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January 14, 2002 Matthew 3: 13-17
What Difference Does It Make that You're Baptized
Joke: "Church Sprinklers." These are the folks you see times: when you sprinkle them with water, when you sprinkle them with rice, and when you sprinkle them with dirt. Otherwise you rarely see "Sprinklers".
I had a gentleman in my former church who used to tell me that he was a CEO Christian: Christmas, Easter, and Occasionally.
In TapeWorms, we watched Oh Brother Where Art Thou" ... from whence came our introit today.. "When I Went Down to the River to Pray" ... it is a baptism scene from the rural south of 30s ... folks in white garments, walking into one of those big lazy rivers and dunked. One of the movie's characters is suddenly moved to be baptized ... and declares upon emerging that he's been baptized ... he's different.
The baptismal rite that John practiced was not something new to his first century audience. As a symbol of cleansing and of rebirth, it was used by various sects. Within Judaism it was the step taken to initiate proslytes into full membership in the Jewish community. While any water was acceptable for this procedure, the preference was for a clear, running stream of water - it best symbolized to the participants the symbols of cleanliness and purity. No wonder John chose the forceful waters of the Jordan for his baptismal font.
All four gospels tell of Jesus' baptism. Some are troubled by Jesus' baptism by John. "Why, did Jesus need to undergo a 'baptism of repentance' when he is 'without sin'?...
But let us remember that John's message was "repent" The words "repent" and "repentance," in Hebrew, both come from the same root word "schoov" it means literally "to turn around." Repentance is not to be confused with confession, Matthew the Gospel writer, who used the equivalent Greek word (metanoeo), meaning "to change one's mind." Repentance is not expressing regret for sin (saying you are sorry); it is changing the direction of one's life.
Even seen in this light, Jesus' baptism troubles some folks. "Why, would he have to change the direction of his life?" Well, we have no idea what the 20 or 30 years of Jesus' life prior to his baptism has been like; where he'd been; what he'd been doing; he had now chosen to turn from it, change directions, and turn toward the Gospel mission. What is important is not what Jesus was turning from, but what Jesus was turning towards .. he is, and he tells John, turning the "fulfillment of righteousness," toward the doing God's will.
Righteousness here means, as often elsewhere, doing the revealed will of God.
Just before his Ascension into heaven, the Risen Christ says to his disciples: "Go ... and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19) In each baptism, what was begun in the River Jordan is continued and expanded. Christian baptism receives its meaning and significance from the baptism of Jesus.
At the baptism, Jesus' identity was established. The voice from heaven was a public declaration of who Jesus was.
One sometimes hears baptism referred to as "christening." An old Episcopalian priest used to say: "We christen ship; we baptize babies!" And then he would offer to break a bottle of champagne over the head of the person being baptized. However, there is some truth in the word "christen": The Child or adult is being baptized is named, which is what we mean when we use that term. The word "christen" finds its origin in the Greek (chrio) meaning "to anoint" In baptism we believe that the person is anointed with the Holy Spirit.
Xx czar of Russia's 500 soldiers, in order to be baptized, hung on to their swords, lifting them out of the water while the rest of their bodies were immersed. How like the church!!! "Lord, I will follow you if it doesn't mean giving up my kitchen ... Lord I will follow you ... if it doesn't mean losing my crosses in the front hallway ... Lord I will follow you ... if it doesn't mean giving up a tithe, or a golf Sunday, etc ... etc.
How many of us feel that we are employees of God, able to work for God, but to go back to our own lives when a particular job is finished. With this "employee" idea, it is easy to work God into (or out of) our schedule. But baptism is an entry into the family of God. If one is truly a child of God there is no working it into the schedule, it is a state of being. No escape, unable to run away. This is fearful and wonderful at the same time.
XX a retreat for ordained ministers and asked the participants to name the Biblical character with whom they most closely identified. The responses were usual mix of Biblical heroes and holy ones until young pastor responded, "The only name I could think of was 'worthless,' because that what my father always called me and said of me." And he began to weep. One wise, old pastor stood before the young man, put his hands on his shoulders, and said to him, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Much more than a cleansing from sin (which, frankly, the blood of Christ has already done), Christian baptism is our adoption into the family of God, each one of us a precious child in God's eyes, each one us empowered by our heavenly Father to face and overcome whatever "the world, the flesh, and the devil" may throw at us.
Confirmation coming up
In moments of despair and desolation, Martin Luther would say to himself as a reminder, "I was baptized."
XXX parable in my mind regarding how we come into relationship with God vs. 'just visiting.
Seems that there was this great couple...lived in a regular neighborhood ... but their doors were always open to all the kids ... especially, the homeless, the parentless. Anyone was welcome anytime for a meal, clothes, a place to sleep, a family ... if that's what they wanted.
The understanding was always that if any kid wanted to be adopted by this couple ... all they had to do was ask, and they were officially adopted with all the rights etc. as if their biological child.
Adoption days were great celebrations .. a special meal, a party ... new last name .. and lots of hugs.
Well the years came and went. Lots of kids took the offer and were adopted. Lots of kids didn't but continued to enjoy the 'family life' in the home. There was so much love in that family, an outsider couldn't tell who was adopted and who wasn't.
Sadly one day, this couple was killed. Now, unbeknownst to anyone, this couple had lots of money, assets, etc. The inheritance was incredible! When the will was read, everything was divided equally ... amongst the adopted childen.
There were lots of kids there who lived as part of the family for years and considered themselves as much a part of the family as the "technically" adopted kids and protested the will.
All the lawyer could say was ... the invitation was always there. You were able to experience all the benefits .. just the inheritance.