Is. Rev. Roland J. Wells, Jr. - Pastor

The Baptism of Our Lord - January 12, 2002

Lessons: Isaiah 42:1-9; Acts 10:34-38; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

"A Call or an Unveiling"

Introduction:

I remember June 3, 1981 really well. It was early that morning that Brenda said, "I think this is the real thing. Today's the day." I quick headed off to the Rolfing's general store in Cleveland, MN, to buy batteries and hard candy- the last things we needed for our 'ready' bag. Then off to Mankato for a day of doctors, hospitals, and at 6:15 PM, Roland John Wells, III! I can remember so many details of that day. The excitement. The waiting. The discomfort for Brenda. How brave she was. And then a baby!

That was the most amazing day of my life. But now help me answer a question. Was that the first day of John's life? Was that the beginning of his life? It was the day he was born, but we had pretty clearly suspected his presence for many months before that. He moved to music. He kicked up a storm. He'd react to a flashlight. He'd announced his presence with little flutters months before. But on June 3, 1981, he finally came out to play! He had existed for months, but on June 3, 1981 we saw what he truly was. Hold that thought.

I) Understanding Jesus' Baptism

Jesus had been on earth about 30 years when he started his public ministry. Then his ministry begins, and he 'goes public' at his baptism. What happened at his baptism? What was going on when after the baptism when God announced, 'This is my beloved son?' Why the dove? Did the Spirit enter Jesus' life at that moment? If Jesus is sinless, why get baptized at all?

These are hard questions. Early Christians wrestled with all these stories about Jesus, and tried to make sense out of them, so they could teach the next generations. Some early Christians suggested that perhaps this was the point where the mortal, human Jesus was chosen by God, and then the Holy Spirit came to him and made him the Messiah.

Christians thought about that, they went to Scripture. They realized that they had these stories about the angels with Mary and Joseph, and the promises from his conception! They thought about what John had said- Jesus was the Word made flesh- that because Jesus was the complete expression of God's self, God's Word with skin on, we could see that this Word had to have been from the beginning as God spoke! The angel had said he was to be 'conceived by the Holy Spirit'- in other words, the Holy Spirit had been there all along. John told us: John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. So Jesus wasn't adopted by the Father at his baptism, he had been God's Word since the beginning, now come in the flesh.

So, Jesus did not become God's Son at his baptism. So what was it?

II) Is it a 'Call?'

Many OT figures had very public 'calls'- like Isaiah, or Samuel. You remember the call of Isaiah in Is. 6- Hes' worshiping in the temple, and suddenly space and time is swept away- he looks where the back of the temple should be, and he looks up and sees the Lord, high and lifted up, and the hem of his garment flows down into the temple. Immediately, Isaiah senses his sinfulness, and cries, 'Woe is me! I am unclean. An angel comes and touches his lips with a hot coal and declares him righteous. (Isaiah 6:8) Then the LORD speaks:

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"

And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Or the story of little Samuel, who had been given to the Lord at birth, and was helping out in the temple, even as a tiny boy. He was being trained and taught by the old priest Eli. One night Samuel hears his name being called. He repeatedly goes to Eli, thinking that Eli had called him. Each time Samuel had replied to the voice, 'Here am I!' Finally Eli realizes that it must be the LORD calling little Samuel, so he tells him to continue his answer, 'Speak LORD, for your servant hears.' And the LORD calls him to service.

These are two of many 'calls' in the OT. God spoke to them out of heaven in a miraculous way, and they were called. Is that what is going on in the story of Jesus' baptism? Much of the form is the same. That's perhaps part of it- the form is the same. This is a beginning. There is a Divine announcement. But there is no divine call, and no answer as such from Jesus. But there is so much more.

The story recalls a verse from Psalm 2 (:7) Psalm 2:7 I will tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my son; today I have begotten you. Is this the idea? The Son of the King is being enthroned? Today he is being anointed, set apart as King? That's in there, too. Psalm 2 is a Scripture passage from the anointing and enthronement of a new King. But it's more than that, too.

III) The Unveiling

It's more of an unveiling. At this point, Jesus steps out of the shadows and into the light in the center of the stage. Up to this point, John the Baptist was in the center stage, and the spotlight was on him. Now Jesus steps up. In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus explains that this is necessary 'to fulfill all righteousness.'- for him to fit completely into what he had been created to do as a human, Jesus needed to fully identify with us. Only by entering into our predicament could he save us from it. Here he was publicly identifying with us.

It's an unveiling, because Jesus had already been alive on Earth for 30 years. He had been here, quietly being prepared. But now was his hour.

Would he have been able to do miracles before? I'm quite sure, as he was divine from conception, and was indeed the Creative Agency of the whole world. But he would do nothing until the Father told him to. He waited 'for his hour to come.' He was very precise about this. When his mother asks him to change water into wine, he declines, because the hour had not yet come. (John 2:4) Then he goes ahead, when the Father said to. The same happens when the disciples want him to go to the feast in Jerusalem. He says no, and waits for the OK from the Father, and ends up following them a bit later. (John 7:8)

He waited for the right time, the unveiling. Now all was in order. Now was the right time. He came and revealed himself to the people.

That day that John was born, everything in our lives changed. Now we were parents. Now we had real

responsibility. Now there was a new generation. We received new names - we were now Mom and Dad.

In this one brief moment of Jesus' baptism, in a shorter time than it takes for a sermon, Jesus had changed everything. This was IT! The preparation of all history had been waiting for this moment! He had been unveiled.

In our lives, it's much the same. Jesus has existed forever. His story has come to us for 2,000 years. Billions of people have trusted in him. But when he comes to you, it's a new unveiling. All of a sudden, new things begin to make sense. Things you were told years ago about God are important all of a sudden. Something new has come into your life and changed everything. You've got a new name, Christian.

Jesus isn't new, but he is to you. It's a whole new ball game. Oddly enough, in a Believer's life, that's

connected to Baptism. Maybe it's a fulfilment of that watery Word that met you when you were an infant. If you're an adult, it's time for the promise to come to you in water, too. Christ desires to be unveiled before the eyes of all people.

It's a sad thing that even in our culture, with Christian radio, Christian TV programs, free Bibles, tons of

literature, and websites, and concerts... so many still haven't understood.

Even in our churches, for many Jesus is not yet unveiled. Back in 1977 a massive study of Lutherans was done, 'A Study of Generations.' At that time, 51% of Lutherans said they'd get to heaven by being 'pretty good.' Things have changed. In 1997 a similar study was done. 20 years later now 61% of Lutherans thought they'd get to heaven by trying to be pretty good. Jesus is still veiled in many hearts. The powerful Word is confused with many other things.

When Jesus comes and is unveiled in a human heart, faith is created. When Jesus is in a human heart, that heart begins to know Jesus and understand his Word. God's Word says that we are forgiven only because we trust in Christ. We can't earn anything. We don't have to. Faith and everything else is a free gift. But only Jesus can unveil that. But that's what he does. As he came nearly 2000 years ago and was unveiled to the world, so now his Word comes to you to be unveiled in your heart. It's time. Are you listening?

Invitation, Amen.

Baptism of Our Lord - January 12, 2003

Isaiah 42:1-9

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. 5 Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: 6 I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, 7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 8 I am the LORD, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. 9 See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.

Acts 10:34-38

Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Luke 3:15-17,21-22

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." 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."