Baptized And Sent

Baptism of our Lord

Today's Readings: Genesis 1:1-5; Mark 1:1-8

Grace and peace to you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.

In this morning’s first reading we were reminded of how God created all things. God spoke creation into being. At least three times in the last few weeks, we have read from John 1, where Jesus is equated with the Word: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” John is making the connection that Jesus and God are united in one Being that created the universe. Jesus was the logos, the very Word God spoke that brought all things into existence.

The Spirit then, the third part of our Triune God, is said to have been the breath the filled our lungs, the wind that swept over the waters and which we still feel dance across our cheeks even on the coldest, darkest days. God. Jesus. Spirit. All have been present since the beginning of time, united in relationship to bring the world into existence. God did not split God’self in half to be born in the world as Jesus, rather Jesus has always been present in the dynamically mysterious Triune God in which we profess our faith and claim our allegiance.

John the Baptist, as we hear again in this week’s gospel reading, knew his limits. He was unafraid to say that he baptizes with water, but there is another, much more powerful, who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. John knows he cannot hand out what he does not possess. Only God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, can give the gift of the Spirit. And yet, Jesus himself requests to be baptized, too. At the moment of Christ’s baptism the heavens open, the dove descends, and the voice of God is heard.

In all four gospels Jesus’ baptism is the catalysis into his years of ministry. Before this moment Jesus was merely a carpenter from Nazareth with a pretty wild birth story that clearly not many people put much weight into for the last few years. Jesus has not yet performed miracles, turned society inside out, nor conquered death and yet it is at this precise moment that God says, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” I don’t know how it works to be both God and human. I have no idea how aware Jesus was, how much he knew ahead of time, and how much he was just being a faithful servant lead by the Spirit.. Perhaps this was the moment everything because clear for human Jesus, the moment of enlightenment or encouragement and direction. Regardless, creation and Jesus have both been cracked open, the Spirit has descended and Jesus’ ministry begins. (or as some theologians have put it, God is set loose on the earth)

We who have been baptized or are being called to baptism share the experience of Jesus. In our baptism we claim our identity, our place in God’s family. At your baptism the voice of God called YOU beloved child with whom God is well pleased. Not because of anything you did or did not do, but simply because you are you; God’s creation, reflecting God’s own image, breathing the air the Spirit provided, unconditionally loved. In our baptism we speak of being washed clean, being born new, being transformed. Perhaps, like Jesus, our baptism is the moment the sky and our hearts are cracked open, the Spirit descends and transforms us forever, thrusting us into the mission and ministry we share with our Savior and Lord.

This open and intimate connection with God is a gift strong enough to change the world. For we alone, without God, cannot make the changes internally or externally that are needed for a life of peace and love. And God has chosen not to work alone, dictating every move and stringing along humanity as if puppets in a play. Rather, we have been called into relationship and only together can we be the force of positive change in the world, making the kingdom of God known and felt in our lifetime. We must surrender to Christ, admitting our limitations and opening our hearts and minds to God, that the Spirit might work through us to do what we cannot do ourselves.

This baptism, this intimate relationship with God, is a gift given to us by grace – undeserved and unmerited. We don’t have to do anything to receive this gift. Just like there is nothing we do to earn our salvation, there is nothing we do to earn this identity, this relationship with God – our Father, Mother, Creator, Sustainer. You cannot earn it, you cannot buy it, it is simply yours for the taking, whether you want it or not. That is the nature of God’s true, deep, unconditional love for you and this world.

Jesus’ response to his baptism, to being on the receiving end of the gift he offers us all, was to begin his ministry – to begin the inbreaking of the kingdom of God on earth. Our lives may not be lived in hope of earning our way into heaven and God’s good graces, but our lives are lived in response to the love we have received from God, and Jesus shows us what that can look like. Lutheran theologian, Gerhard Forde, asks this thought provoking question in relation to grace, “What are you going to do now that you don’t have to do anything?”

You don’t HAVE to do anything with this gift you’ve been given. You can put it on the shelf and let it collect dust; there are some gifts that are meant for just that – to be displayed and looked upon lovingly. But I find the best gifts are those that are practical and can be useful in our daily lives. The gifts we receive from God are exactly this – they are meant to be put to good use, not only for ourselves, but for the sake of our neighbor, for the sake of the world. Our God given gifts and relationships are the ONLY things in the universe with the power to expel the darkness, overcome evil and conquer death itself. It does no good to make it’s home on your shelf; rather it does all the good in the world to make it’s home in your heart.

The resource we use in our liturgy each week, Sundays and Seasons, said this in it’s introduction to today’s worship, “Our re-creation in baptism is an image of the Genesis creation… the Spirit has come upon us as upon Jesus… calling us God’s beloved children and setting us on Jesus’ mission to re-create the world in the image of God’s vision of justice and peace.” The gift of baptism has re-created you to re-create the world in the image of God’s vision of justice and peace. YOU have been called and sent. YOU have been united and empowered with the Spirit of the Triune God, who is our only saving grace and the only force in the world that can transform our present pain into joy and gladness. United with God, you are agents of change, salt of the earth and light of the world.

The heavens have been broken open and God has spoken words of truth, grace and life. Christ has come to earth and the Spirit descends upon us all. The kingdom is at hand and we have been invited to participate with God in this holy and sacred work. What will you do now that you don’t have to do anything? I pray you’ll honor God’s unconditional grace and love by putting this gift to good use.

Together with God, we shall build a better world for our children and generations to come. Let us trust in the living water, the wellspring, source of life eternal that quenches our thirst and makes us whole. May we feel the baptismal waters flow through us and open our hearts for the Spirit to flood our souls. May it compel us to proclaim with the prophets, “Here I am, Lord. Send me.” Amen.