The Baptisms of Jesus

January 11, 1998

Luke 3:15-17;21-22

One of the benefits of following the church year (as well as the lectionary) is that we trace again every scriptural record of our Lord's humanity, from his birth and infancy, a brief glimpse into his youth when he was twelve, in the temple, right through choosing the apostles, his teaching and healing ministry, his death and resurrection and ascension to the father. Now in Session at the right hand of God, we remember that Jesus Christ is very God of very God, but we also remember with gratitude that he is as human as we are ourselves.

So it is that this day we remember that Jesus came to the Jordan River and was baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist. The significance of this baptism is both profound and precious. By coming with sinners who were repenting, Jesus was identifying with us. John recognized that Jesus did not need to repent, and that the washing of water which stood for cleansing from sin and turning to God for everyone else had to mean something else for Jesus. "I have need to be baptized of You," is what John said to Jesus. But Jesus said, "Even though you don't understand it, do it anyway!"

Behold the Lamb of God! While everyone else was applying for grace to forgive their sins, Jesus, Himself, the Grace of God personified, was coming to receive the load of guilt and blame on himself so that God could forgive them. We cannot pretend to understand the 'how,' but as the songwriter put it: "He took my sins and my sorrows, he made them his very own; he bore the burden to Calvary, and suffered and died alone."

When we of the great condescension of Jesus we usually think only of the Cross and the passion of our Lord, how he suffered and died. But every step along the pathway from heaven's glory to earth's sorrow and sin was indescribable humility on our Savior's part, as outlined in Philippians 2, beginning with verse 5— "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God, yet made himself of no reputation, and being found in form as a man, humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

I think again of a little poem by Dorothy Sayers called Christmas Eve:

Tomorrow You are born again
Who died so many times
Do You like the candle light?
Do you like the chimes?
Do You stoop to wonder
Why men never see
How very closely Bethlehem
Approaches Calvary?"

But not just Bethlehem and the Virgin's womb; the baptism of Jesus was another of those giant steps down, down, down until He was where He could reach out and touch us— speak to us in language we know. He was baptized, and then tempted and tested in all ways as we are— "yet without sin," the Bible says.

John the Baptist had been telling everyone that Messiah was coming. But when he finally came even John was surprised. Jesus always surprises us— we can't predict or dictate how He will come. The key word in getting ready is the same word John the Baptist used: "Prepare the way of the Lord! Repent! Be willing to change your direction so you can get in step with Jesus!" And then Jesus came and got in step with those who were lining up to go down into the waters of baptism. When we step out to do the right thing, and go the right direction, Jesus is already i step with us, and invites us to get in step with Him!

John the Baptist said another thing about Messiah. He said that when Messiah came he would Himself be a Baptizer! Jesus was baptized to identify with us. But the Baptized was to become the Baptizer. One baptism— the baptism of Jesus by John identifies Jesus with us. But the other baptism— the baptism which Jesus gives to us, our baptism by Christ— identifies us with Him.

We, too, have been baptized with water and with the Holy Spirit. We have the privilege not only of repenting, and following Jesus, but actually sharing His life, and having His Spirit witness within us that we are children of God. We have responded in repentance. We have responded in consecration and faith. We are responding to the baptism of Jesus as we seek His face today; as we come to this table and share the sacrament.

Then is some wonderful way, when we are baptized in water and in the fullness of the Spirit then we, too, are called to be baptizers. In his assignment to the church Jesus said, "Go— teach all nations— baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Holy Spirit! And lo! I, the Baptizer, am with you to the very end of the age!

Prayer:

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting.