Meditation 230
1 Peter 3: 18-22
On Tuesday we looked at a reading in Genesis that told of the rainbow being a symbol of God’s promise. God had given a promise to Noah that God would put aside the option of destruction and that God would seek people out as those who were dearly loved. There would be a second chance given to all creation to be in harmony with God’s plan. God had made a promise to not destroy, and so children, women and men would have the opportunity to live in covenant with God.
Our reading in 1 Peter is a reminder that Jesus has also made it possible for us to abide under God’s loving covenant. As the waters of the flood swept away the disorder that had at one time marked creation, so in Jesus the waters of baptism are an appeal to God for a good conscience. The word translated appeal is eperotema, which was the term for the pledge baptismal candidates made to resist the evil forces that rebel against God. This is still part of our observance of baptism. In the order of baptism that is in the Book of Common Worship, this question is put to the candidates for baptism or the parents of infant candidates. “Trusting in the gracious mercy of God who has been faithful to us in all generations, do you turn away from sin, renounce all evil powers in the world which rebel against God or oppose God’s rule of justice and love? To which the answer is “I renounce them.”
This passage in 1 Peter reminds us that baptism is an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism is an earthly action with a heavenly meaning, it is an action that points to something bigger than itself. Baptism is a reminder to us of the new life that we have because of the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus was more than any of the others sent by God who pointed to the ways of God. Jesus was the one who stood up for truth, who taught people what they needed to know and who faced down the power of sin and death, and who, by his resurrection conquered the power of sin and death. We have life with God through Jesus.
This week we have entered the season of Lent, a journey of preparation for the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. As we walk that journey, we may take time to ponder the great truths that are ours because we are part of the family of God. One of these truths is the appeal to God for a good conscience, an appeal that we know will be granted. We can trust that the appeal will be granted because it is made through Jesus, who had shown himself to be reliable and who is at the right hand of God.