some extra cash), and in the spaces between the blood vessels and cells (interstitial fluid). The body’s water supply is responsible and involved in nearly every bodily process, including digestion, absorption, circulation, and excretion. When we eat, breathe, and use our muscles, our body creates waste products which must be eliminated. Water helps us do this. While the body can survive without food for about five weeks, the body cannot survive without water for longer than five days.

Water is everywhere, at the beginning and in the end. God created it and He can use it as He sees fit—be that to cover the earth in a worldwide flood or to sweep away Pharoah’s army. It’s sprinkled throughout the ministry of Jesus (pun intended). The water of the Jordan River is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. At the Sea of Galilee, Jesus tells Peter and Andrew to follow him. His first miracle is changing six stone jars of water into wine at the Cana wedding feast. He calms the waters of a raging storm, heals a man at the Pool of Bethesda, and walks on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus tells the woman at the well that He is the living water and those who drink of it will never thirst again. When He is dead on the cross, the spear that pierces His side draws blood and water. And the third time the resurrected Jesus appears to His disciples, they are back fishing on the Sea of Galilee.         

This resurrected Jesus tells the eleven Apostles they are to use water to make disciples. He is rather specific. They are to baptize, baptizmo—to apply water—in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teach disciples to observe all that He has commanded (Matt. 28:19-20). It is fascinating how God uses the simple element of water to help bring about such a profound reality.

In Holy Baptism, God uses the familiar element of water as a means to deliver His Word of promise. The Small Catechism answers the question of “What is baptism?”  Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s word. There is great power in the waters of baptism because God’s Word makes it so. In fact, this is the very word of God that was “in the beginning” and created water out of nothing. It reminds us that Jesus’ words of Matthew 28 are essential to baptism, delivering faith and the forgiveness of sins because it’s drenched with the power of His Word - the power to rescue and renew; the power to deliver and direct; the power to free and forgive. In fact, Scripture says “Baptism now saves you” (1 Pet. 3:21). Yes, baptism cleans the conscience of transgressions and cleanses the soul of shame. But it does so in no ordinary way.

God’s use of water is simply fascinating. The physical use of water mirrors the spiritual use. As water carries away the toxins and waste from our bodies, God uses the water and the Word of Baptism to carry away the sin and the filth of our spiritual lives. The water of baptism drowns all which is evil and all which is sinful. The Small Catechism says it this way in Baptism, Part IV, under the question, What does such baptizing with water indicate? It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Therefore, Baptism does not leave us dead and buried—rather through daily contrition and repentance it refreshes and resurrects. To be baptized is to live drenched by God’s Word. To be baptized means you are claimed as God’s very own. By water and the Word, you are His and He is yours!

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Lucas V. Woodford
MN South District President, LCMS