Lay Reading Sermon 12th
January 2020 – The Baptism of Jesus
Baptism - The First Step Matthew 3:13-17
We don’t think
about it much, but for most of us, one thing that brings us to church on Sunday
is the fact that we are baptized.
Some of us were
baptized without being given any choice in the matter.
Despite the
seeming cries of disapproval at the baptismal font that we sometimes hear the
baptism still went ahead.
Some were
baptized at an older age and may even have begun receiving Holy Communion on
the same day.
Some have not
yet been baptized.
Some haven’t
been baptized, but are considering it.
Baptism may
come at various stages in life but its meaning remains the same.
Baptised into
God’s family as loved children of God.
Those who were
baptised as infants learn the meaning of their baptism after the fact
undergoing instruction in the home and church through worship, Sunday School
and Confirmation.
None fully knew
what was happening on the day they were baptized as infants.
Years later, as
we make our way slowly learning about the Christian faith, the purpose begins
to unfold.
We discover
what our baptisms mean after the event rather than before and then have the
opportunity to “Confirm” our Baptism faith in a Rite of Confirmation.
That’s how it
was for Jesus too, at least in Matthew’s Gospel.
The story moves
from Jesus as an infant to Jesus as a thirty-year-old, and there’s not a lot of
information as to what happened in between.
One day Jesus
puts down his hammer, takes off his tool belt, hangs a “Closed” sign on the
door of the carpenter’s shop, and asks, “What does God want of me?”
Jesus heads out
and finds his cousin John, standing in the muddy Jordan in his camel-hair
baptismal robe, smelling of locusts and honey.
Jesus gets in
line and waits his turn.
He wades out
into the water, right next to real live sinners like you and me.
While three
Gospels tell the story of Jesus’ baptism, only Matthew records the curious
conversation prior to the baptism.
Jesus is eager
to be baptized, but John hesitates.
John insists
that Jesus has his teaching on baptism wrong.
They stand together
in the river and engage in a serious theological debate concerning who should
baptize whom.
The first time
Jesus speaks in Matthew’s Gospel, it is to say that he needs to be baptized,
because baptism will prepare him for the ministry God has planned for him..
Jesus seeks
Baptism from John because he believes that God is calling him to a new life.
When Jesus
stands up, the waters of the Jordan dripping down his face, he sees the Holy Spirit
descending like a dove to rest upon him.
The Spirit
comes, not as an all-consuming fire of judgment, but with the flutter of
hope-filled wings.
A voice says:
“You are my Son. I love you. I’m delighted with you.”
Then Jesus goes
into the desert for forty days to contemplate on what it means to be a child of
God.
Jesus spends
all the days and years that follow that afternoon in the Jordan discovering the
meaning of his baptism.
Jesus gives
everything to God his Father —his dreams and deeds, his labors and his very life.
Jesus gives
himself to God’s people and takes his place with hurting people.
Baptism was
Jesus’ commissioning to ministry.
During the week
before his death, the leaders of the temple challenge Jesus:
“By what
authority are you doing these things?” (Matthew 21:23).
Jesus answers
with a reference to his baptism:
“Was the
baptism of John from heaven or not?
In the waters
of baptism, Jesus heard the Spirit calling him to speak the truth and live under
his Father’s grace.
So Jesus
doesn’t die of old age.
He dies because
he takes his baptism seriously.
Which is why
St. Paul, when referring to our baptism says it is a baptism into Christ’s
death.
When Jesus
cries out on the cross, “It is finished,” it is his baptism that is complete.
Baptisms, like many
important beginnings, find meaning after the event.
Baptism is an
“all of life” event so we are continually learning what our Baptism means to
us..
Baptism is the
beginning of our life with God – not the end.
In our baptism
we’re handed a life map, but then we take the journey.
Without a
journey, a map is just a piece of paper.
The journey
brings life to the map.
Our baptism is
more than just a baptism certificate to say we were baptised.
It takes our
whole life to finish the journey we begin when we’re baptized.
Which is why
Jesus says in the Baptism text at the end of Matthew’s gospel:
I am with you
always till the end of the age – until the end of your baptismal journey.
So what does it
mean for us to live out our baptisms?
If we are true
to our baptisms, then our lives will not always be comfortable.
We cannot do
only what makes us feel comfortable, and we won’t be satisfied with the way
things are.
Our baptism will
mean that we will struggle with the tension between what’s right and what’s
wrong, what’s important and what’s not.
The baptised
children of God tell the truth in a world that lies,
The baptised
children of God give in a world that takes,
The baptised
children of God love in a world that lusts,
The baptised
children of God make peace in a world that fights,
The baptised
children of God serve in a world that demands to be served,
The baptised
children of God pray in a world that waits to be entertained,
The baptized
are citizens of a different kind of community where success is not the goal,
A community
where our own self interest is not the highest good.
Baptism is our commission
to ministry – a ministry to God and our neighbour.
Baptism is our
vow to live with more concern for the hurting than for our own comfort,
Baptism is our
promise to be prepared to challenge ideas which are contrary to the Word of God
even if everyone else disagrees with us.
It means we
won’t do things just because everyone else is doing it or because it’s the way
we’ve always done something.
Baptism is a
commitment to share our time with the poor and listen to the lonely.
What did it
mean when you were baptized?
The meaning of
your baptism is seen in what you think, feel, and do this day.
Your baptism is
not an historical event.
It is a daily
event of our life.
You “are” baptised – not you “were”
baptised.
We are called
to forever answer the question
“Why am I
baptized?”
Baptism is not
just something we do.
Baptism is
something that we are – children of God and loved by God.
Baptism is the
beginning steps of our mission in life.
And as we look
at Jesus’ life we can see that it was the turning point of his life.
It wasn’t
always easy for Jesus after his baptism but he had the assurance of his
Father’s love and presence with him through the Holy Spirit.
That is God’s
promise to us also.
That through
our Baptism we have the right to become children of God.
That through
our Baptism we have the right to call God our Father.
That through
our Baptism we have the assurance that the Holy Spirit and Jesus’ presence are with
us till the end of the age.
In his
catechism Luther said that when we wake we should make the sign of the cross on
ourselves to remind us of our Baptism at the beginning of our day and the
beginning of our life.
He also said
when we go to bed at night that we should also make the sign of the cross as a
reminder of God’s care throughout the day and all our life.
So may you see
your baptism as something precious and to be valued.
Baptism forms
our identity as those who are known by God.
We are adopted
as God’s own children.
This is the
meaning of being Baptised;
Putting on this
new family name that guarantees our place in the family of God.
And may the
peace of God that surpasses our understanding keep our hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus, forever. Amen.
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