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BAPTISM OF OUR
LORD
YEAR A ISAIAH
42:1-9 ACTS
10:34-43 MATTHEW
3:13-17 JANUARY 12, 13,
2008 Matthew 3:13,
14
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized
by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by
you, and do you come to me?” One of the
greatest experiences I have had as pastor and as a grandfather has been to
baptize my grandchildren. It is always a special time when parents bring
their children to the waters of baptism but when it is your own it is even
more special. There are not many better feelings than to hold my
grandchild in my hands and pour the waters of baptism of his head. This is
my beloved grandson. This is my beloved granddaughter. I am so pleased. I
am not God but I know how God must have felt at the baptism of Jesus. I
know that God must have been elated that Jesus was going into the waters
of the The words spoken
in our baptism liturgy tell of the relationship the baptized has with the
Lord. The person to be baptized enters into a relationship that many have
entered including the Lord Jesus. The person to be baptized comes to the
water to have his or her life changed. The person to be baptized is set
apart for a new mission and direction. Whether the one coming to the water
is a baby, a toddler a teenager or an adult does not matter. The amount of
the water makes no difference. More water does not mean greater salvation.
Our Lord can take a thimble of water and make a flood. The flood in Noah’s
time started with one raindrop. The flood our Lord washes your life with
begins with one drop of water. There are many that only baptize those that
can speak for themselves and are baptized by immersion. This is OK. God
works a good work in their lives. As Lutherans we baptize people of all
ages most often with a smaller amount of water. The work that is done in
baptism is done by God. As a pastor I might pour some water and say some
words but it is the Lord’s work that is done. It is done by faith whether
a baby is baptized or an adult is baptized. Faith is acting
on what the Lord calls you to do. You might think it is strange that Jesus
would go to where John was baptizing. You might think it even more unusual
that Jesus would submit to baptism. Jesus was acting on what the Father
was calling him to do. In baptism Jesus was set apart for the work he was
about to accomplish. In baptism Jesus started his journey to the cross to
provide for our salvation. Jesus came to
the waters of baptism. He came to where John was. In our lessons in
December we heard about John coming out of the wilderness proclaiming
repentance and calling people to the waters of baptism. When Jesus came
for baptism John was hesitant for obvious reasons. Jesus is the Messiah.
He is the Christ. Jesus is the one without sin. Approaching John for
baptism must have been extremely uncomfortable for John. When someone
greater than me or having more experience or ability comes into the room I
tend to get nervous. When I was preaching in my classes at seminary or for
the chapel services I would often get nervous. It had nothing to do with
my preparation or the content of the message. It had more to do with those
that were gathered to hear the sermon. Most pastors get uncomfortable when
there is another pastor in attendance in a church service. We tend to get
a little more theological. We might talk a little louder and our
vocabulary might change a bit. We might try to get more authority in our
voices. We try just a little harder to get it
right. As people we
wonder if we are good enough. When I am feeling nervous I remember that
the Lord gives the message and I am the messenger. If God gives the
message it is good enough. When you and I worry about how good we are we
forget that God created us good. My mother-in-law is a wonderful cook. I
have told you this at least once but she usually apologizes for something
not being good enough. Maybe it’s the chicken that was too done or not
done enough. Sometimes it is that there is too much of one spice or not
enough of another. When I first came into this family I assured her that
everything was great and that it could not have been better. Now, I am
more likely to go along with what she is saying about the food. She knows
I am joking with her. John was
baptizing in the Matthew 3: 15
But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this
way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he
consented. It is proper to
fulfill all righteousness. There are many things that are proper in order
to fulfill righteousness. It is proper for the church to care for those in
need no matter where they might be. It is proper for the church to make
good decisions and to treat one another with respect. It is proper for us
to love one another with the same kind of love God loved us with. It is
proper for Jesus to go to John the Baptist in this way. It was proper for
Jesus to be baptized by John on the Matthew 3:16, 17 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Jesus came up
out of the water after baptism. The Holy Spirit descended and the voice
came. The Holy Spirit rested up on him. You might be asking, “Didn’t Jesus
already have the Holy Spirit? Why does the Spirit descend on him at
baptism?” Jesus was in the temple when he was 12 years old. He was talking
with the elders. By the power of the Holy Spirit Jesus had knowledge of
the things of God. The Holy Spirit was with many people in the Bible. The
prophets could not proclaim God’s message apart from the Holy Spirit. King
David could not write psalms and Solomon did not have wisdom apart from
the Holy Spirit. Abraham and Moses served God because of the power of the
Holy Spirit. Yes, Jesus had
the Holy Spirit before his baptism but the influence of the Holy Spirit
was like that of the other servants of God. The Holy Spirit descended upon
Jesus. This was the beginning something that would become complete on the
Day of Pentecost. The spirit would descend upon all flesh and live among
the people. The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus and would live with him
and on him throughout his ministry. The voice
declared that Jesus is God’s beloved Son and that God was so pleased. God
is also pleased with you. God blesses you with the power of the Holy
Spirit. You are God’s beloved. You are set apart and you have been
obedient to the calling of the Lord. You are a child of God. The Holy
Spirit descends upon you and the voice cries out. Your response is to go
and do whatever the Lord asked you to do. Through baptism
you identify with Christ. Allow Jesus Christ to influence everything you
do. Do nothing apart from his direction. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide
you and to bless you with everything you need. You are daughters and sons
of God. God is pleased with you. AMEN |