paradoxum

Maybe the parting of the Red Sea?

Hey David...good to see you again. I hope all is well. The Red Sea is an interesting comment. Actually, the Red Sea is mentioned in the NT in correspondence to Baptism - 1 Cor. 10:1-3. Some might suggest that Baptism corresponds to the Israelites passing through the Red Sea.

I was actually thinking in another direction...

Off the top of my head, I thought of the Red Sea as well. I'll have to think some more.

Maybe circumcision? They are identifiers with the people of God.

Okay, here was my thinking:

Two memorials in the OT that correspond to the Greatest OT redemptive event (the Exodus): Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Two memorials in the NT that correspond to the Greatest NT redemptive event (cross & resurrection): Lords Supper and Baptism.

If the Lord's Supper corresponds to Passover...then why wouldn't Baptism correspond to the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

I mean, one could make the case that the Feast of Unleavened Bread is ultimately about purity in that leaven is often associated with Sin and Baptism...if it stands for nothing else symbolizes the washing away of our sins. Further, they didn't put leaven in the bread because they didn't want to be slowed down...as sin weighs us down and entangles us.

I'm just wondering...it seems like an obvious connection and yet, I don't think I've ever heard it. The implications for the meaning of Baptism and what it corresponds to are interesting.

I think I see what you are saying. I'd never heard it that way either.

The liturgy in the UM Hymnal, the Episcopal BCP and others basically lists several different water illusions:

1-The nurturing water of the womb.
2-The parting of the Red Sea (and God's salvation of Israel as a direct result).
3-The baptism of Christ.

I like this "trinity" of illusions for the following reasons:

1-Water is necessary to life.
2-Water takes on many different forms and shapes.
3-Christ was obedient in baptism.

As a sacrament, I believe God works through baptism to show us a tanglble sign of new birth.

Hey Dan, good to hear from you. You know, I certainly like that imagery as well. I'm just wondering why I've never seen anyone connect Baptism to the feast of unleavened bread. Probably for one of the reasons you suggest here...there is no WATER used in that feast. However, during that feast time (it was a 7 day feast) they did pass through the waters of the dead sea.

So, the water of the Red sea coupled with the purification suggested by not having leaven could strengthen the connection of the feast with Baptism.

Here's the thing: some denominations readily connect baptism to circumcision. It seems to me that this feast is a much clearer correspondence to Baptism than circumcision. Why does it get overlooked?

I just realized what looks different over "here". YOU FOUND YOUR "a" IN YOUR NAME!

Why'd you drop the apostrophe?

Well...when I turned 42 I felt older...but when I turned 43...I knew I wasn't hip enough to have a cool name. I like my A and wanted it back...;)

You are the FIRST person to notice! I need to give you some kind of prize or something.

Thank GAWD you never picked up a pair of oh-so-hip-and-trendy glasses (you didn't, did you??); it might hurt to trade them in for CVS readers (and shave the goatee in penance, too).

Strangely, you wanting your A back reminded me of P Diddy...and (the artist formerly known as) Prince, and maybe most bizarre of all, Justin Timberlake (he never lost letters, apparently just his "sexy"). Yeah, I said it was strange.

Mostly I commented again because I heard someone mentioning a prize. I'm waiting!

:)