Baptism
of the Lord (C) January
10, 2016
Luke
3: 15-17, 21-22 Panzer
Liturgical Service
When you boil it down to its most basic simplest
explanation, there are two kinds of Christians – those who remember their
baptisms and those who do not. Many of
those who remember their baptisms came to the water of their own choosing. Some
traditions call it making a decision for Christ. You choose Jesus, and the
symbol or sign of that choosing is baptism. For many traditions that promote so
called “believer’s baptism” a sense of personal repentance is a necessary
component of the baptismal process.
Almost of all of those who don’t remember come from
traditions that support and encourage the baptisms of infants and young
children. These traditions, many of whom are represented here today, work from
the premise that God chooses us first, and the baptism is the sign or symbol of
our response to what God is already doing in our lives. In these traditions,
baptism is a singular event. It happens once in our lives, and then we spend
future opportunities remembering and reflecting on what our baptisms mean to
us.
Each takes their theological rational from
scripture, weaving together the gospel
stories of Jesus’ baptism with Jesus’ instruction as his ascension to “ go
and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them
to obey everything that I’ve commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20 CEB).
But baptism didn’t start with Christians. Long before
Jesus, people were using water to ceremonially cleanse themselves and their
worship spaces. John the Baptist was preaching quite famously about how much
the world needed to change – about how much the people needed to turn back to
God – about how this would get them ready for the really big thing that God was
getting ready to do, and the One who was coming to do it.
For John, the big word was repentance. For most of us, this means feeling bad about
the mistakes we’ve made and trying to do better. For John, repentance was so
much more – much more radical and dangerous. For John, repentance was about
rejecting their brokenness, and becoming ready to bring in a new world order, which
in light of the cruelty of the ruling Roman government was very dangerous
indeed.[i]
People were literally choosing God over the country, and Caesar and his little
minions didn’t like that one bit.
Yes, John’s message was dangerous, but it was also one
of hope and action. He wasn’t just calling for people to reject the status quo.
He was also preparing them to follow someone who would come and really turn the
world upside-down.
Jesus came to John to be publicly recognized as a
pivotal leader in the march toward this new world order. His presence with
them, the things he taught through word and deed, laid a foundation for the
Church we have today. But the real miracle of Jesus’ ministry was not just that
he was God who came in human form to live and teach among us, but that when he
left the world at his ascension, the Holy Spirit remained with us to lead,
guide and comfort us through all the joys and messes of our lives.[ii]
And still today, 2000 years later, we still come to
the water to reclaim our lives for God. Today I want us to look at this passage
from Luke and see at least two ways that our baptisms are a reflection of his
baptism.
First, Jesus came to be baptized in public. It was
his debut to the world, so to speak. And as we look back on the day, we see
that he was identifying himself with John and his followers, who were already
in hot water with Herod, the local ruler. Here, Jesus found the beginnings of
community. He didn’t go to John in the darkness of night, or in a quite
out-of-the-way place to step out on the stage. He did it surrounded by people,
as a witness to the power of God. [iii]
When we come for baptism, it is also a public and
community event. It is a time of celebration, and promises are made. Questions
are asked of those people baptized, or of their sponsors, about who God and
Jesus are, and of their willingness to reject sin and evil and turn fully on
the path to God. The gathered community reaffirms their own baptisms and makes
promises to support the newly baptized in their life in Christ. Every time we
come to the water, we are remembering and promising again to renew our
relationship with God and Jesus Christ.
Secondly, in Jesus’ baptism, we encounter head on
the power and person of the Holy Spirit. According to Jewish tradition, the
Holy Spirit has been around since the creation, but in this moment, we encounter
the Spirit in a whole new way. The Spirit is no longer hovering over the world,
but descending in the form of a dove, that everyone could see, and speaking in a
voice that everyone could hear – “You are my Son, the Beloved – with you I am
well pleased.”
This is true for us, too. Too many times I have
heard people speak as if baptism is a magical rite which protects their
children from harm or the golden ticket for admission to heaven. It is neither.
Nor is it about membership in a particular denomination or congregation. In
fact, it is so much more.
Baptism is a sacrament which claims and names people
into the Kingdom of God. In its waters, we are cleansed from the sin we have
committed, and the ones we have not even thought of yet. In its grace, we are
healed from the brokenness of the world and prepared to spend eternity with
God. Through baptism, God is at work, in us and in the church. And in return, God expects something from us.
