Matthew 3:13-17
The Baptism of Our Lord / Year A
The Church of the Good Shepherd
13 January 2008
Preached by the Rev. David Fredrickson
The story we come to here in Matthew’s gospel this morning is pivotal, it is the foundation, the very reason why we baptize at all. What happened that day is nothing short of a miracle, the beginning of an incredible ministry that would change the face of the world forever.
All the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, each begin the story of Jesus ministry with the story of his baptism. Each of these gospels assert that the mission of Jesus was more important in the grand scheme of things then was John’s. Perhaps most importantly, these gospel accounts connect the baptism of Jesus with the work of the Holy Spirit. The baptism of Jesus is presented, unlike any of John’s other baptisms, as a baptism in which the Holy Spirit takes over, taking it out of John’s hands and placing it into the hands of God. The other baptisms that John performed were prophetic, a preparatory washing and cleansing for the ultimate coming of the Messiah. But the baptism of Jesus was different, a baptism in which the heavens were opened up. The Holy Spirit descended like a dove and settled upon him and then a voice came out of nowhere, a voice declaring, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
The day began as any other down at the river. John was baptizing, washing people up, getting them ready for the Messiah. It was a ritual that Jewish people sometimes went through, a kind of purification rite. In the paragraph immediately preceding the one we heard read this morning, John makes it clear what he is doing down there at the river as he speaks with the religious leaders who had come to see what was going on, John said, “I baptize you with* water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with* the Holy Spirit and fire.” John said, “I just wash you up; he will burn you up! Purify you with the Holy Spirit!”
Later that day Jesus came down to the river. Things were going along smoothly until Jesus came forward and asked John to baptize him. John knew that he wasn’t equipped for this, but Jesus assured him that he didn’t have to be, that God would take it from him and accomplish what needed to be accomplished. The moment Jesus came out of the water, John knew that he was not in control of what was happening. The heavens opened up, the Holy Spirit descended and then there was that voice, indeed God was present.
I don’t know how many heard the voice that day. I’m am glad, however, that somebody heard it, recognized the Spirit descending and felt the fire. Most of all, I am glad that somebody had the guts to tell us. Because, just maybe then we, though sorely limited by our modern intellectual restraints, might be open to such a voice, and such a vision.
This morning we are going to baptize little Paige. Though she is a child, baptism isn’t reserved for infants and children, in fact, like Jesus, adults are baptized in this church and many others, all the time. Many Protestant Churches will only baptize adults and those who attend such churches often ask those of us who baptize children and infants, “Why?” They point out that a child cannot believe the Apostle’s Creed, actively choose to follow Jesus in their daily lives, and read Scripture and pray in the same way that adults can. “Why, then do you baptize infants and children?” Indeed, a child cannot believe in the Apostle’s Creed, choose on their own to follow Jesus in their daily lives and read Scripture, but that is exactly the point. A child is totally dependent upon the grace of God to do for that child what she cannot do for herself and so we baptize children, not with the baptism of John, but with all the promise and expectation that God will be at work in this child’s life forever. We baptize anybody, at any age, into the same promise.
In a moment (Later this morning) we are going to baptize little Paige. What a priviledge. The chances are good that the roof will not open revealing an aperture in the sky, that we won’t see the Holy Spirit descend upon her or hear the voice of God, but the presence of the Holy Spirit will be no less present here then it was that day on the banks of the Jordan River. Paige’s parents and godparents today are giving her to God, freeing them from that burden freeing them to be parents and godparents.
There is nothing more difficult for a parent then willfully giving their children over to God, not knowing what God has in mind for her life, yet that is exactly what we will be doing here this morning. Though we will probably not be able to witness it with our eyes, the Holy Spirit will indeed come and alight upon Paige this morning and she will never be the same. She doesn’t know it now, but there will come a time when the gifts that come upon her here this morning will empower her to believe the Apostle’s Creed, actively choose to follow Jesus in her daily life, read and understand the Holy Scriptures and pray with a discerning and obedient heart. Indeed, she will have all the tools to become a great advocate for Christ in this broken and chaotic world, to be an instrument of peace and reconciliation among those who only know war and strife. We all have these tools and they were given to us the day we were baptized. (Her) Mom and Dad and godparents, (as her parents and godparents you) have the responsibility to help her grow into and know this God who has the ultimate claim upon her life. You (They) and she need to become an active part of this community so that we can be a part of that with you and her. (Pray for her everyday of your lives, pray with her and always ask God what to do when making decisions on her behalf.)
As members of this community, you and I have the responsibility to invest our lives and our gifts, our time, our talents and yes even our treasure, to insure that Paige has every opportunity to know and follow her master, Jesus. It’s hard, yes, but it is a miracle and today you and I get the opportunity to be a part of the miraculous, to witness a rebirth, to join with God and the Holy Spirit in welcoming a new disciple among us. What a privilege indeed.
In Jesus Name; Amen.
