Water and Fire

In the beginning there was water before there was light...
The ruach/spirit/breath of G-d hovered over the waters.
Have you ever pondered the significance of water?
Seriously, though, it doesn't really take a rocket scientist or Ross medical student to understand that you must have H20 to live. Water is essential to life. The majority of the world is covered in water. Living in Dominica, the land of 365 rivers, is truly a blessing knowing that this particular land has been blessed with life. Many of us read statistics and articles online regarding people living in other parts of the world who have no access to clean drinking water. While this might seem unfathomable to a Westerner, people who spend absurd amounts of cash on bottled water, the truth of the matter is that water is the most precious gift of life on the planet.
Thus, it comes as no surprise to me that so much of the biblical narrative revolves around water.
The rivers in the garden of Eden... Noah's Ark... Jacob's well... the dividing of the Red Sea... the crossing of the Jordan River... and Jesus, speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well while revealing that He is the source of Living Water...
In Leviticus, we read about the ritual purification by the priests when approaching the Lord's tabernacle. Later on, the ritual of cleansing oneself became a defining feature throughout the Jewish world. Washing cups, utensils and hands were done with deliberate and seemingly meticulous measures for appearing before a holy G-d.
Mikveh, a Hebrew word which describes a collection of a body of water(s), also known as the "womb of the world," was an important ritual during the 1st century. Mikveh's were special Jewish baths requiring living water which were all around the temple and local synagogues in Ancient Israel.
The mikveh was used for women after their menstruation cyle, men after nocturnal emissions, men and women after sex, those with any bodily discharges, people with skin infections, one whose body touched a corpse, somone who ate meat from an animal that died naturally, the priest who placed his hands upon the scapegoat during Yom Kippur, the chosen one who led out the goat, and for converts from the pagan world to Judaism. It is important to note that mikveh washings/immersions were not about following a health code, althouth that is obviously implied with many of these factors listed above. The main reason for mikveh was for spiritual and ritual purification, as if one was re-approaching the holy Lord, YHWH! However, the most important feature in mikveh was one of the most crucial and fantastic Jewish practices to exist throughout all of history.
T'SHUVAH...
This Hebrew word means "to turn" and it's the word we use for repent! In Greek, the word means to change one's mind.
I like the Hebrew word better as it speaks of a mind, body, heart and soul TURN back to the Lord. Turning from one's sins, becoming aware and owning up to wrongdoings, evil and injustice in the world, moving back to the Father was necessary for mikveh!
In Luke 3, we read that John the Baptist came preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgivness of sins. John, as seen through the context of the 1st century was probably an Essene (separatist group of pious individuals who fled pagan society for reform and holiness). Essenes were mikveh junkies, so to speak. What we, as modern day Christians, have failed to see through studying John's baptism as it applies to modern day baptisms in Christian churches, is that John was not doing anything new. John was practicing mikveh!
People were coming out of the cities to hear this message of one preaching in the wilderness, and many were cut to the core b/c they had fallen away from the teaching of G-d. Luke quotes Isaiah 40, describing the scene of the coming out of exile, the hope of Israel and the dawn of a new age which flows for many chapters culminating in a whole new world under the promised Messiah.
John was simply preparing the way, making the rough places smooth, as was normal when a king came to town.
So, what does water have to do with preparing the way?
EVERYTHING!
Water is central to life.
Water was there in the beginning, during the fall, the exodus, the temple cleansings and so on...
Water is about new beginnings.
But we must see this picture of water with John and the coming Messiah in terms of its proper context, and this specific context has always been about T'SHUVAH, turning back to G-d.
I dig John's passion, his boldness, and his ability to speak the truth, not necessarily "in love" either. He's all about the truth, and nothing but the truth, shouting, "You brood of vipers!" I can't imagine telling a bunch of people that they are going to get wacked by an ax, thrown into the fire, and that the wrath of G-d is upon them!
WOW! I don't know if I really want that job b/c it seems to me that I would probably be fired after my first message. Yet, John was more concerned about his role in preparing the way for his beloved nation, Israel.
No more bragging rights about being a child of Abraham... G-d means business!
And, of course, the people knew that the Lord was serious b/c they knew their story book very well. If the people continued to live in certain ways, specific things would begin to happen. It's written all throughout the prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures.
