The Dairy Farmer's Hose

As a Dairy Farmer’s daughter I grew up surrounded by manure. I would play in the yards, as Dad milked the cows, usually singing to my captive audience!

I have clear memories of Dad going through the same routine after the mob had made their way through the stalls. He would lug out a huge power hose and spray all the manure that had been left behind. Everyday, as the cows left their mess, he would clean it up. Then we’d both hit the laundry to remove what had inevitably been left on us...from head to toe.

I was reminded of this picture as I read these verses in 1 Peter 3:21: “And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” It would be laughable to imagine Dad working in a pristine environment, but each morning, as the cows made their way up to the milking shed (yes, they come by themselves), and leave their loads of milk and manure behind, he would leave the soiled yards spotless.

As a person decides to give their life to Jesus and get baptised, they’re not declaring that from now on they will never manure again, they’re pledging to let Jesus do the washing. He’s the one with the “power-hose”.

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