Reflectionary XIV

The LORD sits enthroned above the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as King for evermore.

In this week's lectionary, we read of the baptism of Christ.

Psalm 10, referenced above, is mostly about "The Voice of the Lord." Nature is moved by, creation bends to his voice.

The same voice that said "Let there be light," is the same that said "This is my Beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased." In Genesis: "It was good." In the Gospels: "I am pleased."

God's first act of creation was Good. It was satisfactory. It was up to specifications. The plan was proceeding. But "good" does not mean that God was "pleased" . . . yet.

The New Testament is God's second major act of creation. Using His mastery of nature and of human history, He directed events until His Son could be born. Now as a grown man, Jesus first steps out, The Second Adam, in every way like Adam our original father. Now as the First Adam could represent all of humanity, so too could the Second Adam. And in Jesus' first action as an adult, his decisions and movements are pleasing to God, His Father, and ours.

Adam was good, but did not please our Father.

And the baptism scene itself reminds us that God was working above the water, even as he stirred up the oceans when the earth was first created. Water is an important element of these two major creative acts of God. It's interesting that God launches each testament, via water.