Baptism of Our Lord
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
Lakeland, FL
January 16, 2022
Isaiah 43:1-7
Psalm 29
Luke 3:15-22
[Note: the Revised Common Lectionary calls for the Baptism of Our Lord to be observed on the First Sunday after the Epiphany which is January 6th. We observed the Epiphany on January 9th rather than during a mid-week service. Consequently we are observing the Baptism of Our Lord today.]
Grace to you and peace from God and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Please pray with me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
Today we’re talking about baptism.
The anatomical juxtaposition of two orbicularis oris muscles in a state of contraction. Or try this: two sets of mandibles pressing together for a certain duration of time.
Fancy words aren’t they. Sounds pretty complicated. What does this technical language describe? Well, this is the physiological definition of – a kiss. Yet, in that language, we completely miss the absolute delight as we receive or give a kiss in a loving context.
Dr. Luther tells us that baptism is not plain water but instead it is water used according to God’s command. It is water and word. Water and word that brings forgiveness of sins, that unites us with Jesus in his resurrection, and helps us live into a life of righteousness.
Well, those are lot of words, aren’t they. And perhaps like you I memorized them in the rite of passage known as Confirmation. Well, actually, I didn’t memorize this, though I was supposed to. I was so nervous the day of my public examination that evening that I stayed home from school and tried to cram the teaching of the Small Catechism on Holy Baptism into my brain. It didn’t work.
But now I have a much richer appreciation of this gift of God for God’s people. So let me be clear about this – what Baptism is NOT. It is not an eternal life insurance policy. As you can imagine, many people seek baptism because they want to be sure, just in case someone dies. And well, I fully understand the need for that assurance, that is not all that baptism is.
Some people of other Christian traditions insist that baptism is only for those who can publicly state that they believe in Jesus and Jesus’ saving work for the world. Well, it is surely our hope that all the baptized come to a place of knowing this and proclaiming this.
But you see, the reason that we, like other Christians, baptize infants and toddlers and even adults who have questions and wonderings is simply this – baptism is not about what we do. Baptism is all about what God does.
His name was Terry. He lived on the streets in Clearwater. He found his way to church and was with us almost every Sunday. One day during our fellowship time after service, he made his way to me and said, “Pastor, I would like to be baptized.” “Terry,” I said to him, “is there any reason we shouldn’t do this now??” Terry paused a moment, and then said, “Well, I don’t look so good.” “Terry, let me tell you this – you don’t need to clean up to take a bath.”
I stood on one of the benches and announced, “Folks, please join me inside. We have a baptism to do.”
The Altar Guild readied the font, got the baptismal candle and cloth. One of the ushers prepared the Paschal Candle. I appointed sponsors for this homeless one, people to whom he could turn in this new walk in faith. Those still holding their coffee cups came and gathered around the font as Terry was baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And was anointed with oil and prayed over that the Holy Spirit would grant him the spirit of wisdom and understand, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord and the spirit of joy in God’s presence now and forever.
And in that holy moment, Terry heard the same words that Jesus did when the heavens opened and the voice of God proclaimed that Jesus was his beloved and with him, God was well-pleased with Jesus – before he had done one single thing – not one sermon, not one healing, no thousands fed. God said to Jesus, “You are my beloved, my loved one.” And God said to Terry, “You are my beloved and with you I am well-pleased. You are marked with the sign of the cross of Christ – forever.”
So baptism is about what God does. But it is not only that. In our baptisms we are called into a new life, a different life, a life that is bound up with the communion of saints, a life that is knit together with other believers – believers who may doubt and sin and have questions and wonder and stray – but believers who gather around the cross day upon day because of the love and faithfulness of Jesus.
And this gathering of believers is not idle. As disciples and followers of Jesus, we together are called each day to live among God’s faithful people, to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.
I’ve heard it described this way:
Name the name -- Jesus
Tell the story -- Gospel
Sing the songs of Zion -- Praise
Splash in the Bath
Gather at the Table
Shout it out
Y’all come!
Do you know your baptismal birthday? Mine was June 21, 1953. Mom and Dad along with my godparents, Auntie Mari and Uncle Joe brought me to the pastor’s study at the Lutheran Church in Barron Wisconsin on a Sunday afternoon. It was Father’s Day. And I was splashed in the bath. I was brought into the communion of saints, the fellowship of believers, the warmth embrace of the Holy Christian Church. I was marked with the cross of Christ – FOREVER. And so are you.
Baptism is not something that happened once and now is done. Baptism is the beginning a life together. The vows at the altar are the beginning of the ongoing life of two people together. The birth or adoption of a child is the beginning of a longtime relationship in a family. One’s baptism marks the start of our life together, members of the communion of saints. And in this, we….
Name the name -- Jesus
Tell the story -- Gospel
Sing the songs of Zion -- Praise
Splash in the Bath
Gather at the Table
Shout it out
Y’all come!
Thanks be to God. Amen.
