We are counting the weeks after Epiphany and attempting to get a glimpse of what life as the people of God might be like. We consider some of the most famous passages of scripture to help us shape a vision of the life we are called to live an ordinary life that isn’t ordinary. Come, let us worship the newborn King!
Baptism of the Lord, Sunday
Scriptures; Isaiah 42;1-9, Matthew 3:13-17 and Acts 10:34-43
Message; “Why?”
Isaiah 42:1-9
The Servant of the Lord
(1) “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.
(2) He will not shout or cry out or raise his voice in the streets.
(3) A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice.
(4) he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.”
(5) This is what God the Lord says- he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: (6) “I, the Lord , have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,
(7) to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
(8) “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.
(9) See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.” Song of Praise to the Lord
Matthew 3:13-17
The Baptism of Jesus
(13) Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. (14) But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
(15) Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
(16) As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. (17) And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Acts 10:34-43
(34) Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism (35) but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. (36) You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. (37) You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached– (38) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
(39) “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, (40) but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. (41) He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen–by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. (42) He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. (43) All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
This is the word of God, for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
Today as we celebrate and remember the Baptism of the Lord. I think we need to have a better understanding of, “Why” Jesus was baptized. Why we baptize today and the significance of it.
So let me start today’s message by telling you a story of a boy who had questions about baptism.
At ten years of age Jeremy suddenly became more curious about baptism since his infant cousin Jason was being baptized at the worship service that morning. Jeremy’s inquisitive eyes and mind focused today on things that in the past had passed him by without much notice.
The baptismal font in this contemporary church building had a dove suspended above it, held in place by wires that could not be seen from farther than a few feet away. Was that bird always there? Or did they put it up there just for today, he wondered? And the worship bulletin for this Sunday also had a dove featured on the front cover. He had the urge to ask his dad about the bird, because he didn’t really know if it was a dove or a pigeon or what. But he knew from experience it would be better to wait and ask the question on the way home.
As for now he and his whole family joined his uncle and aunt at the baptismal font. The pastor began by saying, “In Christian love you have presented Jason for Holy Baptism. You should, therefore, faithfully bring him to the services of God’s house …” Jeremy heard those words being spoken by the pastor, but he only half-listened to the baptismal service. He kept glancing at the dove hanging over his head. He would definitely have to ask about that bird. “Pour out your Holy Spirit, so that Jason who is here baptized may be given new life,” the pastor continued.
After worship, in the car, Jeremy said, “I’m hungry. When are we going to eat?” His father replied, “We’re going to your uncle and aunt’s house for a baptismal dinner, but it shouldn’t be too long.”
“Why are we baptized?” Jeremy asked.
His father was glad he had taught Sunday school for the past five years and that some of the lessons had dwelt on baptism. As best he could he tried to explain about the forgiveness of sins and God’s acceptance of us into his family through baptism.
But Jeremy wasn’t through with the questioning. “The pastor said in his sermon that Jesus was baptized. Did he have to have his sins forgiven, or what?” “Oh lordy,” Dad thought to himself, but he struggled with an answer he hoped was at least halfway correct. “No, Jesus didn’t have any sins to forgive. But he was baptized kind of as a sign that … that … that God had a special task for him to do.”
“So, what’s the bird hanging above the baptizing thing?” Jeremy asked.
“I can deal with this,” Dad thought to himself with some relief. “That bird is supposed to be a dove. And it reminds us of God’s Spirit coming to us — as it did to Jesus — in baptism. Also, it reminds us that God was pleased with his Son Jesus.”
“Oh,” Jeremy replied nonchalantly. “I wonder what we’re having for dinner.”
Who here doesn’t ask the same question theologians and Christians have been asking for centuries. “Why?” If Jesus was the sinless Son of God, as we claim, then why did He have to submit to John’s baptism? “Why” do we baptize?
Do you know “Why” a dove was used to describe the Spirit of God, lighting on Him? Or do you just accept baptism as something expected of Christians and move on to the next thing or question that pops into your head?
Some early commentators suggest that the only reason Jesus submitted to Baptism was because His mother wanted Him to. And that’s not a very good reason for being Baptized. And I don’t believe that.
In our Old Testament reading from Isaiah 42:1 we read: “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.” Can you see that when Jesus was baptized by John, part of the answer to the ‘Why” is that God was fulfilling what the prophet Isaiah prophesied.
Matthew recorded for us how the prophecy was fulfilled: “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.” (Matt 3:16). With a little further study of the gospels, you will find that Luke gave us a little more information saying: “the Holy Spirt descended on Him in bodily form like a dove”(Luke 3:22). And in the gospel John 1:32, John writes: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.“
So, what really happened at Jesus’ baptism? Did the heavens open up and glowing glorified angelic being descend upon him? Did a rainbow encircle him? Did a powerful eagle or a symbolic phoenix, perch upon his shoulder?
No, instead the Spirit of God descends “like a dove” (Matt. 3:16). You may not realize that a dove is not a formal species name. Technically doves are merely white pigeons. You know that favorite bird, responsible for all the disgusting white excrement on park benches, on your car, often fondly known as “rats with wings.” That’s the symbol that accompanies Jesus’ moment of baptism. Not quite what one would expect. The Holy Spirit symbolized by a dove lighting on Him, descending on Him in bodily form, and remaining on Him.
