The Baptism of Our Lord Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 January 10, 2010
Today is the day referred to as the Baptism of our Lord.
It is that day in the life of the church where we hear the story of Jesus being baptized in the waters of the Jordan River.
For that reason alone, it seems only appropriate that we take time today to talk about this thing called baptism and what it means for our daily lives.
When it comes to baptism there are a variety of ways to talk about what happens when the Word of God and water are brought together.
In previous sermons I have talked about baptism as a form of ADOPTION, much like the Apostle Paul does in his letter to the Galatians; in that God the Father adopts us and takes us in as one of his children.
Another way to talk about baptism is that it is like BRANDING.
For those who work with livestock know that there is the practice of an owner putting his or her mark on each of his or her livestock to show ownership.
Baptism is like branding in that with the baptismal waters the cross of Christ is placed on our forehead and we hear those words: "Child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever."
It is also appropriate to talk about baptism as a WASHING.
This too is a good analogy in that we are all in need of washing and cleansing.
It is our understanding that baptism washes away the sin, not just past sin or present sin, but future sin.
Baptism washes the outside and the inside of our lives.
It washes the parts we can't see.
The parts we can't find.
The parts we don't want to admit exist.
The eternal parts and the internal parts.
So whether we are talking about adopting, branding or washing—one thing remains constant and true—this is a gift from God, it is a reminder that God's love is unconditional and nothing will separate us from God's love.
This morning I would like to lift up a few more words to help us understand what is taking place in this sacrament of Holy Baptism.
The first word I want to lift up is the word: CLAIMED.
There are many of our brothers and sisters in Christ who talk about making a "decision for Christ".
When they speak of doing so I believe their hearts are in the right place, their intentions are good and they are being faithful to their understanding of scripture.
But I tend to believe they have the word order backwards.
As Lutherans we tend to confess and believe that it is God who does the accepting, the claiming, that it is God who has made the decision to claim each of us in the waters of baptism and I believe that distinction is important.
Perhaps for that reason we have a tendency to baptize children more often than adults—as a reminder of God's amazing grace.
At a time well before they can earn or merit any favor or supposedly prove themselves worthy, they are claimed.
Long before we know how they might turn out—they are welcomed and accepted.
This is grace, pure and simple.
And yet there is no age restriction on how and when we will baptize.
The truth be known, baptism is available at any time, at any age, in any location and in any setting.
As a seminarian and as a student chaplain at Fairview Riverside Hospital I distinctly remember the first baptism I performed.
It was my weekend to be on call and about 10:30 at night I received a phone call from the nurse's desk and I was told that an 87-year-old man lying in a hospital bed had indicated that he had never been baptized and would like to be baptized.
So there in his hospital room with some of his adult children we gathered around his bed with a washbasin and we had a baptism.
On his wrinkly and bald head he was baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
In the years that followed I have baptized newborn babies in hospital neonatal units and full-grown adults in their living rooms.
One year when the youth from my former congregation were on a mission trip to Toronto, one of the youth had indicated that he had never been baptized would like to be baptized.
So on the way home, with his adoptive mother, and siblings, the whole group of mission trippers gathered on by the waters near Niagara Falls and my associate baptized Dwayne.
The point is this—it really does not matter whether we baptize in a baptismal font, with an eyedropper, or in cold frigid lake; it doesn't matter if the child is newborn or on his or her deathbed.
What matters is that God's Word and water are present.
What matters is that we believe, that we place our trust and our faith in the promises that God makes when one of his children are baptized.
What matters is that—God is the one claiming us—God is the one who is doing all the work.
God is doing the deciding and God is making the decision and making the promise to love the newly baptized from here to eternity.
That is why we call it grace—it is a free gift, it is gift we have neither earned or merited, it is a gift with no strings attached, it is given regardless of how hard we try to be good or how badly we fail at being faithful.
It is a gift from God and that is all that matters.
Martin Luther, in his sermons and writings has been passionate in reminding his listeners and readers to "Remember your baptism."
I have to admit, that while I know that I was baptized on August 10, 1958 at Augustana Lutheran Church in Washington, DC, I really don't recall much as I was only a month and half old.
But I believe Luther was not so much concerned with our historical memory, but rather something deeper.
In Luther's Catechism he writes: "A truly Christian life is nothing else than a daily baptism once begun and ever to be continued."
I think Martin Luther wanted us to remember each day who we are, and whose we are, and how beloved we are.
Even in an age when we spend so much time talking about "self-esteem" don't we sill long to hear that we are beloved and claimed?
Once we have been individually called we now find ourselves GATHERED as the body of Christ, a family and as community.
And this is important because if for no other reason to remind us that we are not claimed to be individual, solo Christians on this journey alone.
Rather we are claimed and gathered so that we might walk together, being supported by and supporting one another and enjoying the fellowship of one another's company.
It means that all of us, saints and sinners alike, are gathered to live faithfully together.
Consider the story of a young woman, who in accordance with the practice of her home church, came to the church council meeting to ask permission for her newborn baby to be baptized.
According to the story, baptisms don't usually generate debate, but this one caused a long discussion.
The baby was born outside the bond of marriage, and the father was nowhere to be found.
The leaders of this small church debated whether they should permit the baptism to take place.
One man in particular didn't feel it was right.
Others responded that this is a child of God, regardless of the circumstances under which it entered the world.
The board finally agreed to baptize the baby.
On the day of the baptism, the mother brought her child forward and stood at the front of the church beside the minister.
One of the council members noticed that no one was standing at the font along side the mother and child and he thought they should be represented, so he began to get up.
