The gift of Holy Baptism was given by God — through His Word combined with the water He commanded — to not one, but TWO infants (Zackery and Kayley) this past September 9th, 2001, during the Divine Service at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Moncton, NB, to wash their sins away through the merits of Christ Jesus, the crucified and risen One, the Son of God and the Saviour for sinners, and in order that these little ones might have a solid foundation for a Christ-centered life of repentance and glad faith: “I believe it because God told me so, and Jesus died on the cross to make it true!“
Our Lord Jesus Christ said to His apostles, just before His Ascension:
- “Go and make disciples of all nations…” (how could we make followers of Jesus out of those who are headed in a different direction, inevitably headed anywhere but in Jesus’ direction, heading instead for sin, its shame, and its punishment?),
- “… baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit…” (Aha! GOD will do it, for we baptize with His Name and Word, at His command — He is the One at work and able even to remove sin and its shame from us!),
- “… and teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you…” (and they will be preserved and rescued through the Words of Chirst, spoken to the Church for this very purpose).
- “… And, behold, + I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (St. Matthew 28:19-20).
The + Peace of the Lord be with you always!