Baptism and Covenant

Baptism and Covenant

The images of baptism in the water and of the covenant (which includes the baptismal covenant) permeate through this week’s texts.

The Genesis reading takes place after Noah and his family survive the deluge, and they have arrived on dry land. God makes a covenant with Noah and his sons: “I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” God makes this covenant not only with the descendants of Noah but with all living creatures on earth. 1 Peter immediately connects the flood and this covenant as prefiguring the sacrament and covenant of baptism. Noah’s family is “saved through water” which foreshadows our own baptism which “now saves us”.

Jesus also descends into the water to be baptized, which foreshadows his own descent to the dead, which 1 Peter describes as him “He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison”. Coming up out of the waters of baptism, Jesus sees the heavens torn apart and the voice stating “This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” which also foreshadows what 1 Peter describes as “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.” For to go under the water is to die – to die to ego and to die to self – and to emerge from the water is to resurrect and enter into new life. Although Christ was sinless in the traditional sense and doesn’t need to die to the old self, he still enters into a liminal space and passes through a threshold in baptism. It not only foreshadows his crucifixion and descent to the dead in the depths of the water and his resurrection in his emergence from the waters, it also foreshadows him sitting at the right hand of the father in heaven and his continual mediation for us as a High Priest in heaven.

Let us not forget our baptism is also a covenant with God, just as the bow is God’s covenant with creation after the flood. To highlight some excerpts of the Baptismal Covenant from the Book of Common Prayer:

  • Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
  • Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
  • Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

And of course all are answered in the affirmative.

We can also see these excerpts from the Baptismal Covenant echoed in the lectionary passages. After baptism, Christ goes and proclaims the good news: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” The passage in Genesis in which God makes a covenant to preserve all living creatures and all descendants of Noah echoes justice and peace in Creation, not only among all people, but all living things as well. Christ always shows us the path to loving our neighbors as ourselves: through listening, through dialogue and communication, through healing, through helping, and through self-sacrifice, even when faced with the cross.

One last point to make: baptism and the baptismal covenant does not make the Christian life necessarily easier; in fact, it is often more difficult. After Jesus was baptized, the Spirit drove him into the desert – not even sent in Mark’s Gospel, but drove, as if without choice – and Christ had to suffer many temptations, and wild beasts for 40 days. Likewise, we may also have to face much suffering and temptations even after baptism, but let us remember what the Psalmist says: Even though there may be enemies who want to put me into shame, “All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.”

Ben Nucum is a poet and prophet who serves on the St. Benedict’s vestry and can usually be found at the 8am Sunday service.