Do you remember that song, “Wings of a Dove” by Bob Ferguson. On the wings of a snow-white dove. He sends His pure sweet love. A sign from above. On the wings of a dove …
I think Peter’s testimony in Acts 10:37,38, sums it up for us when he states; ”You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached– how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”
Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, to show that through him even the most unworthy can be justified… “to fulfill all righteousness.” As Jesus told John the Baptist.
I read about a United Methodist preacher whose whole confirmation class decided they wanted to be baptized by immersion. It was one of those grand events with almost the whole congregation there at the local river. Parents were in tears, grandparents stood by proud and crying too as these young people made that momentous decision in their lives. Other youth and children stood in awe and wonder, filled with curiosity because most of them had never witnessed a baptism by immersion.
All of that wonderful emotion was short circuited when during the very first baptism the preacher was heard to say: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and … holy moly, I forgot to take off my watch!”
He got distracted and moved on to the next thing that popped into his head. I’m pretty sure John the Baptist didn’t have the kind of trouble that preacher had. When Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptized, John was ready and focused. He was a little reluctant at first. But he did recognized Jesus, immediately. And I’m sure that the crowd that was there or even John wasn’t prepared for what was about to happen.
If you remember, last week in my message “On the Run” we learned that things don’t always happen as we think they should and all too often we’re left asking ,”Why?”.
So, when Jesus came to John to be baptized his initial response was: “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” I bet he was thinking, “Why“? This is not how it’s supposed to go! But then, Jesus replied, “Let it be so now”.
If you remember, John was preaching a baptism of repentance. As the people came to Jordan River, they were consciously surrendering the guilt of their sin, being cleansed by the water of baptism, and rising clean, whole, and set free to serve God in a new way. Just as we are, when we accept our baptism.
Jesus was Baptized by John first and foremost to align Himself with us completely. How could Jesus ask us to do something he had never done? But beyond the forgiveness of sins, Jesus’ baptism did the same thing for Him that is does for us. Baptism tells whose we are. And it reveals who we truly are.
Imagine if you were in that crowd that day when, “At that moment” [when] “heaven was opened”, you saw the sky open, and an array of light appeared ! Then all of a sudden, you saw, “the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him”. And to top it all, you hear God’s booming voice say, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Jesus knew who He was before he went for the baptism by John. But you and I, like John or the people there that day weren’t. God claimed Jesus at the water of His baptism as He does the same for us. It’s God’s way of telling all, whose Jesus was, and whose we are by the acceptance of baptism, Jesus’ acceptance of baptism also shows believers, who we truly are to be. Peter reminded us in his testimony. “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” (Acts 10:34,35)
Our Baptism should remind us of and those around us of “Whose we are”, and also reveal, “Who we truly are”, by our action. As the scriptures tell us, “Fear him” [God] ”and do what is right.”
Do you have a better understanding of, “Why” Jesus was baptized? Why we baptize today and the significance of it?
So, before you check your watch because the sermon was too long or let the grumbling in your belly change your focus, leave here today following the example of Jesus. Knowing that by baptism God anointed us with the Holy Spirit and power, and we are to be doing good and helping all, who are under the power of the devil, because God is with us.
“He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he” [meaning Jesus] “is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:42,43)
That’s the ”Why”, we celebrate and remember the Baptism of the Lord. Will you go from here singing? On the wings of a snow-white dove. He sends His pure sweet love. A sign from above. On the wings of a dove … Amen.
In His Service,
Pastor Joe
Listen To Audio: Sermon 20230108
Listen To Audio: Service 01082023
Call to Worship:
L: The Voice of God prods our hearing.
P: The activity of God stretches our seeing.
L: Together they invite us down into the waters of life where the Spirit flows.
P: From there we may rise to go, to dare, to walk, and to serve beyond where we have been before.
Prayer of Confession: We are incredibly stubborn, O Lord. We have entered the season in which Your Light has been given to the world, your blessings have been poured out on the world, and yet all we can think about is our own problems, our own needs, our own desires. Help us to desire you, Lord. Help us to yearn for your presence. Pour your baptismal waters over us again, cleansing us from our self-pity and arrogance. We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pastor Joe will be available at the church on Thursday afternoon from 2 to 4. If you need to speak to him, contact Pastor Joe at 570-267-4570 (cell) or Email: joe.s.travis@gmail.com
Loose change goes to General Fund
Sunday School starts at 8:30am
Choir practice will be on Thursday at 1:00! Please come a join us in singing praises to Jesus!
PW will meet on January 12th at 11:00 A.M.
Joyce will be going to Meadow View on Friday at 2:00, Jan. 13 for an hour sing along with the residents. We spend about half the time singing old popular songs and the last half singing hymns. All are welcome to join in. Yes, masks are required.
Corporation Meeting after church on January 15, 2023
Men’s Breakfast Wednesday January 18th at 8:00 A.M.
Session Meeting Saturday, January 21st at 9:00 A.M.
Newsletter Deadline – Tuesday, January 31st, 2023.
Please sign up to host one of the social hours on the Sunday after Communion Service on the first Sunday of the month.
Listen to WPEL 96.5 for church cancellation if your internet is down during a storm this winter.
