Refreshing Our Souls

It was already steaming hot that morning as our group made its first venture among the archaeological sites that would be featured on our trip through western Turkey. The ruins of the Basilica of Saint John in Ephesus are impressive and have been sufficiently restored to offer modern visitors a sense of how it may have once appeared when it was originally converted from a small chapel constructed over the alleged grave of the apostle John to a much larger basilica in the 6^th century.

Stone jars in the courtyard of the Basilica of Saint John, Selçuk, Türkiye

Our approach took us past rows of stone that had once contributed to the building before its destruction, and the outside courtyard included large stone jars that once held water or oil, but now were dry and full of dirt. We entered through the western gate, passing the double colonnades on each side – though the remaining columns exist in various states of reconstruction – toward the aspe at the eastern end of the church. Whenever possible, we sought shelter from the glaring sun in the tiny patches of shadow created by the walls.

Along the columned collonade at the Basilica of Saint John

There’s something about standing among the remains of ancient buildings that were once alive with people and their activity. Like standing at the edge of the ocean or looking up at the stars on a clear night, it reminds me of the immensity of time and the fleeting moment that my life makes up in the history of the universe.

Along the northern side of the building, walls create a maze-like path that abruptly dumped us into the octagonal space that served as the baptistry. There in the floor was carved out the cross-shaped pool with steps on either side for believers who once descended from one side down into the water and, after having been immersed as part of the sacrament, ascended into new life on the other side. However, on this day, there was no water. It was dry and filled with a collection of debris that had blown in prior to our visit.

Baptistry at the Basilica of Saint John

We compared contemporary baptismal practices with the method once observed in the basilica – as evidenced by this baptistry. We took the photos that would document what we had seen, and we might have moved on uninterrupted to our next stop until someone noticed Jesus.

A previous visitor had left behind a small figurine of Jesus in a niche along the side of the baptistry. We laughed. We commented on what a brilliant idea it was that someone had tucked away this small toy.

But it changed the whole visit for me.

In the baptistry at the Basilica of Saint John

What had been an intellectual exercise – tying Christian history to a physical location that had been weathered by time – became a blossoming renewal of faith. I was still uncomfortably hot, longing for the taste of cool water on my tongue, but my spirit found refreshment in that ancient space.

As United Methodists, we recognize baptism either by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion – as long as it includes the administration of water for that purpose and the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Immersion, such as would have been observed in this baptistry, represented the death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:4) at work in the sacrament. It brings to mind Jesus’ own baptism at the hands of John the Baptist in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:13-17). But in the  Methodist tradition, we also recognize the pouring of water, just as the Spirit was poured out on those at Pentecost (Acts 2) and the dry bones in Ezekiel’s vision (37:1-14), bringing them to new life. Even sprinkling reflects the same cleansing God promised the children of Israel from their sin and idolatry (Ezekiel 36:25-26).

That morning under the hot Turkish sun, any water would have been a relief for my physical thirst. But it was the presence of that small figurine of Jesus that transformed a dry, dusty hole in the ground into a reflection on the generous grace of God poured out for all of us. Grace that refreshes and renews our souls, that cleanses us from our sins, and raises us up from death to eternal life.

It’s been nine weeks since I stood by the baptistry in the Basilica of Saint John. On Sunday mornings, we talk about how hot the weather has been and how anxious we are for some relief. But perhaps as we gather in the sanctuary, our eyes may fall upon the baptismal font. It’s just a small column of stone – currently empty of water. But when we remember our Savior Jesus in this place, in our lives, it becomes a physical reminder of the grace that has been poured out over us.

How goes it with your soul? Is your spirit feeling dried up? Do you need to experience renewal?

As summer unofficially wraps up with Labor Day weekend, we find the church launching a host of new opportunities to refresh our faith through spiritual practices.

• Perhaps now is the time to focus on your relationship with God through prayer. Find a prayer partner or join the Wednesday evening prayer group that meets in the gathering room each week.

• Immerse yourself in the renewing presence of God through Scripture. Start a reading plan that will take you through the whole Bible or focus on the Gospels. Participate with others in Sunday school or one of the Bible studies held each week.

• Be restored through participation in worship. Contribute your gifts as a greeter, a reader, a musician, or make worship accessible to people with special needs through our Joyful Noise program.

• Grow in your dedication to Christ by serving in his name. Reach out to others through the Under-shepherd ministry or Angel Feet.

In whatever we do, let us keep Christ at the center so that we do not become swept away by the arid action of ritual, tradition, and complacency. Instead, let us revel in the refreshing grace that sustains us each day, now and through eternity.