Wave Maker: Where the Ripples Begin
The Power of Waves: Finding Our True Identity in Christ
Have you ever stood at the edge of the ocean, watching the waves roll in? There's something mesmerizing about their rhythm - powerful yet soothing, constant yet ever-changing. Waves can be playful, inviting surfers to ride and children to splash. They can be calming, their steady sound lulling us into relaxation. But waves can also be dangerous, with rip currents that drag swimmers out to sea or tsunamis that devastate entire coastlines.
In many ways, waves are a perfect metaphor for our spiritual lives. They remind us that beauty and danger often coexist, that what refreshes can also overwhelm. But what happens when we consider waves in light of Jesus Christ? Suddenly, water becomes more than just a natural element - it becomes a servant to divine will, a reflection of the Creator's power and love.
Throughout Scripture, water plays a pivotal role. It's mentioned an astounding 722 times in the NIV Bible - more than 200 times more than the word "love." From the first verses of Genesis to the final chapters of Revelation, water connects the narrative of God's relationship with humanity. It's no wonder, then, that Jesus used water so vividly in His ministry. He didn't just talk about water or preach near it - He transformed it, calmed it, and offered Himself as living water to all who thirst.
One of the most profound moments involving Jesus and water occurs at the very beginning of His public ministry - His baptism in the Jordan River. Picture the scene: a rugged, desert landscape with a muddy river winding through it. Crowds of people from all walks of life - fishermen, farmers, soldiers, tax collectors - line up along the banks, waiting their turn to be baptized by John the Baptist.
John himself is a sight to behold - dressed in camel's hair, with a leather belt cinched tight, his appearance as wild as his message. He calls out in a voice raw from shouting, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!" One by one, people step forward, confessing their sins and allowing John to plunge them beneath the swirling waters - a vivid physical sign of cleansing and new beginnings.
Then, unexpectedly, Jesus arrives. The sinless Son of God steps into line with those seeking forgiveness. When it's His turn, John is shocked. "I need to be baptized by you," he protests, "and do you come to me?" But Jesus insists, saying, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."
This moment is staggering in its implications. Jesus, who had no sin to confess and no need for cleansing, chooses to identify fully with humanity. He doesn't stand apart, calling us to clean ourselves up. Instead, He gets in the water with us, creating waves of grace and compassion. It's as if He's saying, "I'm not afraid of your mess. I'm not turning away from your brokenness. I'm stepping into it with you - and for you."
But the wonder doesn't stop there. As Jesus emerges from the water, heaven itself opens up. The Holy Spirit descends like a dove, and the voice of God the Father thunders from above: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." In this moment, we witness the full Trinity in action - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit united in the plan of salvation that had been set in motion before time began.
This divine declaration isn't just about Jesus, though. It's a preview of what God longs to say over each of us. Can you imagine the God of the universe splitting open the skies just to say, "That one - that's my child. I love them"? That's the heart of baptism - not just getting wet or checking a religious box, but hearing God name us, claim us, and declare His love over us.
For many of us, truly hearing and believing that voice is a challenge. The world is loud, and life is messy. We've internalized other voices - perhaps from critical parents, unsupportive teachers, or our own harsh self-judgment - that tell us we're not enough, that we're broken or worthless. We carry these false identities like heavy stones in our pockets, forgetting who we truly are in Christ.
But the truth remains: God's voice has the final say. He knows us completely - flaws and all - and loves us completely anyway. Our baptism is His declaration that we are His, we are loved, we are enough - not because of anything we've done, but because of what He's done for us.
This is where the ripples begin, where our true identity takes shape. It's a call to remember who we really are - not defined by our mistakes, others' opinions, or even our own inner critic, but by what God says about us. We are claimed. We are loved. We are worthy.
Jesus' baptism wasn't just a theological footnote. It was the God of the universe choosing humility, solidarity, and a love so radical that He would be baptized for us so that one day He could die and rise for us. And praise God, the ripple Jesus started at the Jordan didn't stay small. It moved outward - from the river to Galilee, to Jerusalem, to the cross, to the grave. And when death thought it had finally stilled the waters, the tomb burst open and the biggest wave the world had ever seen came crashing through history.
The resurrection was the tidal wave - the moment sin lost its grip, shame lost its power, and death lost its sting. Jesus didn't come to keep things safe, calm, and manageable. He came to shake things up, to unsettle our sin, to stir our hearts awake, to make waves of hope, healing, justice, mercy, and new life.
And here's the exciting part: He calls us to be wave makers too. We're invited to step into the water just like He did, to follow His lead in obedience even when we don't fully understand, to live in such a way that our lives ripple outward, impacting others with kindness, courage, humility, truth, and love.
So the question remains: Are you ready to step into the water? It always starts there - with a step of obedience, a step of surrender, a step toward the One who stepped into the river for you. Maybe you need to remember who you are, to shed the world's labels and hear God's voice of love again. Perhaps it's time to make that first step of following Jesus, to go all in and let your life be His.
Whatever your next step might be, know this: When Jesus walked into those waters, He did it for you. It was the beginning of a wave that's been moving ever since, changing hearts, changing lives, changing eternities. And now, it's your turn to remember who you are, to trust Him enough to wade into the waters, and to let your life create ripples of His love that reach far beyond what you can see or imagine.