"What must we do?" asked the people!
John's response... basically... act justly... don't cheat someone... share... be generous... don't do someone wrong... basic justice issues! If G-d's people were living lives of injustice, odds are, they were not connected to the source of life, the vine, G-d! His repentance message was clearly about bearing fruit. If you aren't filled with love, joy, peace, patience, etc., then you are not really repentant!
John reminded the people that he came to baptize with water, preparing people, getting hearts turned back. Yet, the big part of the story came next. John mentioned the Messiah, who will baptize with fire and with the Holy Spirit.
So, we have talked about water. But what about fire?
What about fire and the Holy Spirit?
Fire, a source of light, is also necessary for life. We must have light to see! This picture of fire and the Holy Spirit has really intrigued me lately. G-d is seen in scripture through the picture of fire.
the burning bush... the fire above Sinai... pillar of fire at night...
But fire is also seen as a picture of judgment, D-day! Fire is a picture of Gehenna/hell, the city dump, where children were once sacrificed to pagan gods. We often have a difficult time with speaking about the judgment of G-d. I think it is best to see the judgment of G-d s his love for the world b/c G-d only wants what's best for his creation. Judgment is really all about love and purification.
And, fire is also seen as something which refines and purifies elements.
John described the Messiah as the one will will separate the wheat from the chaff, the person responsible for judgment.
Jesus, the Rabbi from Nazareth is then seen coming into the scene being baptized through mikveh in the Jordan River. Heaven was ripped open and the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove. A voice from the heavens said, "You are my son whom I love am am well pleased."
The ministry of Jesus is more than water. It's more than ritual cleansing. But before we can begin talking about the power through the Holy Spirit and the implications upon our current communities, we must get down to the business of water, indeed.
Mikveh/water ritual cleansing is all about repentance. If we want any action on the movement of the Holy Spirit, we need to get serious about what it means to "prepare the way." To "prepare the way" of the Lord's movement within our families, communities and nations, we need leaders of all kinds willing to not only talk about repentance, but ones willing to set the example and begin doing so in order for real fruit to bear on our current defiled soil.
If John the Baptist came to our homes and our church, what would he see?
Would he see a bunch of Christians saying, "We are cool. We have made a profession, said a prayer and are all good!" How similar are we, N. American Christians, to the Jews living in the 1st century who thought that all they needed was a Hebrew National Card when dealing with G-d?
If we belong to G-d, we must represent G-d. And, if we represent G-d, this means we need to look at every area of our life, and see what hasn't been turned over to Him.
Bottom line: What are your golden calves?
Have you turned the following over to G-d? Finances, future, sexuality, family, local community, global responsiblities, adversaries, disciplines, leisure time, work, studies, friendships, speech, material possessions, etc.? This isn't about guilty manipulation. This is about being clean!
Water is beautiful. Water is imperative to life. When we think through or possibly begin to practice mikveh, leading up to the preparation of G-d's movement through Jesus in our midst, let's be reminded of the pure, cleansing flood that has washed over us, making us whole again.
Jesus said that HE was the LIVING WATER!
Through him, we have been buried with him through baptism/mikveh, and raised to walk in a new kind of life through a brand new womb, becoming new children headed for greatness in the kingdom of heaven.
And after water, comes FIRE! But this kind of fire sets the world a blaze with a gospel message of liberation, grace, healing, loving kindness, justice, mercy, forgiveness and compassion for all creation. We, those connected to Jesus, the Messiah, are empowered to carry the torch, becoming the light of the world. And, this new light gives light to all humakind b/c light will always outshine the darkness.
Know this... fire can be frightening. Remember, kids, don't play with fire!!! But when handled with care, fire can be tremendously useful and powerful for goodness.
Fire and Water... part of life, integrated into life and always at work!
Remember your baptism daily. Remember your dying to self, the need to repent and turn on a daily basis, and fully coming back to G-d in every area of your life. Remember the fire that burns deep within your soul, the light of life, so that all may see and live in the shalom of YHWH. The desire of G-d's heart is that nobody should perish, but that everyone would have life to the fullest.
Let's be a part of that glorious vision of water and fire in a dark, hurting yet hope filled world in need of Jesus the Living Water and Light of the world!