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| image from anastpaul.com |
The Baptism of Our Lord
This Sunday, all across the world, people are celebrating the
Baptism of our Lord. One might be tempted to think of Jesus’ baptism as a mere
technicality.
We
are tempted to think that it is a technicality because of Jesus’ words.
When
Jesus came to John to be baptized John was reluctant. But Jesus said…”“Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to
fulfill all righteousness.”
It cannot be a mere technicality. The
baptism of Jesus appears in all four Gospels. Jesus even directs his apostles ““All authority in heaven and
on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to
obey everything that I have commanded you.”
Baptism
is surely important. And because it is so important, let us revisit, not only
the Baptism of our Lord, but also our own personal baptisms, and let us reaffirm our baptism in all
of its power and meaning.
Two
things I will propose to you: when we are baptized, it is not only a personal
thing we do, baptism is also our initiation into the world-wide church of our
Lord. And second, because we are then agents, disciples in this world-wide
church, baptism is not the end of our stories, but the beginning.
Apostle
Paul, in Philippians 2:12-13, instructs that salvation is an ongoing process
rather than a “once and complete” task. He also declares that it is God doing
the work in you.
Baptism is the
beginning, not the conclusion.
Because
we have membership in this universal church, we gain the Holy Spirit and the
gifts of the spirit for the work of the church.
Let us
begin with Luke’s account of Jesus baptism…
“21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when
Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily
form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
Among
the many things you can find in this short passage, there are two most
important…baptism identifies you as being in the family…”you are my beloved
son, or daughter. And baptism affirms you as well as Jesus…”with
you I am well pleased.” Yes, I know you may say that those words were meant for
Jesus. But, through Jesus, Jesus extends those sentiments to us as well.
Again, baptism is important. It brings you into a large
family. And it affirms you as having value. And of course, Jesus told his
disciples to go into all the nations. And we continue to do so.
I write of Jesus baptism in my midweek encouragement here
because this coming Sunday I want to focus on Simon Magus who was written of in
Acts, chapter 8.
Between now and then, remember Jesus’ baptism and also your
own.
Know that you have a continuing story, and be excited about
where it takes you next!
