Today is Baptism of the Lord Sunday.
Luke 3 | Acts 2:42-47
Throughout the world today, churches everywhere will remember Jesus’ baptism.
For many Christians, this is a bit of a perplexity. If baptism is about the cleansing of sin, why would Jesus - who knew no sin - be baptized?
Well quite simply, baptism isn’t simply about the cleansing of sin. And even when it is, it’s not the act of baptism that cleanses sin. God does that and works as individually as necessary with each person.
Rather, baptism is a sacrament that signifies what God is doing within the person who has accepted it. As such, it is an act of recognition and incorporation into the people of God, which is to receive the favor of God.
So when we read the words God the father shouts from the heavens at Jesus’ baptism, it makes sense that they are words of affirmation. Baptism is a two-way affirmation.
And as an act demonstrating the movement into the people of God - the Church, the Body of Christ, it is a beautiful thing indeed. Just read those five verses about the early Church from Acts 2 today.
Luke 3
In the fifteenth year of the rule of the emperor Tiberius—when Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea and Herod was ruler over Galilee, his brother Philip was ruler over Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was ruler over Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas—God’s word came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. John went throughout the region of the Jordan River, calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. This is just as it was written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
A voice crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way for the Lord;
make his paths straight.
Every valley will be filled,
and every mountain and hill will be leveled.
The crooked will be made straight
and the rough places made smooth.
All humanity will see God’s salvation.”
Then John said to the crowds who came to be baptized by him, “You children of snakes! Who warned you to escape from the angry judgment that is coming soon? Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives. And don’t even think about saying to yourselves, Abraham is our father. I tell you that God is able to raise up Abraham’s children from these stones. The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and tossed into the fire.”
The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”
He answered, “Whoever has two shirts must share with the one who has none, and whoever has food must do the same.”
Even tax collectors came to be baptized. They said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?”
He replied, “Collect no more than you are authorized to collect.”
Soldiers asked, “What about us? What should we do?”
He answered, “Don’t cheat or harass anyone, and be satisfied with your pay.”
The people were filled with expectation, and everyone wondered whether John might be the Christ. John replied to them all, “I baptize you with water, but the one who is more powerful than me is coming. I’m not worthy to loosen the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. The shovel he uses to sift the wheat from the husks is in his hands. He will clean out his threshing area and bring the wheat into his barn. But he will burn the husks with a fire that can’t be put out.” With many other words John appealed to them, proclaiming good news to the people.
But Herod the ruler had been criticized harshly by John because of Herodias, Herod’s brother’s wife, and because of all the evil he had done. He added this to the list of his evil deeds: he locked John up in prison.
When everyone was being baptized, Jesus also was baptized. While he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit came down on him in bodily form like a dove. And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.”
Jesus was about 30 years old when he began his ministry. People supposed that he was the son of Joseph son of Heli son of Matthat son of Levi son of Melchi son of Jannai son of Joseph son of Mattathias son of Amos son of Nahum son of Esli son of Naggai son of Maath son of Mattathias son of Semein son of Josech son of Joda son of Joanan son of Rhesa son of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel son of Neri son of Melchi son of Addi son of Cosam son of Elmadam son of Er son of Joshua son of Eliezer son of Jorim son of Matthat son of Levi son of Simeon son of Judah son of Joseph son of Jonam son of Eliakim son of Melea son of Menna son of Mattatha son of Nathan son of David son of Jesse son of Obed son of Boaz son of Sala son of Nahshon son of Amminadab son of Admin son of Arni son of Hezron son of Perez son of Judah son of Jacob son of Isaac son of Abraham son of Terah son of Nahor son of Serug son of Reu son of Peleg son of Eber son of Shelah son of Cainan son of Arphaxad son of Shem son of Noah son of Lamech son of Methuselah son of Enoch son of Jared son of Mahalalel son of Cainan son of Enos son of Seth son of Adam son of God.
Acts 2:42-47
The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. All the believers were united and shared everything. They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved.
Prayer
God,
As I continue to remember and live into the story of the entrance of Christ into the world, I’m so thankful that Jesus led the way in many human things. The birth, the participation in family (and all that comes with it!), the inclusion in a local community (Nazareth), practices of religious faith (synagogue, Temple, etc.), eating, sleeping…your solidarity with us in these kinds of things makes you so much more approachable, despite our best efforts to make you a dude sitting on a golden throne somewhere far, far away.
You could have chosen some kind of running-of-the-gauntlet as the initiation into your way, a test of pain or dedication to demonstrate our actual willingness. But you didn’t. You offered us a bath. What grace!
…and even in this, Jesus leads us. Thank you for his baptism.
Now help me, God, as I seek to live into the life it signifies of love, holiness, and justice. Give me the confidence and assurance that I can do what you’re calling me to do, wrapped in the affirmation of your love from heaven.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.