French writer Henri Barbusse (1874-1935) tells of a conversation overheard in a trench full of wounded men during WWI. One of the men, who knew he only had minutes to live, says, “Listen, Dominic, you’ve led a very bad life. Everywhere you are wanted by the police. But I am about to die and there are no convictions against me. My name is clear. So here, take my wallet, take my papers and my identity. Take my good name, my life and quickly, hand me your papers that I may carry all your crimes away with me in death.”
The Good News is that through Jesus, God makes a similar offer. When we are baptized, our lives are changed and something wonderful happens. When we are baptized, we identify ourselves with Jesus. As Paul says in Romans 6, “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life.” Of course, baptism is also coupled with faith.
Join us this Sunday at 8:30 or 10am as we continue our series in the Gospel of Mark, Baptism and Calling. We are located at 1051 270th Street West, New Prague, MN. Live Streaming is available at 10:00 AM on our Facebook Page or on our Live Stream page. Everyone is welcome!
Pastor Steve Trewartha
