Ezekiel 36:25-28 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. --KJV In the name of the One Who sprinkled us with clean water, amen.
Yesterday we considered two views of Baptism and noted that those who understand Baptism is God’s work have no problem baptizing infants. But someone might ask, “Where in the Bible does it say that Baptism is God’s work?” Well, there are a number of places, but one of the most interesting is this prophecy in Ezekial. It was prophecies like this that caused the people to question why John the Baptizer was baptizing. The people recognized baptism was connected with the Messiah. They saw that it was God who would do the sprinkling.
This evening when you go to church to celebrate the fulfillment of the Passover in Christ, listen carefully to the historic Gospel lesson from John 13. Consider the words of Jesus to St. Peter “Anyone who has had a bath only needs to wash his feet and he is clean.” Remember that you have been bathed in Baptism. You need only have Jesus wash your feet in absolution and you are clean. Then, in the office of Holy Communion when the pastor says, “Lift up your hearts,” lift up your heart of stone to God, and He will replace it with a heart of flesh. Know that Your Lord’s body and blood that you receive in the Holy Supper is the first fruits of the heavenly banquet. All this is yours because God has sprinkled you with clean water, and you are clean. Amen.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You came to sprinkle us with clean water so that we are clean. Now wash our feet sins we have sinned and need your forgiveness. Take our hearts of stone and give us hearts of flesh that are open to Your word. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, and bless us as we receive Your body and blood, amen.
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