Empowered to do the work of Christ

January 12, 2014 Isaiah 42:1-9 Matthew 3:13-17 Baptism of the Lord Year A Empowered to do the work of Christ The power of water This week has been a good example of how powerful a force water can be in our lives. The weather this week has been crazy. Every since New Year’s Eve, I have watched the newscasts everyday in horror. First there was the heavy snow, then the extreme cold, then the heavy rain, now in January we are worried about flooding. I have been thinking to myself, God is up there strategizing – how many different ways can I use water to torture them? And water has indeed been a torture for me and for many others. Just like water can be a major negative force, water is also a major powerful force. Water is God’s gift to us – that brings us life physically and spiritually. The Christian Year This year, starting out I am taking us through the Christian year. Last weekend was the first Sunday of epiphany. Easter will be rather late this year. Easter does not come until April 20th. Ash Wednesday is not until March 5th. So that means the season of epiphany will be longer than usual. Seven Sundays of discoveries of the presence of Christ. That is what epiphany – the manifestation of Christ in the world. Baptism is the beginning of Jesus Ministry Christ begins his journey of ministry with a walk to the Jordan river to get baptized by his cousin John. In Israel, there are only two seasons - the rainy season and the dry season. The rain was so powerful that you did not do much traveling. As soon as the rain subsided, everyone wanted to be outside. John would have been baptizing people at the beginning of the dry season – while the river beds were still full. It is hard to believe that Jesus ministry only lasted one dry season. Before the rains began the next year – he was nailed to a cross. But his ministry to the world in those few months changed the world. But it all starts at the Jordan River. The Jordan River is a beautiful place The Jordan River flows from the top of Mount Herman where the snow melts and travels down to the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea. For the most part the Jordan River is neither beautiful nor peaceful. It’s 25 percent mud and plunges downhill at a furious pace, falling nine feet per mile. In this river where words were uttered that has influenced the course of history. This river Jordan that many believe Jesus was baptized is now a barrier between the two hostile nations of Israel and Syria for thirty miles. Amid the not so beautiful, sometimes furious river, east of Jericho, there is a peaceful and beautiful bend called the ‘Ford of the Partridge.’ It’s a place of great beauty, shaded by willows and eucalyptus trees, much as it was in New Testament times. According to tradition, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in this very place. The place of our baptism is a spot of beauty and peace amid a furious flowing river of hate and strife. When those who sought to take Him confronted Jesus he went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John first baptized; and there he abode. (John 10:40) Whether at this location on the Jordan, or beyond the Jordan, Jesus found refuge from the trials of life, by remembering His baptism. And we can, too. When difficulties seem more than we can bear, knowing that we are baptized into the Body of Christ can put life into perspective. Jack Gulledge, Ideas and Illustrations for Inspirational Talks, (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1986), 10-11 (Change by sermon author.) My baptism certificate qualifies me for ministry If you look at the wall in my office, you will see all of my degrees, my ordination certificates. I felt that I had to have that stuff, because all of the other mentor pastors have them posted in their offices. I guess – those documents are meant to prove that somehow I am qualified to be in ministry. The reality – they don’t mean anything without this little certificate here. It is my baptismal certificate. I was baptized at Second Baptist Church in Evanston in 1990. It is not my degrees, not even acceptance by the United Methodist Church – it is our baptism that qualifies us to do the ministry of Jesus Christ. We were baptized under difference circumstances, some of us may not remember our baptism, but today I want us all to remember that we were baptized. Just like Jesus have been given the power to do the work of God in the world. Jesus needed to se seen Now one thing you have to realize about Jesus’ world – in mediterannean culture – if others did not see it, it was not true. As soon as the rainy season was over – you needed to come out to see and to be seen. Jesus knew that he was the Son of God, Jesus knew that he has a purpose to live out God’s will in the world –But that was not enough. Other people had to see outwardly, what he already knew inwardly. So he went to John the Baptist to be baptized. Not only did the people see the event, but they saw the doves, they heard to voice of God claiming this man as his son. Jesus was not a sinner- but he says he did this to fulfill the righteousness of God. The good news for us – that we have been baptized in water, we have been literally baptized into Christ. Jesus didn’t free himself from sin, he freed