Baptism of our Lord
January 8, 2023
Matthew 3:13-17
Isaiah 42:1-9
INTRODUCTION
Each Advent, we begin in a new liturgical year, and with each new year we focus on a different Gospel. This year’s Gospel is Matthew. I included in the last two newsletters a few points about what makes Matthew unique among the Gospels, so I encourage you to take a look at that, as we begin our delve into Matthew’s Gospel this year (with a few forays into John).
One thing to know about Matthew is especially relevant today, as we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord, is that Matthew is largely writing for a Jewish audience. Because of that, we will see throughout Matthew lots of references, both explicit and implied, to Hebrew scripture, or what Christians often call the Old Testament. Today is no exception – you may notice that this passage from Isaiah, known as one of the “Servant Songs,” sounds very much like it’s describing Jesus, making it clear that the picture Matthew is painting of the Messiah is fulfilling what Israel has been waiting and looking for.
And one quick comment on the reading from Acts – this the conclusion of a fabulous story that you should be sure to go back and read on your own. Sufficed to say for now, that Cornelius, to whom Peter is speaking, is a Roman centurion – he’s the enemy, and a Gentile, and yet here the message of the Gospel is for him! Cornelius and his family become the first Gentiles to be baptized and brought into the family of Christ.
As you listen today: remember that we are all brought into that family through our baptism, and members of that family share a mission. Pay attention to what that mission entails! Let’s listen.
[READ]
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
If you think about it, Jesus’ baptism story is… kind of embarrassing. And I don’t mean because the dove may have pooped on Jesus’ head, nor the kind of embarrassment a teenager may feel when their parent calls loudly across the room for everyone to hear, “Hi sweetie! I love you and I’m so proud of you!!” No, this embarrassment runs even deeper, threatening to diminish the God of Israel’s very power and reputation. It’s embarrassing, because what kind of God would find it necessary to come to the dirty Jordan River, to be baptized by the likes of a rabble-rouser like John the Baptist, with a baptism that John has been telling everyone is for repentance? Why would God’s own son need such a baptism? Shouldn’t he be perfect? John is absolutely right – their roles should be reversed! This is embarrassing.
Yes, this could have been a grand moment in which God really shows everyone what they are dealing with in Jesus Christ. And while the trick with the heavens opening, and the voice, and the dove was no doubt pretty impressive, it’s hard not to get stuck on how weird it is that Jesus was being baptized by John in the first place. Couldn’t the heavens have opened in a circumstance less… I’ll say it again… embarrassing?
Well, I might have planned this differently, but that’s why it’s a good thing I’m not in charge of handling God’s revelation through Jesus Christ. Because the way this happened, embarrassing or not, shows us something immensely valuable about God’s work, plan, and relationship with us, and that is: that God’s M.O. is not only to be transcendent and set apart (though God is certainly both of these!), but also to be immanent, always stepping in – into our lives, our history, and our story, so that we might see how all of these are finally a part of God’s story. Let’s so how Jesus’ baptism shows us this.
First, in Jesus’ baptism, he steps into history. This is not an isolated event at a random location. The river Jordan may not be known for its beauty and cleanliness, but it is known for its historical significance in Israel’s history. It was at the river Jordan that the Israelites crossed from their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness into Canaan, the Promised Land. At the Jordan, the prophet Elijah passed his mantle to Elisha. And it was in the Jordan that Elisha cured Namaan the Syrian of his leprosy. And so much more – the Jordan River is mentioned 185 times in the Bible! For Israel and her history, the Jordan is known as a place where God intervenes and brings about new life, and now God’s own son is stepping into that rich history, stepping into the Story of God’s work on earth.
Second, Jesus is stepping into a legacy. In our first reading today from Isaiah, we hear one of Isaiah’s four “servant songs.” Look how similar the beginning is to what we witness in Jesus’ baptism: In Isaiah: “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights.” [And Matthew: “This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased.”] And then in Isaiah, “I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.” [And Matthew: “And he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.”] That’s pretty darn similar – hard to ignore! And we’re not supposed to ignore it; Matthew is doing that on purpose. He’s not necessarily saying that Jesus is the servant Isaiah is talking about – that person is never name. But he is showing that Jesus is, indeed, stepping into the prophetic legacy of working for justice for the nations, of gentleness, and humility, and faithfulness, and resilience, and all those things Isaiah describes. Jesus is stepping into this legacy, and the hope that God’s people have long clung to – just as he continues to step into our lives, bringing hope to our despair, and offering new life.
Which brings me to the third way Jesus steps in in this story: he steps into relationship with us. That he would step into that dirty river to be baptized just like we are shows that he does not want to be separate from us. Already we knew this; by his very incarnate nature he has shown this, but in his baptism, this desire becomes public: I am here with you, right alongside you, joining the story of God’s people, joining you in your call to seek justice for the nations, and working alongside you in the effort. You see, Jesus is for solidarity, not separateness. We who are baptized are united, interdependent, connected, and one with Jesus, and we are deeply loved.
And finally, Jesus steps in again and again, continually offering that love, and inviting us to join him in the mission we share. I am sometimes asked why Lutherans tend to baptize babies rather than adults, which appears to be the biblical norm and the practice of many Christians today. The primary reason is this: that when one comes to Christ saying, “My faith and commitment are strong and I devote my life to you,” that is a powerful statement, but it means that the relationship forged in baptism is a result of the devotion of the baptized. If their faith falters, so, it would seem, does the relationship. But when we come to the font, or bring a child to the font, saying, “I utterly depend on you, God,” then when we falter, or sin, or stray, we still can trust on God’s faithfulness, and God’s promise to keep stepping into our lives, our history, our story, so that we would continue to be a part of God’s life, history and story.
That’s not to say our commitment to that promise isn’t also important – and in a moment we will show that by renewing that commitment, even as we remember what it means that Jesus steps in toward us. That relationship means something, and does something in us, and in this rite we will recall what it means that we, too, are a part of this legacy and promise. But know this: that when our faithfulness falters, God’s will not. When our commitment wanes, God’s does not. God will always step in to meet us, wherever we are.
In the past, at the beginning of January, we have done something called Star Gifts – where we each pick a star with a word written on it that focuses our attention on where we are seeing God in our lives throughout the year. This year, we will do the same, but instead of stars, we’ll use drops of water, hearkening God’s baptismal promise to us, to continually step in. On your way out of worship today, pick a drop of water, and whatever word you find on there, use that as a guide and ask, “How is God stepping in to my life through this word, and showing His desire to be close and in relationship with me?” I would love to hear your stories throughout the year, and may call upon you to share! But whether or not you share, know that God does come to you, stepping into the human story to show us over and over again, that with God there is hope, there is peace, there is faithfulness, and there is so much love.
Let us pray… Faithful God, you came to us on Christmas, and you continue to come to us in many and various ways. As we prepare to renew our baptismal vows, step in again, reminding us that you will never leave us. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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