[Jesus] Baptism
Rev. Barry W. Szymanski, J.D.
First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa
January 9, 2011

Matthew 3:1-17

[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?’ 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. 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.’

MESSAGE

In today’s reading we hear of one of the more fascinating people of the Bible: John the Baptist. Jesus and John were related. We met John’s parents in Luke’s Gospel when Mary, some months pregnant, went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth and her husband, Zechariah.

Because Zechariah was a Temple priest, his son, John, was of the priestly line which is significant because Jewish Law commanded that priests who entered the inner Temple had to purify themselves by washing – that is a type of baptismal cleansing.

What do we know about John? He lived and preached in the wilderness - and he made a striking appearance: because he wore a camel hair cloak with a belt made of leather. He ate locust and wild honey. I think it safe to say that when a person met John the Baptist, he or she remembered him!

He was called a prophet; remember that prophets are those who connect God’s word with the world. Many went to see and hear him because he called people to repentance – I think they believed him to be a real person – not at all phony. If a person repented, John then baptized that person in a pool of water or in the River Jordan.

All four of the Gospels report that when it was time for Jesus to begin his public ministry he went out to the wilderness to be baptized by John. However, John did not want to baptize Jesus, for John recognized that Jesus was not in need of repentance – Jesus did not know sin – Jesus had never turned his back on His Father.

But after some arguing, John did baptize Jesus, and that is when Jesus was anointed by God, his Father. This anointing was a consecration – like we are consecrated at our baptisms – we are set aside as holy for God's use. I will get back to this idea, but I want to point out a passage in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, in Chapter 10, where it is recorded that Peter publicly spoke about what happened when Jesus was baptized:

"Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, That [the] message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how [Jesus] went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him." Acts 10:34,37b-38a NRIV.

Because of Peter's sermon we realize the importance that Peter placed on Jesus and our baptisms, and that Jesus was anointed by God! The people who heard Peter speak were familiar with the writings of the prophet Isaiah: “Here is my servant, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him.” Isaiah 42:1.

When Jesus was baptized, he heard his father clearly tell him that he was the anointed son. Why is water so important to both John and Jesus at that time for baptism and why is it so important now? There are many reasons, and they all come together like ingredients in a recipe. First, was that water was life in the deserts of the mid-east. Second, the memorial of the Passover recalls the passing over the first born, and, after that, the passage of the Israelites through the Red Sea. Now, to add to water, we add the concept that God calls us each by name.

This was written of by Isaiah when he wrote that God said: “I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” Isaiah 43: 1b-2a.

Each of us called by name in baptism, as God’s child. When we pass through the waters of the troubles of life, God is there with us. Third, the Psalmist tells us of God’s power over water, which means over all of creation.

Psalm 29 tells us: “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.” Psalm 29:3. This reminder of God’s creation of water by the Psalmist also tells us of the tremendous power of water -- and of God’s power over water – and therefore God’s power over all creation.

A quick recap:

The people of Jesus' time were familiar with

# their every day need for water,
# for water to purify themselves before Temple worship,
# God’s power over water,
# and John the Baptist's preaching for repentance, to be cleansed by water.

So when Jesus was baptized in water, his Father announced that he was the anointed One.

Now to Jesus himself: The baptism of Jesus is clearly regarded as the commencement of Jesus’ ministry. It was the formal act by Jesus of his consecration to his Father; and God's statement of who Jesus was as the Son of God. In Baptism Jesus confirmed his commitment that he was the Servant of God. Recall that there are many pieces to this pie: There is a baptism of repentance; a baptism of healing, and a baptism of the beginning of a life of service in the Body of Christ.

In the Documents of Congregationalism, The Savoy Declaration of Faith, Section 28 states that: "Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace, immediately instituted by Christ, to represent Him and His benefits; and to confirm our interest in Him, and solemnly to engage us to the service of God in Christ, according to His Word. "The grace which is exhibited in or by the sacraments . . . [depends] upon the work of the Spirit, . . ." Subsections I and III.

Specifically of Baptism, the Congregationalist Savoy Declaration of Faith states, in section 29, that:

"Baptism is . . . ordained by Jesus [as] . . .

# a sign and seal of the covenant of grace,
# of [a person's] engrafting into Christ,
# of regeneration,
# of remission of sins,
# and of [a person's] giving up unto God . . . to walk in the newness of life." Subsection I.

I want to look at another passage in the Acts of the Apostles. Let's again, look at the story of the Samaritan traveler who was beaten, robbed, and left naked on the road – no money, no clothes, no possessions. The person who helped his neighbor on the road was a hated Samarian. This is the story that Jesus told to help us understand that our neighbor is everyone around us – hated or not! In that story we learned that the Jewish people loathed the Samarians.

So we look at another passage recorded in the Book of the Acts, at Chapter 8: “When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them [for the Samarians had] . . . been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 8:14;16b.

This is a powerful reminder of the healing role of baptism for a people that had been divided – the Samarians who were reviled by the people of Judea and Galilee once baptized, were now accepted as sisters and brothers through the Lord, Jesus.

I’m going to guess that the Apostles’ first response was not very charitable based on the cultural hatred between them. But they quickly recalled Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan -- and its lesson about who is our neighbor. With reconciliation in mind,

look at who of the apostles was sent! Two of the apostles most beloved by Jesus himself: Peter and John! This was proof of the Samaritan's acceptance of Jesus and their commitment to Him – through their Baptism. This commitment or consecration shows how we belong to God. A great Congregationalist, Rev. Arthur Rouner, states:

“Baptism is the one great moment of life when God claims us for His own:

# when He chooses us
# and gives His seal
* that we are His
* and always have been His, from the foundation of the earth.”

