Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Christian Baptism (10/18/07)
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TITLE: Identify With Christ | Previous Challenge Entry
By Shan Gillard
10/18/07 -
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“Of course, I’m fifteen years old!” replied Ivan, “I know exactly what I’ve signed on for.” If that’s really true, why do I feel like I should turn around and run back home, locking the door behind me? He stuffed the thought back down with the lump in his throat, putting on a brave show for Brother Petros and the others. He was the youngest convert here, and they all probably thought he was going to bolt.
The group made its way through the woods at a snail’s pace; they had no lights with them in order to attract no attention. When they reached the clearing at last, Ivan saw that the other groups had arrived, and there were about twenty people assembled, if assembled is the right word. Mostly they were lurking in the woods, trying to avoid detection. When Brother Petros arrived with his group, they all stepped forward and formed a line, singing softly as they moved toward the water.
Yes, they all knew the cost of baptism, but Brother Petros had explained to them the importance of taking this step of identifying themselves with Christ, the One Who had died for them. Now they risked their lives as they went down to be buried in the water in order to picture His resurrection.
Ivan was last in line. They had moved along swiftly, coming up out of the water and leaving together in groups of two or three as soon as they had emerged. Brother Petros did not want them to risk their lives unnecessarily. Ivan was last because Petros would take him home. Just as he entered the water and moved toward the pastor, he heard the commotion and felt the panic rising in his gut.
“It’s all right, Ivan. Just come to me. We will finish the baptism and everything will be fine. The Lord has told me you will be fine. Give me your hand.” Looking into the loving eyes of the pastor, Ivan drew from their strength and moved in front of him.
With one movement, Petros spoke the words of the baptism over him, and pushed him under the water. Ivan wasn’t sure what had happened, but suddenly the pastor was on top of him, and the water was so murky he could not see.
Bloody! The water was bloody! Brother Petros had been shot, and his body was covering him. Ivan understood at once what he had done. By moving himself between Ivan and the soldiers, he had blocked the view of the soldiers. They only saw the pastor. But he would drown if he stayed under the water much longer! He had to find a way out! His lungs were bursting!
Slowly maneuvering himself from under the body, Ivan used it as a blind and surfaced just enough to get a breath and see which way the soldiers were searching. He slipped back under the water, swimming as far as possible, hiding among the reeds until he felt it was safe to emerge from the water. He was startled to find his brother there.
“I was the one who brought the soldiers,” confessed Gregor.”
“You might as well call them, then,” answered Ivan. “I have not only been baptized in water, but in the blood of my pastor.”
“I saw. I want to know about this Jesus men are willing to die for.” Right there, dripping from his baptism, Ivan experienced the first of many conversions.
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