Larry Devich
Monday, January 22, 2007
January 22, 2007 - Monday in the Third Week after Epiphany
“And his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.” (2 Kings 5:14)
Naaman is an “outsider” to Israel, the commander of the Syrian army. Thanks to the Lord, Naaman had been successful in his battles against Israel. Take a moment to ponder that fact. The Lord had granted Israel’s enemy victory! His soldiers had taken captive a young Israelite girl and brought her back like a trophy to Syria to serve as a servant to Naaman’s wife. Naaman, it turns out, also had leprosy. The stage is set.
The Israelite girl tells of the prophet Elisha who could heal Naaman’s leprosy. The enemy commander goes to Israel with his gold and silver and an entourage. After outraging the king of Israel, he winds up at Elisha’s door. The prophet doesn’t even meet him, but sends his butler with the message. “Wash seven times in the Jordan, and you will be healed.”
Naaman is outraged. There is no religious show, no hand waving, no big prayers. Just a sevenfold bath in the muddy Jordan. The rivers up north were far more clean. He stumbles over God’s ordinary ways and means. But, his servants convince him. He does what the word of the prophet said. He washes seven times in the Jordan. And his flesh was restored and became like that of a young boy. A cleansing, a healing, a rebirth!
How can water do such great things? You know the answer. It wasn’t simply Jordan river water, but the Word of God in and with the water that did these things. Not for everyone. There were lots of lepers in Israel. Only for Naaman, the outsider and enemy.
The Word of God in Baptism’s water makes it a washing of rebirth and renewal for you and for all. Like leprosy, sin is a systemic disease, invading the whole of our humanity. It renders us “unclean” and isolates us. But while we were yet outsiders and enemies, Christ died for us, and He baptized us into His death and life.
Don’t let your eyes, or your reason or senses deceive you. Baptism is not simply water. It is the water combined with God’s command and connected with His Word and His Name. Baptized, you are restored and renewed. The outsider becomes family. The enemy becomes the friend.
“All who believe and are baptized Shall see the Lord’s salvation; Baptized into the death of Christ, They are a new creation. Through Christ’s redemption they shall stand Among the glorious, heav’nly band Of ev’ry tribe and nation.” (Lutheran Service Book, #601) ¶ 1/22/2007 07:49:00 AM 0 Comments
Naaman is an “outsider” to Israel, the commander of the Syrian army. Thanks to the Lord, Naaman had been successful in his battles against Israel. Take a moment to ponder that fact. The Lord had granted Israel’s enemy victory! His soldiers had taken captive a young Israelite girl and brought her back like a trophy to Syria to serve as a servant to Naaman’s wife. Naaman, it turns out, also had leprosy. The stage is set.
The Israelite girl tells of the prophet Elisha who could heal Naaman’s leprosy. The enemy commander goes to Israel with his gold and silver and an entourage. After outraging the king of Israel, he winds up at Elisha’s door. The prophet doesn’t even meet him, but sends his butler with the message. “Wash seven times in the Jordan, and you will be healed.”
Naaman is outraged. There is no religious show, no hand waving, no big prayers. Just a sevenfold bath in the muddy Jordan. The rivers up north were far more clean. He stumbles over God’s ordinary ways and means. But, his servants convince him. He does what the word of the prophet said. He washes seven times in the Jordan. And his flesh was restored and became like that of a young boy. A cleansing, a healing, a rebirth!
How can water do such great things? You know the answer. It wasn’t simply Jordan river water, but the Word of God in and with the water that did these things. Not for everyone. There were lots of lepers in Israel. Only for Naaman, the outsider and enemy.
The Word of God in Baptism’s water makes it a washing of rebirth and renewal for you and for all. Like leprosy, sin is a systemic disease, invading the whole of our humanity. It renders us “unclean” and isolates us. But while we were yet outsiders and enemies, Christ died for us, and He baptized us into His death and life.
Don’t let your eyes, or your reason or senses deceive you. Baptism is not simply water. It is the water combined with God’s command and connected with His Word and His Name. Baptized, you are restored and renewed. The outsider becomes family. The enemy becomes the friend.
“All who believe and are baptized Shall see the Lord’s salvation; Baptized into the death of Christ, They are a new creation. Through Christ’s redemption they shall stand Among the glorious, heav’nly band Of ev’ry tribe and nation.” (Lutheran Service Book, #601) ¶ 1/22/2007 07:49:00 AM 0 Comments
