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This is an excerpt from Remembering Your Baptism: A Sinner Saint Devotional (1517 Publishing, 2025) by Kathy Morales, pgs 74-77.
“So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean” (2 Kings 5:14).
Naaman was a decorated commander for one of the most powerful armies in Syria. He was a courageous leader. But he also had leprosy. And no number of military victories or valor could remove his sickness. Naaman could not heal himself.
Upon learning about a prophet in Israel, Naaman finds renewed hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could finally be free of the leprosy that plagued him. After speaking with his king, Naaman sets off to meet with the king of Israel. Understanding the significance of first impressions, Naaman’s king sent him to Israel with a generous bounty of gifts for the king of Israel.
However, instead of receiving this diplomatic gift, the king of Israel becomes overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of tearing his clothes. Naaman cannot buy or bribe his way into being healed. The king of Israel knows he is powerless to heal Naaman of his leprosy.
When the prophet Elisha hears of Naaman’s visit, he intervenes, requesting Naaman come to his house. There was just one problem. As a result of Naaman’s leprosy, he was unclean according to Levitical law.
To avoid the risk of himself becoming unclean, Elisha sent a messenger out to Naaman instead of meeting with him in person. The message from the prophet was this, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean” (2 Kings 5:10).
Naaman was outraged, insulted. He expected more from this great prophet in Israel. He at least expected the prophet to come out to him. Ultimately, he wanted a magic show from Elisha. He wanted Elisha to wave his hand over his leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and cure him.
Didn’t the prophet know this wasn’t even the best river? There was nothing special about the prophet’s instructions. But, at the encouragement of his servants, Naaman begrudgingly went to the Jordan River. Naaman went and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan as Elisha instructed and he was healed, according to the prophet’s word.
In fact, he was healed so much that his flesh was not only restored but restored to that “like the flesh of a little child” (2 Kings 5:14).
The Jordan River, where Naaman’s leprosy was taken away, is the same river where Jesus was later baptized. It was on the banks of the river that John declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). It was at the Jordan River that Jesus was baptized and anointed with our spiritual leprosy, our sin.
The reverse happens in Jesus’ baptism. He goes in spotless and sinless and comes out bearing our dirt, our disease of sin. Through water and his Word, we pick up his righteousness in the waters of baptism and are made clean. As spiritual lepers, we too were unable to heal ourselves. We needed someone outside of us to make us clean and take away our sin.
The efficacy of Holy Baptism doesn’t reside in the water itself, or even in the baptized. Any water used to baptize in union with God’s word washes away sins.
Baptism, much like Naaman’s washing in the Jordan River, is not an outwardly extravagant event. However, something extraordinary unfolds in the ordinary waters of baptism. God does the extravagant: he cleanses us of our sin, marks us with the name of the Trinity, and makes us children of our Heavenly Father. With a few splashes of water, Jesus soaks up our sin, and we are drenched with his righteousness.
Unlike Naaman, we do not have to make a journey to a specific body of water to be made clean. The efficacy of Holy Baptism doesn’t reside in the water itself, or even in the baptized. Any water used to baptize in union with God’s word washes away sins. In his baptismal prayer, Martin Luther describes the ordinary waters of baptism in this way,
“Through the baptism of thy dear Child, our Lord Jesus Christ, hast consecrated and set apart the Jordan and all water as a salutary flood and a rich and full washing away of sins.”
The saving work of baptism is in the Word attached to the waters of baptism. There, Jesus restores us, there we are given his righteousness and life. In the flood of baptism, our sinful nature is drowned, and a new person rises in Christ. For us, Jesus was baptized, so that in our baptism, he would make us clean.
Heavenly Father, you have joined us to your Son in Holy Baptism. Through ordinary water connected to your almighty and gracious Word, you have gifted us with your Holy Spirit. Remember all your promises to us as we live as your baptized children, forgiven and sanctified through the work of your Son. Graciously bring us to daily repentance and forgive our sins according to your promise. Amen.
For Further Reflection, Read 2 Kings 5:1-14.
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