us from sin. In baptism, we have been given the same power that Christ has to change to world and to bring others into Christ. There’s another beautiful picture of baptism given here: “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Did you catch it? Baptism clothes us with Christ. We’re wrapped up in Jesus and all of his goodness in baptism. We’re clothed with his work and his righteousness. Armani, Gucci, Abercrombie and Fitch – none of those designer labels can compare with the garments we have in Jesus’ name. God “clothes” us with forgiveness and salvation. In other words, he says that these things are ours. They’re real, just like a change of clothes. All who believe that these garments are theirs have what’s needed to be part of God’s family. The Lord offers a wonderful wardrobe for his people. It’s his Son’s life, death, and resurrection. These are ours to “wear” spiritually. God does have a dress code for his family. This is what identifies the Christian as such. Let’s face it. People often wear the clothes they do because the want to be noticed. Quite often it’s the label or the name brand that supposedly makes a person a “somebody.” Well, you want to be labeled as a “somebody”, then be labeled as one who is wrapped up with Jesus. Be labeled with Christ. Be proud that you are a Christian. Don’t be ashamed of all the Christ has done for you! God has made you part of his family. Both Baptisms A couple weeks ago I had breakfast with a man who had served with the Marines in Vietnam. This man now operates a small business here in town. He's also involved in ministry at a prison in Macomb County. This man is not ordained, but he is baptized, baptized with the water in the name of the Trinity, and baptized also through his Vietnam service. That battlefield experience took him down, down to the bottom, down to the place of mud and stones, of blood and death. I don't know about you, but if I were a prison inmate sentenced to spend years inside the same four walls, I would want someone like that man there to help me. He can help a prisoner deal with the hell of confinement because he has experienced the greater hell of the Vietnam battlefield. His present ministry builds upon both of his baptisms. Each of us has had experiences of descent. Each of us has gone down to what has been for us the place of mud and stones, of blood and death. It is these baptisms that have empowered us for our ministry. Our downward mobility has been a time, strange to say, when the divine voice affirms us and the Spirit enlivens us. Charles Hoffacker, Downward Mobility The Connection between Baptism and Mission There is a vital connection between baptism and mission. Another way to put it is that there is a vital connection between going down and going out. We do not play our part in the world's redemption when we climb ladders so much as when we are pulled downward. It is out of our pain that we heal. It is out of our poverty that we make others rich. It is from our ignorance that we enlighten others. It is by our brokenness that others become whole. It is from our dying that others come to life. We must follow Jesus in his descent, we must accept his downward mobility and our own if we are to be his true disciples, if we are to allow resurrection in our lives. In this terrible demand that we go down with Jesus in downward mobility, that we go down with him in the murky waters of the river and the dark waters of death -- in this terrible demand there is good news for us. For we already know what it means to go down. Perhaps you went down at some time in the past -- an unhappy childhood, a broken marriage, a career failure, a horrible bereavement. Perhaps you find yourself down at the bottom right now -- estranged from a loved one, troubled by an aging body, upset at a world that's changed too fast. You already know what it means to go down. You feel confused, ashamed, and without any power. Your downward descent leaves you groggy. The good news is this: there is power in that downward descent. Not power to grab and keep yourself, but power to use in serving other people. Whatever it is that has taken you to the bottom has been a baptism – if you stand out of the way and let it work. The death you have experienced can be life for someone else. That baptism of yours, horrible and unwelcome though it was, can lead you to some unexpected mission where Christ will rise again in you and your neighbor. Charles Hoffacker, Downward Mobility _____________________________________ You may not remember your baptism, but you have to remember that you were baptized. You have been given the power to be Christ in the world. The good news for us – is that God has given us all of the power that he gave Christ. But the one thing that I want you to remember is that if God gives you the power to reach out – he also gives you the strength. You never have to be discouraged – because the power of Christ is always available to you especially when you when you are discouraged in doing the world of Christ. Just as God claimed Christ in front of the world – through baptism he will always claim you. Baptism is a gift from God. It is not the water – but the power of God in the water that baptizes you and claims you as a child of God. It is an outward sign of an inward grace. Just