The price of revelation

We read in Genesis 3:7 that after Adam and Eve had eaten the forbidden fruit, a fruit offered to them to gain wisdom, the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loin-cloths for themselves. When God came in the cool evening time to visit with them, the man and his wife hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  The story goes on to the dialogue that followed, and ends with God leading them out of the garden and the heavens were closed. Amazing that these two individuals who had all the pleasure of paradise could not handle self-revelation. Seeing their nakedness, they were ashamed. They not only ran, they tried to hid from God.

We read in the gospel of Matthew 3:16 about Jesus being baptized. To be baptized, Jesus would have stripped before going down into the Jordan. When Jesus returns from the water, the heavens were opened. I think part of the reason Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River was to redeem our notion of nakedness.

I think of nakedness as the result of revelation, especially self-revelation. When things come to light, our eyes are opened. Sometimes we see wonderful and inspiring things. Sometimes we see just how naked we really are. Jesus would show us that shame is not the proper response, but rather, acceptance and honesty that admits our condition.

Matthew's account goes on to say that when the heavens were opened and the voice of the Father was heard, the voice proclaimed This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. Take note that the voice of the Father that thundered at Jesus’ baptism stands in stark contrast to the Genesis story which has God speaking to humankind in the cool of the evening. The heavens were split to show that revelation is not meant to break us down but to open us up.

The legendary Adam and Eve failed to understand this. Hebrews 4:13 says: Nothing can be hidden from the Divine Presence, but everything is naked and uncovered before the eyes of him of whom we speak. So true. And so it only makes sense that we accept revelations, both those that bring us joy and those that threaten to shame. For in accepting we learn the truth about ourselves, we deal with that truth, and stop attempting to cover it up. 

For, I am sure, when we can accept revelations about ourselves, our true state, our very limited yet seemingly infinite capacities, then the heavens will open for us as well. And we will hear, within the depths of our hearts, breaking forth from the clouds of doubt and confusion, a voice that affirms: you are my beloved. In you I am well pleased.