Lenten Midweek Sermon 1 - Baptismal Waters Cover Me - 2020

Sing Stanzas 1 & 2

1. Baptismal waters cover me

As I approach on bended knee;

    My Father’s mercy here I plead,

    For grievous sins of thought and deed.

2. I look to Christ upon the tree,

His body broken there for me;

    I lay before Him all my sin,

    My darkest secrets from within.

Homily 1

Jesus said: ““Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.””

To quote Boromir from the Lord of the Rings: “One does not simply walk into Mordor.” Likewise, one does not simply walk into heaven. It’s pearly gates are guarded by more than angels. God is ever watchful. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of God. 

The way by which we enter into God’s kingdom is through the baptismal waters in which we are reborn from above. You dear Christian have been reborn in the waters of baptism, by which you have the right to declare: “Baptismal waters cover me!” Thus, we approach the kingdom of heaven on bended knee and plead of our heavenly Father’s mercy. On account of our grievous sins of thought, word, and deed, we have no right to enter heaven. But because we are covered in those baptismal waters and adopted into the family, we get to declare entrance as heirs.

But even as heirs, when we stand at the gates to heaven we don’t point to ourselves, not our hearts nor our hands, since we’ve been covered in those glorious baptismal waters. Instead the one we point to is Christ, the Son of Man who was lifted up upon the tree of the cross. “Whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.” “We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” 

Therefore my friends, look to Christ upon the tree and His body broken there for thee. Boast not in your own merits or worthiness, but look to Christ. Forsake all hope in yourself! Instead, lay your sins and darkest secrets before Him. Behold! He takes them from you, and bears their burden on the tree! In their stead He places His yoke upon you which is easy and light, He clothes you in the yoke, the water of baptism.

Sing Stanzas 3 & 4

3. Lord, may Your wounded hand impart

Your healing to my broken heart;

    Your love alone can form in me

    A heart that serves You joyfully.

4. From Your own mouth comes forth a word;

Your shepherd speaks, but You are heard;

    Through him Your hand now stretches out,

    Forgiving sin, destroying doubt.

Homily 2

Just as Christ lays His yoke of those baptismal waters upon us, so does He lay His wounded hand upon our heads which imparts healing to our broken hearts. Christ does this really and truly even now! Just as our Lord sent out His apostles in His stead and by His command, so does Christ continue to send out His servants in His stead and by His authority today. Christ sends pastors.

Those grievous sins, those darkest secrets from within: their burden need not weigh you down any longer. That aching guilt, shame, and regret which keeps you up at night; that nagging sensation which irritates you to anger: those heavy sins Christ wants to take from you. So through His pastors today Christ lays His wounded hand upon your head to impart healing to your broken heart.

While you might only hear the human undershepherd’s voice and see the pastor’s hand, it is Christ’s mouth who opens and His hand who heals. When those beautiful words of comfort are spoken “I forgive you all of your sin,” it is Jesus who forgives sin, it is Jesus who destroys doubt.

As adopted children, born again of the water and the Spirit, covered in the baptismal waters of Christ’s righteousness, you have the authority as children to cry out to God your Father for healing and forgiveness, to take away your sins and guilt; you have the right to enter into the house and beg for mercy. Because those baptismal waters cover you, you have the right and the privilege to confess your sins to Jesus and hear that those specific sins are forgiven you from Christ’s own lips. 

Thus you are set free from sin and death by Christ’s wounded hands! Those strong arms hold you in the Father’s embrace! With joy you are covered in baptismal waters. So let every Christian’s Joyous rally cry be: Baptismal waters cover me! Let us sing now that final stanza with gladness in our hearts:

Stanza 5

5. Baptismal waters cover me;

Christ’s wounded hand has set me free.

    Held in my Father’s strong embrace,

    With joy I praise Him for His grace.

Text: © 2003 Kurt E. Reinhardt, LSB 616, Baptismal Waters Cover Me