At the same time, the man who opposed the baptism was also rising in order to show his support now that the decision was made.
Soon other council members stood and began to come forward.
Apparently others in the congregation began to think that they too were suppose to come forward—and by the time the order of baptism began, the entire congregation was standing at the front of the church gathered around the baptismal font surrounding the mother and child.
I like this story because it reminds us of a couple things.
The first being that while we might not always agree on some of the specifics of how we live out our lives faithfully, we do realize what is ultimately important, that our relationships with God and our relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ trumps how we practice our faith.
Secondly, it reminds us how the Spirit of God has a variety of ways of gathering the beloved children of God into the kingdom.
And the Spirit of God is not discriminatory—it is an equal opportunity gatherer, and that too is a reminder of God's amazing gift of grace.
I have one more story.
Years ago I took a Sunday off to spend some time with some friends of mine in the Twin Cities.
On Sunday I joined them as they went to worship at an inner city Baptist church.
It was an experience I will never forget.
Unlike most of the churches I have attended, this congregation was very diverse in its ethnic makeup and that diversity came out in its community worship.
They had a gospel choir that had the power and spirit to get this sometimes stoic Lutheran to stand up and sing and clap along. It was wonderful.
Then came the sermon.
Prior to the sermon the pastor placed a simple fish bowl down in front, about where we have our baptismal font.
And the focus of her sermon was on how we are live in the baptismal waters of God's grace.
It didn't take long for me to get hooked on what she was saying.
But then she took all of us by surprise by stepping out of the pulpit and walking down to the fishbowl; reaching into the water she removed one of the tiny goldfish and placed it on a plate.
And then she returned to the pulpit.
I know she continued her sermon, but to be honest I don't recall a word she said because my attention, and the attention of most everyone there that morning was on the goldfish—a gold fish that was sort of flopping around, and gasping like fish are prone to do once they are taken out of the water.
Now you have to remember that this was a Baptist church, a predominantly black Baptist church, and unlike predominantly white Lutheran churchs, these folks were not inhibited and felt perfectly comfortable in speaking up.
And people did.
They made it clear that they thought the goldfish ought to be put back in the fishbowl.
And that conversation played in perfectly with the point the pastor was hoping to make—just as fish are created to live in the water—baptized children of God are created to live in their baptismal waters, surrounded by other children of God and nurtured in the grace of God.
And just as a goldfish is probably going to die if left out of the water too long; children of God will also suffer and our faith is subject to suffocation if we are not living in the waters of God's baptismal grace.
Eventually one of the members of the congregation got up and placed the goldfish back in the water and we all let out a united sigh of relief.
Which I might add, also fed into the preachers point—each of us is called to assist and rescue, if need be, those who are living outside their baptismal waters.
And it would be a sad thing to realize that we care more about a single goldfish and less about the great many fellow children of God who are flopping and gasping for the abundant life that only God's grace can offer.
So, now that we have been claimed and gathered, now what?
I think you know the answer to that question
Quite simply we are SENT out into the world.
Many of you have heard me say this before and you will no doubt hear me say it again…God, didn't, claimed you and gathered us so that we might simply sit back and do nothing, to be passive, to be spectators.
But rather we have been claimed and gathered so that we might be sent forth for the sake of the world.
Don't believe me? Read your Bible.
Through out scripture there is a reoccurring theme of God calling and equipping people of faith to act and serve on God's behalf in the world.
What that acting and serving looks like will vary from individual to individual, just as each and every community of faith is different and unique, we all are gathered with the understanding that we are to share with and support one another as we are gifted and blessed.
Scripture tells us that in the waters of baptism the Holy Spirit blesses each of us with differing gifts and talents.
For some it might be the gift of teaching or mentoring others in the faith and passing along the faith.
There are some of you who have been blessed with the grace to reach out to those who are struggling outside their baptismal waters, and are willing to do whatever it takes to guide and assist.
For some it might the gift of being willing to listen and discern, to stand beside those who are going through difficult times.
For some the Holy Spirit has blessed them with a creative gift, the ability to share their faith through music, art and drama thereby enhancing and enriching our worship experience.
Some have been given the gift of vision and an ability to look at the big picture, to gently challenge the faithful to move in new directions, taking leaps of faith, to venturing into uncharted waters.
Every congregation would be in a state of confusion were it not for those who have the gift of leadership and the ability to gently lead and guide, providing an un-anxious presence during turbulent times.
And suffice it to say, every community of faith would be lost were it not for those who are gifted with the desire to roll up their sleeves and pitch in, getting the job done and working quietly behind the scenes.
These are but a few of the gifts that the Holy Spirit bestows on us in the waters of baptism, and they are but a few of the gifts we have been given so that we might use them as we are sent out into the world to bring glory of our God and to serve our neighbor in need.
As we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord, may we leave here this morning assured that this is most certainly true.
Let us go knowing and believing that we have been marked with the cross of Christ.
Let us go trusting that God has claimed us, adopted us and made us his own.
Let us go knowing that we do not go along, but surrounded by a great cloud of gathered witnesses in both heaven and here on earth.
Let us go forth knowing that we have been claimed and gathered not just for our own edification, but also for the benefit and salvation of the world around us.
And may we leave here with the assurance that nothing will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Marked with the cross of Christ forever, we are claimed, gathered, and sent forth for the sake of the world. Amen! Thanks be to God
Pastor Stephen Blenkush
Zion Lutheran
Milaca, MN
www.ZionMilaca.org(Sermon Archive)