He expects us to take our baptisms seriously.
Through baptism, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, not just to become
a part of a movement towards God’s new creation, but also to embody that same
spirit in the way we live our lives every day.[iv]
So what does this look like? The early Christian
reformers encouraged people to remember their baptisms – its promises and its
responsibilities. It was their belief that every time we wash with is an
opportunity to give thanks for our baptisms. How would our own self-worth be
increased if we said daily, I am God’s beloved child, called and sent to
make a difference in the world” as we
take a bath or shower in the morning or wash our hands before meal time?[v]
Do you know the date of your baptism? If not, find
out, and on that day for each person in your family, light a candle and say a
prayer of thanksgiving for the gift that baptism has brought to your life. Use
this day as an opportunity to serve others, as a reminder that baptism calls us
to a life of service in Christ’s name.
Each Sunday after the sermon, we rise together and
say the Apostle’s or Nicene Creed. Creed – from the Latin word Credo means “believe”. I’ve known many
people who don’t like the creeds because they aren’t sure whether or not they
believe all that it has to say. I tell them it’s OK, because the creeds are something
we grow into, just like our baptisms.
Today, we will also take the opportunity to give
thanks for our baptisms. Instead of walking up the aisle and flinging water on
you from a branch collected from the neighboring woods, we will invite you to
come forward and take a glass bead from the bowl of water in front of the
altar. In that moment, you are welcome to give thanks for your baptism, and to
ask God to give you the courage and strength to live out its promise in the
world.
Remember your baptism and be thankful… that God has
worked through your baptism and continues to work through you. Remember that
your baptism is a part of your identity as a child of God and member of the
family of those who follow Jesus Christ.
Remember you baptism and be faithful to the promises made and the work
that you are called to do in his name. You are beloved!
Amen.
[i]
Ron Allen, Preach this Week, January 10, 2016, http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2709
[ii]
Ibid.
[iii]
Ibld.
[iv]
Ibid.
[v]
David Lose, Preach this Week, January 6, 2013, http://www.workingpreacher.org/craft.aspx?post=1624
Also David Lose, …In The Meantime, What is Baptism?
January 8, 2013, http://www.davidlose.net/2013/01/what-is-baptism/
We included an opportunity for baptismal/faith renewal as a response to the word. We placed it immediately after the sermon hymn and recitation of the Nicene Creed, and before communion. A bowl of water was placed on a small table in front of the altar and in the bowl were small glass beads (like the ones used for flower arranging). As each person came forward, they took a rock from the water. We supplied napkins for people to dry their hands, but about half of the people were happy to go away with their glass bead and a wet hand back to their seats.
*INVITATION TO FAITH RENEWAL
P In the words of the Creed each week, we proclaim belief in God, Father¸ Son and Holy Spirit. But do we live as if we believe? As we celebrate the baptism of Jesus, we are given the perfect opportunity to reaffirm the promises made at our baptisms. This reaffirmation reminds us that our baptisms, whether or not we remember them, are a defining point in our lives, and call us to live in a particular way – as those named and claimed by God. If you desire to renew these promises, please remain standing.
*RENEWAL OF THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT (Those who desire this renewal will stand.)
P Do you in the presence of God and this congregation desire to renew the covenant which you made or which was made for you at your baptism?
C I do.
P Do you seek to walk in the life of faith as a person who trusts in God alone for life, strength and salvation?
C I do.
P Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Savior of the world; and do you receive him as your Savior and Lord of your life?
C I do.
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
P We give you thanks for the gift of baptism. In this water we were buried with Christ in his death; from this water we were raised to share in the resurrection; through this water we were reborn of the Holy Spirit. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us now, enlighten us with your Wisdom: renew our call to ministry and strengthen us for loving service, that we may proclaim and live Christ’s good news.
C Amen.
ACT OF REMEMBERING
Those who desire are invited to come forward, touch the water and take a glass bead for remembrance to recall their baptism into Christ; then return to their seats.
Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Affirmation of Baptism, page 234 © 2006
Inclusive Prayers of Thanksgiving Over Water: Resources and Model Prayers J. Frank Henderson ©
February 2002
Life in Liturgy – Baptism of Christ (C) Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) © January 2012
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