Matthew 3:13-17, Baptism of our Lord A,
January 12, 2014
Grace
and peace be unto you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, Amen.
God was not in these waters
October
2012. The hurricane named Sandy hit land. It brought 115 mph winds and pounded
the northeast with torrential downpours. The entire coast and twenty-four
states, from Florida to Maine, were impacted by this storm. Buildings were
destroyed and livelihoods were lost. The coast was ruined. Hurricane Sandy
caused at least $65 billion in damage. Almost 300 people were killed, some
immediately and others after time in a hospital. Superstorm Sandy came to
America, but God was not in those waters.
July
and August 2013. Heavy rain struck Manitou Springs in Colorado. In a matter of
days, this area received a year’s worth of rain. Not yet recovered from the
previous year’s forest fires, this part of Colorado experienced flash flooding
that led to terrible mudslides. Bridges were destroyed, roads collapsed, and
houses demolished. Mudslides came to Colorado, but God was not in those waters.
April,
June, and July 2013. Our very own Quad Cities receives remarkable amounts of
rain, raising the water levels of all local rivers. At least four times during
the spring and summer, the Mississippi flooded over its banks. At the same
time, the Wapsi and Rock rivers also flooded.
Some
buildings were damaged, including many homes and businesses. These excessive
waters forced Davenport to put up their Hesco barriers multiple times along
River Road and Credit Island. After carefully protecting the Credit Island
lodge from the waters, it went up in flames. Many who loved this lodge were
devastated. Flooding came to our part of the world, but God was not in these
waters.
We
have experienced many natural disasters caused by rain, snow, and ice. When the
waters come in excess, our lives stop as we assess the damage. Buildings and
homes are often destroyed, leaving people without places to work or live.
Sometimes
we can prepare for these times. People along the coast can board up their
homes. We can build homes above flood levels and create levies and floodwalls
along the river. Sometimes, all of our protection isn’t enough. Sometimes we
can’t help but watch from safety as everything we know is being demolished. I
do not believe that God causes those natural disasters.
God is in these waters
But
God is in some waters at some times. When water is combined with scripture read
and proclaimed, then God is present. In the waters of baptism, God does not
destroy the good. Instead, God destroys the bad within us and enlivens the
good. We know that God comes to us in those holy moments of baptism because
Jesus first experienced baptism. Jesus went to the Jordan to be baptized by
John, and God was in those waters.
Jesus was baptized by John
After
John had made a name for himself, Jesus traveled from Galilee to John at the
Jordan. He knew that it was time for him to be baptized. When Jesus approached
John the Baptist, John immediately knew that this man was not just one more to
make clean. John knew who he was, and he knew that Jesus didn’t need to be
baptized. Jesus had no sins to confess; he did not need to be washed. For every
reason that John baptized others, Jesus did not qualify. All that John had
preached about and all of the baptisms that he had done were all in preparation
for this moment.
John
wanted to be baptized by Jesus. He asked him, “Why do you want me to baptize
you? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?” Jesus answered him, “Don’t worry
about your role in this. You need to baptize me to fulfill all righteousness.
It is part of God’s plan.
So, John
took Jesus into the river, and he did as he had done with all the others. John
gently leaned Jesus back in the water until his head was at the water level. He
said that Jesus was baptized in the name of the one true God. Then John leaned
Jesus back further until his entire head was submerged in the river.
God was in more than these waters
Then, as
Jesus slowly lifted his head out of the river, the water streamed down his face
and dripped from his hair. Looking up, Jesus saw the sky change above him. It
looked like the blue sky was pulling away to reveal a bright golden light. And
from that stunning bright space he saw something white and holy coming down to
him. Although it appeared as a dove, Jesus knew that this was the Holy Spirit. When
this Spirit descended upon him, Jesus felt himself changed and at peace.
Then
Jesus heard a booming voice from heaven say, “This is my son, the Beloved, with
whom I am well pleased.” (Matt 3:17) Jesus knew that this was the voice of his
one and only Father. In this moment, the Trinity was complete in Jesus, Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus
left the Jordan strengthened, prepared, and empowered for his entire ministry
that would come. He was ready to face the world, yet he does not go straight to
teaching or healing. Instead, he had to face the temptation of the devil first.
From the bright, holy moment of Jesus’ baptism, he was led directly to one of
his darkest – into the wilderness.
God is in our lives
We too
face dark moments in our lives. Our dark moments, like so many natural
disasters, are not caused by God. Yet God brings us through the darkest times,
walking along side us. When the water seems to be rising above our heads, God
lifts us up to safety. We are never alone.
One way
that God does this is through baptism. Because God has baptized us and cleansed
us from all of our sins, we can step refreshed into each new day. When we
receive communion, we are strengthened for what is to come.
If in
baptism we die to sin and are raised to new life, then these waters are
powerful. These waters are as destructive as Hurricane Sandy, destroying
everything in its wake. The waters of baptism create mudslides inside us,
taking away all that is evil. The waters of baptism flood us so that only the
good can survive. “Cleansing us from all our sins” sounds so simple and
peaceful. Instead, God creates a deluge inside us to strip away all that stops
us from serving God.
All of
the crashing waves of the flood at Noah’s ark, the blessed separation of the
sea during the Exodus, and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Jesus’ baptism are
wrapped up in those three little scoops of water gently caressing an infant’s
head. No matter how we are baptized, whether through sprinkling, pouring, or
submersion, the water and the word bring God to us. All of God’s love, grace,
and will for us is found in baptism. Amen!
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