January 14 - Jesus’ Baptism and
Yours
- Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
When Jesus was about 30 years old, he left his home in
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That scene has inspired Baptists to insist that a person must be
immersed - dunked in water for a real baptism.
A Lutheran pastor asked a Baptist preacher if he considered a person
baptized if he was immersed in water up to his waist.
“No, that’s not enough.”
Suppose he’s in the water up to his neck?
“No, still not right.”
If you immersed him up to his eyebrows, would he be baptized then?
“No.”
“Well, now I get it”, said the Lutheran. “It’s only the little bit of
water on the top of the head that counts.”
The validity of baptism doesn’t have to do with how it is done, but
rather with the promises of God.
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Jesus baptism reminds us of what baptism really means.
When Jesus was baptized his identity was revealed – "You are my
Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
At our baptism our true identity was revealed. You are a beloved child of God. And a member of the family
of God - a citizen of His kingdom.
What does that mean for you now?
Maybe your baptism was so long ago you don’t remember it. But God does – and the covenant is still in
effect.
When Jesus was baptized, He identified himself with us. He stood in the crowd waiting and then was
baptized by John just like the others.
Jesus was baptized out of solidarity with us. He does not separate himself from
sinners, but stands next to them.
The Lord never abandons us - even
in our
sin, He is there beside us, waiting for us to turn again to Him.
The covenant of baptism works both ways. As Jesus identified himself with us, so we
are to identify with Jesus.
Through baptism, we are a member of the body of Christ. But are we willing to openly identify
ourselves as belonging to Christ?
Do our neighbors know that we are Christians? Do our co-workers know it? Do the parents of your children’s friends
know that you follow Christ?
But beyond just knowing you claim that identity, Christian, what have
they learned from watching and listening to you - learned about who Jesus is –
and what he means for your life?
Epiphany reminds us that God’s plan is to bring all people into
community – brothers and sisters under the rule of Christ. God’s way of doing that was by taking on
human flesh in His Son, Jesus. His plan
hasn’t changed, just the flesh. It was
Jesus, and now it is you and I. We are
to embody Christ – and let His light and love shine through us. We are the means Jesus would use to communicate
with others.
So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His
appeal through us. We speak for Christ
when we plead, “Come back to God”. 2 Corinthians 5:20
Jesus called all to follow, and we must do the same. So bear the name of Jesus well in your
world. Be Christ’s ambassador, for he
would make his appeal to others through you – His appeal to come back to the
gathering of Christians.
Look around - Is someone you know missing? When you get home, phone them to ask how
they’re doing - and remind them we’re having lunch next Sunday.
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Second, identify with the family of God – your brothers and sisters in
the congregation – and join in the family’s activities – like the fellowship
lunch after worship next Sunday, when we celebrate our diversity.
Church families can be quite diverse – and like many human families,
may have a few characters – you know, like the relatives you hope won’t show up
for thanksgiving dinner this year – and that uncle no one ever mentions.
We are to be Christ-followers and he told the twelve: By this everyone will know that you are my
disciples, if you have love for one another.
J 13:35
He didn’t make an exception for Judas – or didn’t say distance yourself
from Judas, or I’ll question your loyalty.
Rather it was love for every individual.
That’s the way Jesus was – and is.
He reached out to tax-collectors and public sinners, to Pharisees and
pagans, to the religious and the not religious, to rich and poor. His love is still for all – and we are called
to reflect that love – to be the means that love is extended to all.
Can we be a family of faith that is known for loving all its members,
even those who are very different? God
loves them, so can we share His love with them?
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Third, identify with the
After the sermon, we’ll install the 2007 Church Council – the leaders
and fellow workers in this corner of God’s kingdom.
How many of our members volunteer some of their time and effort in the
work of our congregation?
Do you think that the work is done by a very small number, say 20 or
30?
Or is it a larger number, say 50 or 60?
Do you think it’s more than that?
I counted – it’s about 100 members who volunteer in some way.
Most of those workers are never acknowledged – you don’t see what they
do – but we couldn’t be the church without them all. We’re all needed as workers for the kingdom,
offering our unique talents and abilities.
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A young Baptist boy was fascinated by the baptisms by immersion in his
church. And he took to heart the preacher’s message that baptism was for all,
even Gentiles. The boy didn’t know
exactly what a Gentile was – but his cats were probably in need of baptism.
So he filled the bath tub, and got the family cats.
The smaller cat bore it well – “Now you’re a Baptist too.”
The older and larger feline fought back, hissing and clawing. Finally,
after barely getting the cat sprinkled with water, he dropped him in disgust
and said, “Fine, be a Lutheran if you want.”
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Baptism has nothing to do with the amount of water, because it’s about
your relationship to God and His promises. You are God’s and God is yours, in a
covenant – a solemn contract with the Almighty.
The Lord says to you:
When you pass through the waters I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you Isaiah 43:2
God is present for you in crisis.
In the face of danger, God reaches out to you.
When you struggle through job loss or academic failure, personal betrayal
or disease, depression or divorce – “they shall not overwhelm you.”
God promises to give you help and protection, and even peace in the
midst of conflict. He promises the
strength to face the worst terrors and trials that life can throw at you.
As you are being hit with the most daunting of personal challenges, the
God who created you promises to be with you and sustain you.
For you are nothing less than God’s son or daughter, whom
I created for my glory, says the Lord, whom I formed and made.
You are precious and loved – created for glory - created for...
… A life in which God will help you to succeed –
because he loves you and your success glorifies His name.
… A life in which you trust God – really rely on God – to give you
success and good fortune.
Not a false promise that faith in God translates into material riches –
but rather a different brand of success and good fortune, that’s more spiritual
than material.
Those first disciples didn’t have an easy life – and weren’t prosperous
in material terms. But they certainly
were successful and planted the church.
Their wealth was found in the promise of God Do not fear for I am
with you.
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Baptism is the sign that we belong to God
You
are God’s and God is yours.
And God says to each one of us, what he said to them
You are precious in my sight and I love you.
and no
matter what may happen in your life
- God’s promise is sure:
“Do not fear... I am with you.’
Now and forever. Amen