Comments on: exploring deep waters: a sermon on the baptism of jesus

By: isaac

isaac — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:49:11 +0000

Hi Shane, thanks for paying attention to my sermon.

By: shane fuller

shane fuller — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:43:09 +0000

Great sermon! I frequently use icons in my sermons and describe what is going on in the pictures. My community seems to really enjoy the visuals and the movements in them. I appreciate your words here and pray that God uses them in the life of your community to see Jesus as they walk through the waters of 2010!

By: isaac

isaac — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:29:52 +0000

Andrew, thanks for your readig my sermon and for your comment. Historically, Mennonites haven’t affirmed the use of icons. In fact, the Early Anabaptist ancestors of the Mennonites were part of a powerful iconoclastic movement in the 16th century. I used the icon simply because it was useful for my point, and helped my congregation focus their attention.

If you are interested in connections between the Orthodox church and the Mennonites, I recommend Thomas Finger’s project in his book, A Contemporary Anabaptist Theology.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:08:53 +0000

Very insightful thoughts on this icon. I have been going to an Orthodox (OCA) Church – not converted, at least yet – and was searching for an interpretation of this icon (a VERY similar one at least) as our Church is now celebrating our Lord’s Baptism (or Theophany), but was hardly expecting to see one from a Mennonite!

Hardly that I am opposed to that in any way. I always pray that we are all (Church Organization aside) led to the truth of our Lord. But I am curious as to your interest in Orthodox icons. And how you and/or the Mennonites view the Orthodox Church ( a Church that disagrees with the Roman Catholic Pope’s authority and many of the proclamation this Church has made since Rome severed its ties with the balance of the Christian Church between 400 and 1100 AD, but still believes in infant baptism).

By the way, I have read that, just as your sermon uses this icon to teach us about the many subtleties of this event, that this is – that is the teaching abilities and passing the message from one generation to the next – is specifically one of the reasons the Orthodox give in their arguments for the use of icons when others say they should be classified as idols and banned.

Other notes of interest:
1) I cannot make out the Olive tree with a branch cut off and an axe lying across it in the pictured icon, I’ve just read elsewhere that this is supposed to be in the theopany icon and symbolizes the breaking of the old covenant as the new one is established.
2) The spirit in the form of the dove comes forth from the unnaproachable light of God, whom cannot be pictured in an icon (this would be considered an idol) and cannot be seen by man. Therefore, we see the light bringing forth the spirit, but God while present remains out of sight.
3) The hands of Jesus form the Greek “ICXC”, which is an abbreviation of “to be”, which translates “I am”, the name of God
4) “A correction on the small figures. I found an icon in which the figures are named. One, the male, is “The Jordan”, the other, the woman with a staff is “the sea.” Thus they are figures representing the waters, all of which are blessed in Christ’s Baptism – again showing the cosmic nature of the action.” ~~taken from a blog I just found: http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2009/01/04/crushed~~dragons-in-the-waters-across-the-world/

Thanks for sharing your wonderful sermon that allows us to dwell on the wonder of this event.

By: Georgi

Georgi — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:02:01 +0000

I was looking for a picture where John lays his hands on Jesus. To bless Him? God needs no blessings from a mortal.
Do you want to know what’s the conexion between baptism of Jesus and our water baptism? This is the only way to Heaven – the straight path… if only you would believe…

By: Peter James Dyck

Peter James Dyck — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 05:35:53 +0000

I went to be like Jesus and go into deeper wateres with him,me cry is for him to hear .

By: isaac

isaac — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 18:16:33 +0000

Elizabeth,

Thanks for finding and reading my sermon.

By: Elizabeth Janson

Elizabeth Janson — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 02:24:55 +0000

I was looking for inspiration on ‘baptism’ and found your image and sermon.
Hey – John is blessing Jesus with his left hand – he has his back to us.
Used your item and made a link to my church pages at http://www.geocities.com/mallee2001/ – and then the local train got into competition with a wine tanker who lost – both retired hurt!
and provided some images for me to use.

By: Eric Lee

Eric Lee — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 19:30:00 +0000

Isaac,

Very cool about the interaction~discussion. Sounds like it would have been a good time together!

Peace,

Eric

By: isaac

isaac — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 02:17:20 +0000

Eric, I like that bit about banner of love that is the Spirit. Good call. And thanks for reading the sermon. It’s long and I know that entails quite the time commitment. The thing I am digging about the icon is that it is a wonderful way to display the movement of the text. And that also means that meaning moves with the one contemplating the icon—more readers means more illumination of treasures. At my church, after the preacher preaches, the congregation is invited to discern the Word together—and that means engaging the texts and the preacher. Well, this time it was great because folks pointed out things about the icon that I didn’t notice before.