John 19 25-27

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John 1:9-13, John 19:25-27

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The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

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He was in the world, and though the worldwas made through him, the world did not recognize him.

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He came to that which was his own, but his own did notreceive him.

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Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become childrenof God—

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children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

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Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

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WhenJesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, "Woman, here is your son,"

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and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Brothers and sisters,How many of you here have a facebook account? Show of hands?I really don’t have to ask the question because I have a facebook account and I have most of you who have a facebook account on it.Except the people at home – who might be feeling a little left out – but you can put your hand up too – nobody’s looking.For those of you who don’t know – Facebook is a socialnetworking website on the internet – what it lets you do is keeptrack of all your friends and family so that you can share picturesand messages and keep up to date quickly.With it I’m able to see in a matter of moments some pictures froma church activity, the songs that our young people are listening to, Ican keep track of what a colleague in New Jersey is preaching rightnow, and find out that my sister back in Ottawa is going to have a baby and send her a message of congratulations all in about 2minutes.All of a sudden I can keep track of what everybody is doing andnot lose contact – it’s pretty cool to be able to see all theserelationships in this way – which is why Facebook is so popular and I think incredibly useful when used wisely.Yet one of the things that we notice in this world is that despite allthis new technology. Even though we have telephones andairplanes and yes even facebook – as much as we’re able to reach

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out across the globe and find out what everyone is doing – it’s stillvery easy to feel alone – to feel disconnected.You ever feel like that. I mean – even without technology – youcan be in a place filled with people and not feel like you’re withanyone. It’s not good but it’s real isn’t it. Feeling disconnected.This morning what I’d like to suggest as we think about theScripture and about Rose’s baptism is that what we are trying to dowith technology – won’t solve the problem – but what it does do isremind us that we’re longing for something.We’re longing for connection – and what I want to explore is theChristian faith as a means of re-connecting.And the first thing that we see as we think about our faith andabout the Word of God before us is that –

I. We are reconnected by the story of Christ.

That’s what we’re doing here this morning as we celebrate together Rose’s baptism. This is more than just a rite of passage or a namingritual within the church. This is, in fact, a very old drama that ismeant to communicate meaning – not only to her – but also to allof us who witness it.We like to call baptism, within our Reformed tradition, a sign – avisible representation of what it is Jesus came to this world to do.Baptism is like a painting – not with paint – but with water thatallows our minds to connect to the Word of God – a symbol thatallows us to experience grace in a very powerful and wonderfulway.

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And one of the things this very old drama, this painting with water,this sign communicates is the washing away of sins.This smaller drama of baptism goes on within the larger drama of history and within it we see this story of humanity and sin being played out. We understand that human beings through Adam andEve have fallen. We find out that their fallen-ness is hereditary, thatit’s infectious. And that the sin that has entered the world remainswith us.And because that sin remains with us – we are – to use a Hebrewterm – unclean.Listen to Titus 3:5

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[Jesus] saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,This is where Jesus comes in – because part of his story – part of what he came here to do was to answer this larger drama of sin. Hecame to clean the world up – clean the mess that we continue tomake. He came to make people who were unclean by the effects of sin – clean by the effects of his sacrifice…And this story goes much deeper – because it not only deals withthe reality of sin and how Jesus gets rid of it – it also tells us aboutthe results of sin and how they are eliminated. Included in thisdrama of cleansing we also see death and resurrection.Water is a dangerous thing. Not only does it bring refreshment,cleansing and life – but it can also represent danger, destruction,and death. We see it in the storm, and in the flood, and in the tides.In the Old Testament water is both celebrated and feared.

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