as God wanted Jesus to be seen beyond himself – he wants you to be seen beyond yourself. He wants to you go out into the world and to make a difference. What Will You Do with Your Gift? There is a folk tale from India that summarizes our thoughts this morning. It seems that there was a good king who ruled wisely and who ruled well. One day the king called his three daughters together and told them he was leaving on a long journey. "I wish to learn about God, so I will need to go away and spend a long time in prayer. In my absence I will leave the three of you in charge. Before I leave I would like to leave each of you with a gift; a gift I pray will help you learn how to wisely use your power to rule." Then he placed in each of their hands a single grain of rice. The first daughter tied a long golden thread around her grain of rice and placed it in a beautiful crystal box. Every day she looked at it and reminded herself that she was powerful. The second daughter took one look at the common grain of rice, and threw it away, thus squandering her father's mysterious gift. The third daughter just looked at her grain of rice for a long, long time - until she finally understood what to do with it. She went outside and planted it in the ground. And it became a seed, giving life beyond itself, eventually turning into vast fields of hope and nourishment for others. When the father returned years later, he asked his three daughters what they had done with their grains of rice. Though he was polite to his first two daughters, he did not respond to their explanations with much enthusiasm. It was only after the king saw the fields of grain resulting from his third daughter's wisdom that he responded with delight. Taking the crown off his head, he placed it on hers, saying, "Beloved, you alone have learned the meaning of power." From that day forward, the youngest daughter ruled the kingdom. She ruled long, and she ruled wisely, and she ruled well. Brothers and sisters, this day as we remember the blessings and power of our baptism, as we set apart brothers and sisters for particular tasks of ministry, I pray that all of us will continue to be God's delight - powerful servants - pouring out our power for the hope and nourishment of the world. William R. White, Stories For The Journey (Minneapolis: Augsburg Press, 1988), adapted by Susan R. Andrews, The Offense of Grace, CSS Publishing Company Remember that you were baptized into the spirit of Christ. Remember that you have the power to reach out to the world. As you discover the power of Christ in your life – make sure that someone else sees that power – and knows how to claim that power for themselves. Remember your baptism and be thankful! Amen! Look What Water Does! by Wesley T. Runk Passage: Matthew 3:13-17 • Lectionary: Baptism of the Lord Item 5 of 13 | Back to Results Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by him. Object: Water at the baptismal font. Lesson: Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to talk about something very special. It is called water. How many of you thought that water is very special? (Let them answer.) It is very special because it is necessary for us to live. We could not live without water. That sounds strange because you have never had to try to live without water, but if you ever had to live one day without water, you would know how important it is. Just think of all the things that you use water for in one day's time. (Let them name some of the uses of water.) You see how important it is. That is why we call it special. Very special. Water is also used in something very special that we call Baptism. How many of you are baptized? (Let them answer.) Do you know why you were baptized? (Let them answer.) Baptism does a lot for you, such as forgiving your sins, making you part of God's world and promising you that you will live with God forever. But another reason that you were baptized with water was because Jesus told you and your parents that you should be baptized. Jesus was baptized. He asked John the Baptizer to baptize him, and John finally did it. John thought that Jesus was too good to be baptized by anyone, including himself, and he said so. But Jesus wanted John and everyone else to know that he was one of us, and therefore he had to be baptized also. It makes you feel good to know that Jesus wants to be one of us. He went to the same river where John was baptizing others and Jesus was baptized with the same water that others had been baptized with. Jesus was trying to tell us that, with him, sin died. If we are baptized in water, then our sin is drowned and it cannot live. That is one of the reasons that you were baptized. Your sins were drowned and they died, and you became one with Jesus. Water can be used for lots of things, but the most important thing that it is ever used for is to become one with Jesus in our baptism. I don't know if you will think about your baptism every time you use water, but if you think about it once in a while, it will be good. Jesus came to John the Baptizer to be baptized so that he could be with us and we could be with him, John baptized him with the water from the river and we have chosen to be like him ever since. THE ONE-HANDED CLOCK, Wesley T. Runk, C.S.S. Publishing Company, 1989, 1-55673-141-8