So Raphael and I talked about how at his
baptism from a few minutes ago, he had
received from God the healing that his name
implied. He had been named ‘Raphael’ and
now in his baptism he had, in truth, been
healed - not from a physical ailment but from
sin and death. He was now Raphael in name
and in truth - healed by God.
But as I cast my mind back to the actual
baptism another Bible truth emerged. The
banks of the Seine had been reinforced
against the wash of the passing barges. They
were steep and deep and we searched for a
safe place. At one point we found a step
down, but there was no saying how deep it
was, though the water was clear. It was actu-
ally very dangerous and although we could
have got in, it was uncertain how to get out
again.
We walked along until a muddy bank appeared
surrounded by trees making a secluded, acces-
sible place. But as we stepped into the water
we sank knee deep in the mud. This made for
some difficulty in balancing and feeling
secure underfoot, although the water was
conveniently shallow. We churned up the mud
and Raphael was immersed in the muddy shal-
lows. But it was here that Raphael became a
new man in Christ - rather than in the clear
water flowing nearby. And I was reminded of
Naaman and his baptism - his healing - in the
muddy water of Jordan rather than in the
clear flowing waters of Abana and Pharpar
which he would have chosen for himself. And
so we remember that it is God and Jesus who
save and not we who have to provide the
perfect environment for this to happen. New
life is given to those who, like Raphael, seek
the Lord in the way He has designed and
provided - in this case in a muddy pool at the
side of commercial waterway in the middle of
a largely indifferent continent.
They come from all ends of the world. There
are large areas in France and many other
parts of Europe when you seriously wonder
14
Carelinks | France
Walking back along the banks of the River Seine following the baptisms