“This is The Life!”
January 12, 2025 Preacher: Minister Thomas Houston
Scripture: Luke 3:15–17, Luke 3:21–22
January 12, 2025 Baptism of Our Lord The text is Luke 3:15-17, 21-22.
-oOo-
15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
-oOo-
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, El Adonai, my rock and my Redeemer.
Grace, mercy, and peace are yours from God the Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Quite some time has passed since last we met; although we were gathered here together just a week ago, the lectionary readings have fast-forwarded about three decades. Last Sunday we celebrated the Epiphany, the revelation of the Wise Men that Jesus has been born as the “king of the Jews”. This morning, we find Jesus in the Jordan River, being baptized; Scripture tells us that he was now an adult, about thirty years old. Other than the time Jesus was found by Mary and Joseph in the Temple with the priests and scribes when he was about twelve, we really have no information about him during the period between Epiphany and his baptism.
Perhaps the gospel writers omitted whatever that occurred between these two events because they felt there was nothing of great importance to Jesus’ mission and ministry. And perhaps they’re right; while it would have been quite interesting for us to know more about Jesus and his life growing up, the Epiphany and his baptism remain two of the most important events in his life; and by extension, ours. Our epiphany, our realization that God in Christ has come to walk among God’s people should serve as a daily reminder that our Creator loves us enough to be willing to experience the trials and suffering of a mortal life.
This alone would have been sufficient for us to acknowledge that the One who created us, cares enough for us to experience what our human lives entail. But as we witness Jesus coming up from the waters of the Jordan this morning, see the Holy Spirit descend upon him, and hear the voice from heaven proclaiming that God is pleased; well, this is perhaps an entirely more significant event. Jesus’ baptism is much more than his simple immersion in the river, it signifies the fulfilment of God’s righteousness, a renewal of God’s relationship with humanity. This is made possible through the act of Jesus baptism, of him standing in for a broken humankind, of substituting his sinless self for a sinful people. Jesus’ baptism serves as the event that sets his ministry and mission in motion and this is likely why the Gospel writers included this moment in their writings, rather than focusing on anything that happened prior.
Jesus has participated in a baptism that our Hebrew ancestors intended for the ritual washing away of sins. The divine Jesus had no need of this, but we read that he was adamant that he undergoes this symbolic practice although it was not necessary. Perhaps not necessary, but vitally important, for it serves as the opportunity for the Holy Spirit to dwell within Jesus, and for Jesus to receive the Father’s blessing. God is pleased that Jesus has undergone a human baptism and is now about to embark upon his divine mission. Everything that Jesus does from now on; teaching, preaching, performing miracles; all these are with the approval of God. His birth, the Epiphany; everything has led up to this point. And while his mission will lead ultimately to the cross and his ascension, his baptism is the spark that sets everything in motion.
And if our epiphany reminds us that Jesus was willing to walk among us, our own baptism is what confirms that he was willing to die for us. Our baptism joins us to Jesus’ death and resurrection, for it is during the baptismal rite that the Holy Spirit is invited to dwell in us, just as the dove alighted on Jesus in the Jordan. If God was pleased when Jesus chose to be baptized even though it wasn’t necessary for him to do so, imagine the happiness that God feels when we, the broken, disobedient, sinful ones who are in dire need of being cleansed are made new at the baptismal font. Although we don’t know for sure, it’s wonderful to imagine that whenever one of God’s people is baptized, God utters some form of what was said to Jesus; perhaps something like, “you are my child, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased.”
At our baptism, by the presence of the Holy Spirit, we are claimed by God; and through this adoption, we are set apart from the world. As members of God’s family, we are made holy; the old Adam and Eve in us are no more and they replaced by new, holy persons. Now, this holiness doesn’t imply that we are somehow good or no longer sinners. The Greek translation of ‘holy’, “hagios” means to be “set apart”, “righteous”, “acceptable to God”. So, therefore, my holy friends, you and I are not made sinless by our baptisms, but we have entered into a righteous relationship with God. And we should rejoice that we have been set apart from the world as God’s children, and pray that God is pleased with us.
So, what does all this mean for us and how are we to respond to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us, and to the happiness we hope God feels when we are baptized into Christ? How is our life impacted and what is expected of us? There is a definite disparity between the first of Jesus’ followers being baptized and what baptism entails for us today, in the established church. For one thing, there is a great deal more ceremony involved now than there was when Jesus initially embarked on his ministry and his first followers were baptized. Scripture tells us that he baptized only his disciples, and they, and Paul, and others baptized those who came to Christ later.
We may assume that this was a rather austere matter, for Jesus gave his disciples the Great Commission, commanding them; ”Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. Jesus was concerned only that people should be baptized into his life, death, and resurrection, and that they become reconciled to God, like we just noted; that they would be made holy.
This same thing we do in the Christian church today, although with a good deal of added verbiage and liturgy. And just to complicate things further, different denominations have adopted varying ways in which baptisms are conducted. These include whether or not infants are baptized, or that only adults may undergo the ritual; how much pre-baptismal instruction is required; is the pouring of water sufficient, or is full immersion necessary? Must the sponsors be of the same denomination of the church in which the baptism is performed? Must baptisms be conducted only on certain church festival days? What promises must be made by the adult being baptized or on behalf of the infant by parents and sponsors? All of these are probably fine and God is likely pleased with all baptisms, regardless of the conditions under which they are carried out. But, I draw your attention again to what Jesus said, ”Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. Nothing more, nothing less. Oh, and by the way, those baptized in Jesus’ time were connected to Christ and to one another, Jesus wasn’t concerned about people gaining membership in a specific church.
All this being said, baptisms in our Lutheran tradition are indeed a blessing; sacred, reaffirming, and life-giving. While we do indulge in a good deal of liturgical wording, and things are done in accordance with the ritual set out in our hymnal, at the core of Lutheran baptism is the calling upon the presence of the Holy Spirit. And when the rite is completed, one of God’s children now embarks upon living what is the “baptismal life”. In the weeks to come we will hear of the signs, wonders, and miracles that Jesus performs. We may see ourselves reflected in the actions of those he admonishes. We will be reminded again and again that we are to follow the ways of Christ as we make our way in this life, this baptismal life.
And the very first example we should emulate is his admonition that we are all neighbors, and brothers and sisters to all. Jesus was willing to undergo a baptism for the remission of sin, even though he was sinless. Thus, our Savior is willing to identify with us; broken, sinful beings. And we also, through our baptism are now identified with him; our sin is taken away by his rebirth and we are made new. So, it seems to me that we don’t really have a choice, do we? If we are baptized into Christ’s life we must therefore strive to live and act as he did.
Jesus Christ, sinless and holy came to walk among God’s sinful and broken people. If Jesus is willing to do this for us, we are bound to honor and bless this by being his hands, and feet, and heart in the world he departed from. We are called to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and be a place of shelter for God’s people. In this way we identify with the One who came to identify with us. Jesus walked our path before us, showing us the way to walk after him. This is the baptismal life, the one we are called to live into. And if the ceremony was complex the life really isn’t; we are children of God, set apart to serve.
Will you pray with me? Good, and gracious, and holy God, we give you thanks that you chose to become incarnate and walk among your people. Through Jesus, you humbled yourself to experience all that makes us human; that you might truly and bodily know all that we, your people must endure. In thanksgiving, we pray for the ability and strength to emulate your earthly walk among us. And we pray these things the name of Jesus Christ, the One whose baptism began his mission and whose death and resurrection call us to continue to serve as he commands.
Amen.
God is Good, all the time. All the time, God is Good. Amen.