January 9, 2011, Baptism of Jesus (A)
Matthew 3:13-17
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’
During seminary I worked for a summer at a rural church with a pastor named Dick Sansgaard. He and his wife had already raised their children, but decided later in life they like it so much they would do it again. So they adopted a three year old boy named Sammy. Once they got Sammy home and introduced to the church, the community and set up in his new home, they decided it was time for Sammy to be baptized. What a wonderful occasion it was. Very exciting. After the service they went to the parsonage for a baptism party with cake and ice cream and gifts. As Sammy was sitting there eating his cake and ice cream, he began to reflect on the day. He said “I was baptized today?” “Yes,” said his pastor dad, proudly smiling. “And Jesus took away my sins?” Sammy continued. His dad said “Yes he did. Jesus took away your sins.” Then Sammy said “Well, I want them back!”
He thought he’d been robbed! So his father set him straight. He set the record straight on what baptism is really about. Today as we heard Matthew, chapter 3, retell the story of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus, it’s not just 3 year old boys that need to be set straight on baptism, but grown-ups as well. John didn’t quite get it when Jesus came to be baptized.
There John was preaching up a storm. A man who, by all accounts, was not a neat man, not a polished man, not a soft-spoken man. No, John was course and loud, preaching a message of fire and brimstone. Giving them that good old time religion. Lit ‘em up he did. And the people loved it. They came to the river to make a new start with God. They came from the towns and villages, from all around the country side.
And as John was course and edgy, so were the people who came to him. These were not religious people for the most part. They were the salt of the earth, maybe a little too salty, if you know what I mean. Over the years their lives had grown a little too course. Over the years their lives had grown a little too calloused. Over the years their lives had grown a little too uncaring toward God. They were spiritual misfits and religious hillbillies. Bassakwards and moral bumpkins. They were eager to amend their ways and make a new beginning.
And when they heard John’s message ring across that arid land, they came, imperfect and unclean into the water. Baptized by John, washed and cleansed, ready for a new start with God. And then . . . there he is – Jesus, that is. Standing with the crowd. Coming with the crowd into the water.
John recognizes him of course. The Son of God, the beloved of the Father, the one whom angels adored, the one who was the very righteousness of God, coming down into the water. Into the dirty water, soiled as it was with the sins of the people. John protests when he says “Why do you come to me? I should be baptized by you.” But John got it all wrong. He didn’t quite grasp what baptism was all about. And Jesus had to set him straight. Jesus had to set the record straight. “It is necessary to fulfill all righteousness.”
And Jesus goes under the water, covered from head to toe. He goes into the water, the place sinners have let go all their uncleanness and he soaks it up. He is saturated with it. As the water covers him, he takes upon himself the sinfulness of all those who have been there. He assumes their coarseness. He assumes their callousness. He assumes their coldness to God. He takes it all upon himself.
When Jesus comes into the water, it’s not because he needs to be forgiven. It’s because without him water is just water. But with him it is life changing water, a new beginning, a clean slate.
Years ago we had a member of the church who was the head of infectious control at one of the hospitals. It was his job to see to it that the hospital was clean, that hazardous waste was disposed of properly, and that there weren’t any stray cooties. He would say both there and here regarding cleaning: “The solution to pollution is dilution.” The solution to pollution is dilution. When Jesus entered the waters of baptism with us he took upon himself our impurity and he imparted to us his purity. He released his grace into our lives so that we could be immersed in his righteousness. So that you could be penetrated with his love. So that every nook and cranny of your existence would be saturated with his holiness. So that every dimension of your life would be infiltrated with his purifying presence.
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 3:18 that ‘we are being transformed from one degree of glory to another.’
God is looking to transform every area of your life. Your family. Your marriage. Your kids. Your friends. Your mind. Your heart. Your workplace. Your sexual life. Your neighborhood. Your money.
As we begin our capital campaign this month, I am reminded that Martin Luther once said that many Christians go through the waters of baptism holding their wallets and purses over their heads. Meaning, we are not always sure we want God getting involved with our finances, unless of course it is to give some more. We are not always sure we want to mix faith with finance. We aren’t always sure we want the church talking about such things. Keep your hands to yourself, we might say.
Why would Jesus need it anyway? Let’s get something straight. When it comes to faith and finances we need to set the record straight. Listen to me. Jesus doesn’t need your money. Whatever you put in the plate each week, whether its five dollars or five hundred dollars, Jesus does not need it. It’s chump change to him. He owns it all anyway. All the gold, the diamonds, the pearls and oil, everything it is already his. As is the entire planet, and the solar system, the galaxies -- yes they belong to him too. Why give to someone who has it all anyway.
I’ll tell you why. It’s like when my kids were real young. I remember taking the kids on dad dates. Each one, I would take out and have some adventure. One of the earliest and tastiest dates was to McDonalds. Oh what a great time we had. Just me and the boy. We’d go there and get a happy meal. You know it has a toy right inside the box. But you’ve gotta eat your meal first. How are those French fries? Aren’t they just the best in the world? And the chicken nuggets. Yeah, they’re made from chicken parts. After you finish son, we’ll go play in the playground in all those tubes.
On more than one occasion when we would be nearing the end of the meal, he would get up to go to the potty. He would take one step and then turn back to me, looking me right straight in the eyes like a gun-slinger and say “Don’t you eat my fries.”
“Don’t eat your fries?” I laughed to myself. I bought those cotton-pickin’ fries. And if I had wanted some of his fries it wasn’t because I wanted to take away from him. If I had any interest in his fries it was not the fries I wanted, but the opportunity to connect with him, a chance to bond, a chance to give him something of myself.
God has given us so much. It delights him to provide for your needs. It pleases him to make you the special object of his affection. And if God has any interest in your money, it’s not because he wants to take something away from you. It’s so that he can give you something of himself. Your finances are an opportunity to connect with him, to bond with him.
One of the most beautiful verses in the Bible comes in this baptism story. Once Jesus is baptized, the heavens are opened and the voice of the Father covers Jesus in approval “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well please.” Before Jesus has done a thing, before Jesus performs his first miracle, offers his first teaching, heals his first cripple . . . God declares his eternal love for him. And you, my people, as you stand there in the water with Jesus, cleansed and made new, the Father’s words cover you in approval. Before you do a thing, before you say a prayer, help a friend, help at church, or give a pledge to the capital campaign . . .
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