January 8, 2012 Baptism of the Lord             By the Water and the Spirit

Mark 1:4-11
4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
            9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Part of the meaning of Baptism is the washing away of sin. The scriptures teach, and personal experience affirms, that each of us is a sinner. It is sin that separates us from God. Baptism doesn’t mean that we become perfect, but it does mean that sin is no longer a barrier to our relationship with God.

Baptism is one of our two sacraments which are outward signs instituted by God to convey an inward or spiritual grace.
Communion is the other sacrament that United Methodists celebrate.
Baptism: Greek baptizein to dip in water. Initiation into the Christian faith through a worship ceremony in which water is applied by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion while the Trinitarian formula is spoken.

Significance of baptism or confirmation, in which the individual submits to God’s grace and finds identity and affirmation. On the part of one being baptized, baptism expresses repentance, forgiveness, trust and faith. The people of God participate as those who live out God’s words of affirmation to those who submit to God’s grace. Here baptism finds new meaning as the pastor and the congregation follow God’s example in responding with affirmation and blessing to the one who comes for baptism.
Faith is belief, trust, and obedience.
It was a decision that we made or that was made by our parents to be baptized. We committed or our parents committed for us that we would be brought up in the Christian faith. Baptism is acknowledging the claim that God has on our life. God loves each and every one of us. Justifying grace: as we decide to commit to Christ we are in a right relationship with God.

Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
John’s dress marks him as the new Elijah, whose coming some believed marked the arrival of the end times. 2 Kings 1:8 They answered him, “A hairy man, with a leather belt around his waist.” He said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”

Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. 16 he will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
John the Baptist encouraged people to an inner moral reform that was symbolized in the external ritual of baptism. Only the inner moral reform constitutes forgiveness for the soul cannot be cleansed by a washing of the body.

Baptism is a means of divine grace using water as the vehicle as the act of God through the grace of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Our baptism is sign and seal that we belong to Christ.

We belong, belong to God, belong to each other, and belong to our church, our community, and our country. But most of all we belong to God and are called to repent, to be forgiven by God and to be baptized with the Holy Spirit to go and do.

Being born again, born of water and the Spirit. The original mode of baptism was probably immersion because it involved a direct threat to life by drowning and a sudden deliverance from this death, it was a powerful symbol of the structure of faith, of being buried with Christ (the dying of the old person) and of being raised to new life (the birth of the new person). (John 3:3-5, 2 Corinthians 5:17).

The only time baptism was used was when a Gentile became a Jew. And then the proselyte would “baptize himself and all his family”.

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Baptism is God's gift of unmerited grace through the Holy Spirit.
When we receive Christian baptism, we all can lay claim to the most powerful secret weapon ever offered to creation--the power of God's love and grace. God's love is a transformative, transfiguring power so great that it has no comparison here on Earth. The world still doubts this power because part of its "secretive" nature is its outward appearance. Who would think that a Spirit described by the gospel writer and forever envisioned afterward by tradition as a "dove" would harbor such power?

And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
God’s Word confirms Jesus’ status as the unique source of salvation for humanity. Jesus is the agent of God’s salvation.

The heavens have been torn apart and heaven and earth are connected through the in breaking of the Holy Spirit the voice of God communing with God’s Son.

We feel a deep joy that Jesus is God’s Son, the Beloved. Jesus is now, for us, the Word of God in human form … the Way, the Truth and the Life … God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God. After witnessing his baptism, we don’t have to wonder any longer about who Jesus is. We know his true identity.

Application:
            Daily remember we are called to be humble: repenting and asking forgiveness for our sins.
Christian pastoral care listens humbly to the needs and wishes of the other. But Christian pastoral care is also given the authority to proclaim—to announce reconciliation, to require fidelity, to demand justice.

            Daily remember life is not about the material but the eternal.
If our baptism involves a participation in Jesus’ baptism, and if Jesus’ baptism initiates his ministry of suffering obedience, then our baptism must include a similar acceptance of self-denial. The path that baptism opens is a road typified by bearing one’s own cross, and of saving one’s life only by losing it (Mark 8:34-35).

            Daily remember Jesus baptizes us with water and the Holy Spirit.
Spirit is the real substance of God acting in creation and redemption and final reconciliation.

            Daily remember Jesus is the Son of God sent to forever save us from our sins and give us the gift of eternal life