Grace Notes 2025-04-09

Continuing last week’s discussion of the Lutheran Reformers’ retention of the Mass and the important furnishings in liturgical worship, this week we will focus on the Baptismal Font. Last week I wrote of the connection the font, pulpit, and altar had with the Word of God. So, this week we will contemplate the correlation with the font.

Perhaps the clearest connection is the passage from Ephesians 5:26 where the Apostle Paul writes “[Christ sanctified the church], having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.” Paul is describing how Christ, the bridegroom, is able to present the church, His bride, to Himself “in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”

When the Apostle Peter writes that baptism saves us (1 Peter 3:21) he understands the rite of baptism to be instrumental in delivering the gift of salvation Christ won for us in His death on the cross. Baptism is one of the ways chosen by Christ to deliver His gift to us. The other ways include the preaching of the Gospel, the absolution pronounced in confession, and Holy Communion. All these ways of bringing His gift to us are vitally connected with and are expressions of God’s Word!

Jesus submitted to the rite of baptism, in His words, “to fulfill all righteousness.” He was obedient in everything required of us by God. When He spoke to the Pharisee, Nicodemus, Hespoke of the necessity of being born of water and the Spirit in order to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5). And during His resurrection appearance over the course of 40 days, Jesus commanded the Apostles to make disciples by baptizing and catechizing (Matthew 28:19-20). He also promised “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved (Mark 16:16).

Baptism is the beginning of a way of life involving daily repentance. By faith we clutch the promise given us in baptism. How fitting that liturgical worship starts at the font!

Since You Asked

What are we observing on “The Sunday of the Passion”? 

To many this day is known simply as Palm Sunday. And indeed, the prelude to Jesus’ final week begins with his triumphal entry into Jerusalem which involved a procession of Palms and shouts of joy. And yet, Jesus knows full well what lies ahead. He will be wounded and killed. He knows that blood will be spilled and flow from His head, hands, feet, and side. He knows his death on the cross will bring about a great victory over sin, death, and the devil. The horror of being severely wounded lies ahead, and yet he will not be deterred. It is for this purpose that He has come into this world.

In remembering his joyful and triumphant entry, we realize the irony of crowds that one week hail Him as King, and the next week cry “Crucify Him!” Palm Sunday is the prelude to the Cross in which all the events of the rest of the week participate.