What’s with the Jesus in the bathtub?

When spring arrived in our area, the leaves budded, the flowers bloomed and a new crop of bathtub shrines appeared.  And we’re in the heart of the Bible Belt — not that many Catholics to speak of. Now, if you haven’t seen them, they usually are placed in the front yard for street view.  They are full sized bathtubs that are submerged in the soil, vertically, half way, with a figurine placed in the center.  This configuration is in the form of a grotto, which is an Italian word for “cave.”  Flowers and landscaping are added to some.

The primary figure is the Virgin Mary, but around here there seems to be more figures of Jesus, maybe because we are in the Bible Belt.  Sometimes they will substitute Mother or Son with their favorite saint. I don’t recall seeing anyone bowing before the tub in worship, so I’m not quite sure what the purpose is in having them.  And using a bathtub seems, well, tacky.  You would think the Son of God, or his Mom, would rate something better.

Perhaps the tub talisman is a visual reminder that we are to come clean.  No hidden sins or secrets.  No unclean living or soiled spirituality.  Many religions use such reminders in order to stay focused, so I’m not knocking it.  However, I think the best reminder is to be in each others lives, intimately, bearing one another’s burdens and teaching by example.

While there are no Biblical references to Jesus bathing, he was certainly no stranger to water.  He was baptized in it, walked on it, calmed it and changed it into wine.  One time he used a basin to wash his disciples’ feet (John 13:5).  They didn’t seem to understand why he was doing it, but he basically told them that they would figure it out later.  Some folks today have made it into a ritual, but I’m not so sure that they have really figured it out.

Peter saw the event as a service performed by a lowly servant.  So when Jesus came to him, he refused, apparently feeling that the Messiah should not stoop so low.  Jesus gently rebuked him, saying that such a refusal would eliminate Peter from service in the Kingdom of God.  Peter’s dramatic response was, “Don’t stop with my feet!”

Such passages are subject to personal interpretation.  Here’s mine.

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I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

- Jesus (John 8:12)

I love light.  When we have too many overcast days in a row, especially during winter, I can feel my inner light begin to flicker, and the cold seems that much colder.  But when the sun finally starts to peek through the clouds, it’s like God saying, “I’m back!”  I particularly enjoy it when the light bursts forth in distinct rays, like announcing a grand entrance.  Scottish theologian and author George MacDonald wrote that God gave the British so many nasty days that they might appreciate the good ones.

Jesus is often portrayed in the gospels and in Revelation as a glorious being, emanating a great light. While John of Patmos may be referring to a physical feature (Revelation 1:14,15), and likewise the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9), Jesus’ comment is of a spiritual nature.

Prior to the Son of God’s arrival, the world was in darkness.  Even the established religion of the land felt oppressive.  God felt less like a father, and more like an awesome force to tremble before.  And even with Christianity’s 2.5 billion followers, much of the world still seems in darkness.  The light of Jesus is needed now more than ever.

It’s interesting to note that he called himself the light of the world.

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Matthew 3:15  Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.

John was confused.  Why did his soon-to-be-famous cousin feel the need to be baptized?  John had a special connection with Jesus as far back as he could remember, even getting excited to learn that Jesus was in the womb next to him.  At some point he learned that it was his mission to announce the coming of the perfect Lamb of God.

John prepared the people by performing a type of Mikvah, a Jewish ritual of symbolically cleansing from sin.  They were to cast off (or repent of) the unclean things that soiled them, so that they would be ready to meet God’s one and only son, their own King of Kings.  Now he was here, standing before John, asking to be baptized.

Even though John was a confirmed Nazarite (no drinking, no haircuts, etc), he failed to see why Jesus shouldn’t be baptizing him, not the other way round. The scholars tell us that Jesus planned the event in order to kick off his ministry (dove comes down, God speaking).  They also say that this was a way for Jesus to identify with the human condition, feeling the burden of sin, yet sinless in himself.

Church leaders tell us that Jesus’ baptism was set as an example for us, that we might follow in the practice, as we do with Communion, or with healing (for our spirit-filled brethren).  From the beginning the church would struggle over reasons and modes, even splintering into cells formed on individual interpretation of scripture.

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The Bible says that we are “in the world, but not of the world.”  What does that mean?  Are we just “passing through” like the old gospel song proclaims?  Or should we get involved?  If so, just how involved should we get?

There is a growing fear with some in our country that many who have conservative values are fanning the flames of fanaticism.  Neal Gabler with the Los Angeles Times thinks that there is something terrifying happening in the nation (see Politics As Religion In America).  He writes:

Perhaps the single most profound change in our political culture over the last 30 years has been the transformation of conservatism from a political movement, with all the limitations, hedges and forbearances of politics, into a kind of fundamentalist religious movement, with the absolute certainty of religious belief.

Now, I really don’t care to write about politics, but, as a Christian, I have to ask myself, “What is my role as a citizen within the context of being a believer?”

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The heart is an amazing organ.  No bigger than your fist, it beats 100,000 times a day, pumping 2,000 gallons of blood through 60,000 miles of blood vessels — all in one person!  It’s the only muscle in your body that never gets tired.  While your brain tells your heart how much blood to pump in order to cover your activity, the heart supplies the brain with the oxygen-rich blood it needs to make decisions.

As a metaphor heart is used to designate the center of things, the seat of emotions or the measure of integrity.  In ancient times feelings were often assigned to the gut or bowels, perhaps because of the movement we feel going on inside of us.  Combined with the pace or intensity of the heartbeat, the feeling in the “pit of your stomach” was a way in which to describe the emotional state that you were in.

Intellect is the function of the brain that processes facts and sensory messages, weighs opinions and references life experiences (memories) in order to assign emotion or generate apathy.  This is also an amazing process when you consider the fact that images, sounds or stories can trigger tear ducts, cause fists to clench, make chests to feel warm, bring lumps in your throat, turn your legs to rubber or simply urge your mouth to turn up at each end.

What role does the spirit have in all of this?

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John 16:33

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Jesus told his disciples that they would be going through rough times. They would be tried and persecuted. Following him would cost them their lives. He also promised them a Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who would guide and teach them. The Spirit would take them through the persecution, and their amazing peace would draw many to Christ.

At any point in time, somewhere throughout the world, someone is experiencing the same severe treatment and facing the same death as the disciples. But the great majority of us Christians will face nothing more than personal rejection by friends and family for our faith. Yet we struggle with having real peace.

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If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

John 8:31, 32

How many who declare themselves as followers of Christ really follow him? How well do I follow him? It is not enough to merely know about him; we must know him. Even in our daily lives, when we want to get to know someone, we must spend time with them, question them and allow them to enter into our space.

Whether we choose to accept it or not, we all have a tendency to follow someone. This is because we are influenced by their words and lives. That’s not necessarily a bad thing if the one being followed is an example of the truth. The Apostle Paul challenges us to imitate him because of his way of life in Christ. Jesus tells us to follow him so that we can learn about his Father and our Father.

A clear warning exists to not blindly follow someone who maintains a “truth” that is unverifiable or makes no sense. Depending on the character of the person, we may trust what they say about themselves. But we must weigh carefully what they say about heavenly matters. They may also interpret the Bible in a way that doesn’t quite track with common sense. Especially beware of new “revelations.”

Jesus’ teaching was clear and concise. It was the perfect guidebook for living this life. When we accept and follow this truth, then we are free to share what is in our hearts. He gave his life to get this message to us. We must devote ours to pass the message on.