Let’s make it personal: when you were baptized you became one of God’s people - known by name!

You were consecrated—either by your decision, or your parents, choose God in your name. If you were an infant at the time of baptism, then your mother and father and a Godmother and Godfather stood by you. They all agreed to raise you as a follower of Christ.

Since most baptisms are public events – you had a group of people, relatives and other church members at the public event. And, whether you were an infant at the time of baptism, or were baptized as an adult, there is never to be another baptism. Once baptized, always baptized. You may choose not to be a follower of Christ, but you are still baptized.

At any later time, you can repent of your sins and invite yourself back into being a member of Christ’s Body -- in God’s mind; your place is still there! It is like a child who walks away from table – the parents still keep a placemat before a chair, waiting for the child to return. If we sin, it is us that leave God and His Table, but God does not take our placemat away from His Table!

Martin Luther had an interesting story on repentance in which he quoted from St. Jerome. Luther wrote, in his Large Catechism, that "We [may] slip and fall out of the ship. But when this happens and someone does fall out, he should at once swim for the ship again and cling to it until he can climb back on deck and sail forward . . ."

Therefore, when we reflect on our own baptism, regardless of our age at the time, we realize that we were consecrated – we were set-aside for God. When Jesus was baptized, he set himself aside for God. When we renew our baptismal promises, we again state that we are God's. Then, as God's servants, we are to do God's work.

Rev. Martin Luther also spoke to this. He said: “If we want to be Christians, we must carry on in the work that makes us Christians. But if someone falls away from it, let him come back to it again. For just as Christ, the throne of divine mercy, does not withdraw from us . . . though we sin, so also all His treasures and gifts remain.” Rev. Luther just confirmed what was taught from the very beginning: God claims us and when we accept Jesus, we are His.

For when we accept Jesus, we accept his divinity from all time, and his birth as a man in time. We accept the resurrection of Jesus – and his ascension into heaven. We accept his teachings – his life – and his suffering. It is that change from what some prophets term “the world” that we know -- to a new life in Jesus, a “re-birth”.

Many, in speaking about baptism, use the term 'born-again.' It is a theological term, used by Jesus himself when he said we must be 'born again.' This means that we are to see life in a new way through Jesus the Christ.

We try to understand divinity and humanity in a new way because of the incarnation. We see life after death in a new way. We see life after death in a new way. We can take a fresh look at human relationships.

We view at suffering a new way. We are able to continue to re-examine our relationship with God in a new way. John the Baptist prepared the way for all of us to see God in a new way.

When we look at the unique John the Baptist in the desert wearing a camel hair cloak with a leather belt around his waist munching on locust and wild honey, we see a man – unique to be sure – was a man who was not selfish, a man who was not proud, a man who did not declare himself to be superior, a man who truly lived to pave the way for others to be ready for our Savior, Jesus. John the Baptist lived his life to bring life to others. to help them repent. to help them realize God’s mercy. and God’s goodness.

It was no wonder that Jesus went to John to begin his ministry – and that John recognized who Jesus was, for John was a pure man. When we see Jesus for who he is, we are like John the Baptist. We are no longer led to selfishness – but to otherness. We are no longer proud – but are humble before God. We no longer declare ourselves to be superior – but see who we are in relation to our Father in heaven, our Christ, the Holy Spirit, -- and our neighbor.

At the end of John's Gospel Jesus told Peter that: when he was younger, he used to fasten his own belt and went wherever he wished. But when he grew old, he will have to stretch out his hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around him, and take him where he did not wish to go. That was Peter's baptism.

Baptism is a sacrament – a consecration – a meeting with God – a being born again: born to be holy, born to service, born to love God. While we are baptized only once in life, the real exercise of our baptismal promises takes place every single moment of every single day.

We, like John the Baptist, can help bring life to others by sharing in the divine life ourselves! For we, being born in our Christ, realize God’s mercy – and God’s goodness. For in baptism, “We are sealed as the children of God the Father; we join the Christ as members of His Body; and we share in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.”

LET US PRAY,

Lord, when we were baptized, we, either ourselves or our parents and Godparents were asked if we believed in you, and your Son, Jesus, the Christ. Lord, our belief includes keeping your commandments. Our belief includes striving to love God with our whole heart and mind and soul. Our belief includes working to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Lord, the water at our baptism was blessed and was made holy by You, God, so that we, by the power of the Holy Spirit, would take our place in the Body of Christ, your church. Lord, may we re-live our baptism and know that you welcome us with great delight for you claim us one of our own.

We pray that, as we have dedicated ourselves to you, we may live a holy life, and share in the day-to-day joy that you had in knowing the Father. Amen.

PRAYER

[After the minute of silent reflection and prayer]:

Lord, today we celebrate the Baptism of your son, Jesus, by your servant, John the Baptist. We pray that we renew our own baptisms – our commitment to you of our friendship, our service, and our love.

We come to you on this day to worship you, and to thank you for who you are – and your love for us. We pray for grace to be faithful followers of you and to walk with you on our life journey. We pray for the members of this congregation who have covenanted with you and each other in love.

We pray for those in need that they may realize that in you is comfort and acceptance. We also pray that we take the time to recognize those in need – and offer of ourselves and of what we have to help them. We pray that our leaders in this church work with dedication in service to you.

We pray for all churches that they devote themselves to your spirit of care and compassion. We pray for leaders in government that they work for civil peace and civility in care for all citizens. Lord, we pray for all of this in the name of your son, Jesus, our Christ, and we invoke your Holy Spirit. Amen.