I recently visited the Jordan River with members of our church. The river separates Israel from the country of Jordan, and the road leading to the river has minefields on both sides. Standing in the water between the minefields I found a spot of hope.
Our group visited a site on the Jordan River where John the Baptist may have baptized Jesus. Rev. April Johnson Bristow from our church and I climbed into the water and helped a few brave souls remember their baptism by submerging them in the 50 degree water. Incidentally, April is tough. She spent the whole time in the water without a wetsuit!
Baptism gives hope, reminding us of our identity as children of God, and baptism in the Jordan has particular symbolic significance. The water in the Jordan flows into the Dead Sea where nothing can live and serves as a metaphor for God’s forgiveness “washing away” our sins.
About a week after we returned from Israel, our tour guide posted a photo from where we had been that gave me another image of hope from the Jordan River. On the day of his photo Christians on both sides of the river gathered for a joint worship service. Mines lay everywhere else along the bank, but here at this spot faith in Christ brought people from both countries together for a common purpose.
Faith in Christ has the power to transcend so many differences, to bring people together in peace, and to give hope. May my faith and yours be that kind of faith.
See you Sunday!
Rich
Rev. Rich Rindfuss
Access Pastor
First United Methodist Church Richardson