Monday 14 January 2008

Sunday 13 January 2008 Epiphany 2: The Baptism of Christ; Matthew 3:12-17; Melanie

So Jesus goes out, and gets baptized.
Why would Jesus go and do that?
Why go to a river and be immersed?
Get wet, when he wasn't even dirty?

What's the point? Seems like wasted energy. Going to a river, stuck way out there
on the far side of the wilderness.

What could Jesus be thinking? Why should he even care? What good does it do?

With galaxies to energize, constellations to choreograph,
With worlds to ignite, and worlds to incinerate,
With shooting stars to hurl around for sheer fun,
With all the pyrotechnic possibilities at his disposal,
Why would Jesus go to a river and be baptized?

The answer is so simple, it almost takes your breath away'. Jesus knows that water is powerful

There is something powerful about water.
The world saw it several years ago with the Tsunami in South Asia.
The US saw it in the aftermath of devastating hurricanes.
We saw it here over the summer last year.
Who could have imagined that water could be so powerful?

Yet here we have a throng of people from all walks of life coming to the water.
People who have made a pilgrimage into the wilderness to see a travelling preacher wearing
a coarse camel's hair tunic with a leather belt

People came because they were ready to listen to a new voice.
And this was a powerful voice.
Then one day it happened... Jesus. The request for baptism
John' s initial reluctance-then acquiescence

Finally the dramatic climax:
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. Heaven was opened
The spirit of God descended like a dove and lighted on him
A voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, Whom I love', with him I am well pleased'.

This was the start of Jesus three years of public ministry.
He was no longer one of the crowd in the Temple at Jerusalem; no longer listening to other rabbis in synagogues; now he announced to the world that he would fulfil all righteousness.

John the Baptist had foretold his coming; now through this act of baptism, Jesus was confirming that his ministry had begun. And all through the symbol of water

This changed everything!
Jesus' baptism ushered in a new baptism; Christian baptism became not just a washing away of sin but a baptism that brings the power of the Holy Spirit and a special relationship with God.

All of this happened at the start of Jesus work.
This was his commissioning service.
Now, almost twenty centuries later when someone is baptized in the church, whether infants or adults
it is no different. We still have work, we are receiving our commission.

If that sounds a bit scary, there is one more piece of good news about your baptism.
Remember that picture at the Jordan. There is the crowd, John, Jesus, and the dove - the Holy Spirit.
Don't forget the dove. From this moment on, Jesus and his ministry are empowered by the living presence of the Holy Spirit..

In just a few weeks time it will be the 29th anniversary of my own baptism. It was a special occasion.
I was 13 years old, and as I look back on it now I find my emotions welling up , words choke on the way out.

Not because of some warm fuzzy, “isn't this a nice family picture” kind of feeling, but because this is when the church gets dangerous.
This sets someone on a journey that has the potential to change the world

And maybe because it is so dangerous
So threatening
So radical
That people either flee the church as they get older
Or they weep when they have the opportunity
to reaffirm their baptismal vows

Who knew that water could be so powerful?

Trick question : The church has always known !

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