Called to Baptism by Lawrence OP via Flicker on a Creative Commons License
It’s a long way from John’s baptism to Jesus’. It’s a long way from “Don’t be evil” to “Blessed are the peacemakers.” John baptizes with water, but Jesus baptizes with fire. John tells us to obey the law, but Jesus writes God’s law on our hearts.
That’s why we put the baptismal font at the back of the sanctuary and the cross at the front. Baptism just gets you in the door. “Don’t be evil,” is the bare minimum. The goal is a cruciform life.
John says, “Be honest and fair.” But Jesus says, “What good is it if you are good to those who are good to you, even the pagans do that!” John’s baptism is the beginning, the work of a moment. Jesus baptism is the end, the work of a lifetime.
