January 9 Baptism of the Lord
Psalm 29
Psalm 29 speaks about the voice of the Lord and how strong and powerful it is.
When it speaks of the Lord over the waters, we may recall various times when
there is a connection between the people of God at water places and the
presence of God. In Genesis 1 we are told that in the beginning the earth was
covered with water and God’s Spirit hovered over it. Then the voice of God calls
for the water and the land to be separated. Imagine the power that would cause
that to happen. At the Red Sea Moses holds out the staff while the wind pushes
back the water. That would not be a gentle breeze, but a forceful wind. In the
wilderness Moses strikes the rock and water gushes forth. If that rock had to be
cracked open it would be a powerful force, maybe with a loud sound. Even at this
moment as we anticipate the reading of the story of Jesus’ baptism, we might
anticipate both the presence of God over the water and the voice of God speaking
about his Son.
Isaiah 43:1-7
Isaiah speaks to Hebrew people in exile and speaks about the presence of God,
but speaks to reassure the people of God’s presence when they are endangered
by water. Again we may recall the Hebrew people passing through the water at
the Red Sea as they seek to escape from the Egyptian army or again when they
are ready to cross into the Promised Land and the Jordan River is at flood stage
and they cannot imagine how they will be able to safely cross to the Land they
have long waited to received. When the priests carrying the Art of the Covenant
step into the water, immediately the water stops flowing and they walk through
on dry ground. God’s promise of assurance is that God walks through the water
with them.
The Isaiah passage begins with God’s affirmation that he has created us and called
us by name. We belong to God. God has redeemed us by forfeiting others for our
ransom. He promises to the Hebrews that he will gather all their people, no
matter where they have been scattered and bring them home to Israel. In vs 7,
he makes this affirmation that all who are called by his name were created,
formed and made for his glory. What does that mean for each of us? How do we
hear those words?
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
The gospel lesson takes us back to John the Baptist’s teaching to the people who
came to hear him preach that he could only baptize with water, but the one who
comes after him would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. John was speaking
this out of response to the folk who were wondering if John might be the Messiah
because of his teachings. John wants them to know that the Messiah or the Christ
would be able to do far more than he is able to do.
In verses 21-22 Luke gives us the briefest of descriptions of the baptism of Jesus.
There is no direct reference to the water, nothing about a conversation between
Jesus and John about any hesitancy by John to baptize Jesus. Luke only talks
about God’s action following Jesus’ baptism: the heavens open, the Holy Spirit
descends in a visible manner as a dove and the voice from heaven proclaims: “You
are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Do you see any connection between the words that God spoke and the prophecy
that John spoke about the Christ baptizing with Holy Spirit and fire?
In the next verse (verse 23) Luke records that Jesus was about 30 years of age
when he began his ministry. Remembering that, how does Jesus baptism mark
the transition from his life as a carpenter to a preacher/teacher; a resident of one
community to a traveling preacher/teacher; from one who was probably most
often identified as the son of Mary and Joseph to an emerging identity as the Son
of God?
How does our baptism mark and change in our identity now matter at what age
or method of baptism or do we really focus in our teaching and understanding of
baptism and a life changing event? Who are we identified after our baptism?
Acts 8:14-17
The book of Acts is fully named: The Acts of the Apostles. In this book we can
rightly expect to learn of the actions of the Apostles after Jesus ascends and God
sends the Holy Spirit to them on Pentecost. Then they are the in-charge people.
In the Acts 8 we witness a developing pattern in the early church where the
church and church leaders in Jerusalem claim the authority and the power to be
the inspecting church over new evangelistic movements and leaders. When they
hear that people in Samaria in response to the teachings and ministry of Philip
have accepted the gospel, they send Peter and John to check them out. One of
the points of inquiry is about the baptism they had received. When Peter and
John learned that they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord, they laid
hands on them and prayed for the Holy Spirit to anoint them and the Spirit came
to them.
In Matthew 28:16-20 the risen Christ comes to his disciples before he ascends and
gives them a commission to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the church this became known as the
Trinitarian formula that includes the fullness of God. It has been the standard in
the Christian Church for baptism, for blessings and for invoking the presence of
God.
That is why Peter and John included an additional step for the folks in Samaria so
that the commission standard was honored.
As we approach Baptism of the Lord Sunday, you may want to compare the story
of Jesus’ baptism from the gospels: Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22.
John does not record the baptism of Jesus, but John the Baptist affirms the
descent of the Holy Spirit as the sign that Jesus is the Christ: John 1:32-34.
Some questions for pondering: Why was Jesus baptized? Why does the church
practice baptism? What difference has baptism made in your life? If you have
never been baptized, why not or why would you consider it now?