Have you ever stood at the edge of the ocean, watching the waves roll in? There's something mesmerizing about their rhythm - powerful yet soothing, constant yet ever-changing. Waves can be playful, inviting surfers to ride and children to splash. They can be calming, their steady sound lulling us into relaxation. But waves can also be dangerous, with rip currents that drag swimmers out to sea or tsunamis that devastate entire coastlines.
In many ways, waves are a perfect metaphor for our spiritual lives. They remind us that beauty and danger often coexist, that what refreshes can also overwhelm. But what happens when we consider waves in light of Jesus Christ? Suddenly, water becomes more than just a natural element - it becomes a servant to divine will, a reflection of the Creator's power and love.
Throughout Scripture, water plays a pivotal role. It's mentioned an astounding 722 times in the NIV Bible - more than 200 times more than the word "love." From the first verses of Genesis to the final chapters of Revelation, water connects the narrative of God's relationship with humanity. It's no wonder, then, that Jesus used water so vividly in His ministry. He didn't just talk about water or preach near it - He transformed it, calmed it, and offered Himself as living water to all who thirst.
One of the most profound moments involving Jesus and water occurs at the very beginning of His public ministry - His baptism in the Jordan River. Picture the scene: a rugged, desert landscape with a muddy river winding through it. Crowds of people from all walks of life - fishermen, farmers, soldiers, tax collectors - line up along the banks, waiting their turn to be baptized by John the Baptist.
John himself is a sight to behold - dressed in camel's hair, with a leather belt cinched tight, his appearance as wild as his message. He calls out in a voice raw from shouting, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!" One by one, people step forward, confessing their sins and allowing John to plunge them beneath the swirling waters - a vivid physical sign of cleansing and new beginnings.
Then, unexpectedly, Jesus arrives. The sinless Son of God steps into line with those seeking forgiveness. When it's His turn, John is shocked. "I need to be baptized by you," he protests, "and do you come to me?" But Jesus insists, saying, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."
This moment is staggering in its implications. Jesus, who had no sin to confess and no need for cleansing, chooses to identify fully with humanity. He doesn't stand apart, calling us to clean ourselves up. Instead, He gets in the water with us, creating waves of grace and compassion. It's as if He's saying, "I'm not afraid of your mess. I'm not turning away from your brokenness. I'm stepping into it with you - and for you."
But the wonder doesn't stop there. As Jesus emerges from the water, heaven itself opens up. The Holy Spirit descends like a dove, and the voice of God the Father thunders from above: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." In this moment, we witness the full Trinity in action - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit united in the plan of salvation that had been set in motion before time began.
This divine declaration isn't just about Jesus, though. It's a preview of what God longs to say over each of us. Can you imagine the God of the universe splitting open the skies just to say, "That one - that's my child. I love them"? That's the heart of baptism - not just getting wet or checking a religious box, but hearing God name us, claim us, and declare His love over us.
For many of us, truly hearing and believing that voice is a challenge. The world is loud, and life is messy. We've internalized other voices - perhaps from critical parents, unsupportive teachers, or our own harsh self-judgment - that tell us we're not enough, that we're broken or worthless. We carry these false identities like heavy stones in our pockets, forgetting who we truly are in Christ.
But the truth remains: God's voice has the final say. He knows us completely - flaws and all - and loves us completely anyway. Our baptism is His declaration that we are His, we are loved, we are enough - not because of anything we've done, but because of what He's done for us.
This is where the ripples begin, where our true identity takes shape. It's a call to remember who we really are - not defined by our mistakes, others' opinions, or even our own inner critic, but by what God says about us. We are claimed. We are loved. We are worthy.
Jesus' baptism wasn't just a theological footnote. It was the God of the universe choosing humility, solidarity, and a love so radical that He would be baptized for us so that one day He could die and rise for us. And praise God, the ripple Jesus started at the Jordan didn't stay small. It moved outward - from the river to Galilee, to Jerusalem, to the cross, to the grave. And when death thought it had finally stilled the waters, the tomb burst open and the biggest wave the world had ever seen came crashing through history.
The resurrection was the tidal wave - the moment sin lost its grip, shame lost its power, and death lost its sting. Jesus didn't come to keep things safe, calm, and manageable. He came to shake things up, to unsettle our sin, to stir our hearts awake, to make waves of hope, healing, justice, mercy, and new life.
And here's the exciting part: He calls us to be wave makers too. We're invited to step into the water just like He did, to follow His lead in obedience even when we don't fully understand, to live in such a way that our lives ripple outward, impacting others with kindness, courage, humility, truth, and love.
So the question remains: Are you ready to step into the water? It always starts there - with a step of obedience, a step of surrender, a step toward the One who stepped into the river for you. Maybe you need to remember who you are, to shed the world's labels and hear God's voice of love again. Perhaps it's time to make that first step of following Jesus, to go all in and let your life be His.
Whatever your next step might be, know this: When Jesus walked into those waters, He did it for you. It was the beginning of a wave that's been moving ever since, changing hearts, changing lives, changing eternities. And now, it's your turn to remember who you are, to trust Him enough to wade into the waters, and to let your life create ripples of His love that reach far beyond what you can see or imagine.
Recent
Archive
2025
February
April
May
June