Roger's Postings

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Mark 1:9-15. Jesus baptism and our Lenten journey 1/3/2009

(9) At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. {10} As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. {11} And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." {12} At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, {13} and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. {14} After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. {15} "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Here at the beginning of Lent we are again reminded of Jesus’ baptism, and the call for us to repent and believe. Now this raises many questions for us at this time. What has Jesus baptism got to do with Lent, and what is the significance of his baptism, and then what is the connection with repentance and believing the Good News? Surely, for many of us here this does not seem to be such a great and important topic for us to think about. We think that we need to be more positive and up-lifting, and life applying than talking about these issues. Yet here is something that is absolutely essential to the lives of each and every one of us. Unless we take on board what is given to us here, we are in big trouble.

Now first of all surely, Jesus did not need to be baptised: after all, he was sinless: he was God's Son. But then, what has it got to do with us and peoples lives today. Yet here we need to remember that what is happening here in Jesus’ baptism is vital for us and for our salvation: if there was no baptism, there would be no salvation for us: no hope at all. At the same time, it helps to remind us of what baptism really is all about, and to understand our own baptism and baptised life far more clearly. With that also comes that very important connection with repentance and belief.

So let us spend a little time thinking about what is happening here and the importance of it for us so that we may receive the blessings that God has in mind for us. The situation back then was, that, as a result of John the Baptist prophesying of the saviour's coming, and preaching of the need for people to repent - to turn away from their sin – that is from living against God's will and in rebellion against him; and to begin anew as God's people - focussed on him; many people came out to John recognising that here was a prophet sent from God. They knew that they were far from what God expected them to be, and as a result were being baptised - washed clean from their sin. Now here Jesus joins them in their repentance and baptism.

Now we know that Jesus was without sin, and yet here remarkably, he joins with humanity in repentance and baptism. And this is what he came for and to do, and in many ways, what he now does there at the Jordan river and what takes place in the rest of his life, and in particular on the cross and in his resurrection; they are all joined inexplicably together: They are all part of the same event.

Here he comes into our world and takes our humanity and our sin on himself. He identifies with us in every way, knowing that God must judge and punish all of our rebellion and sin: His holiness determines that this has to be; so in order to be able to help us Jesus enters our world, and even though he was sinless, takes our sin on himself.

Then he goes down into the water and up to the cross, taking that sin to its ultimate conclusion, punishment and death. There sin and he as a sinner in our place, is drowned; punished; taking the full brunt of God's wrath on himself. Then as he rises up out of the water; and the grave, he and thereby we also are washed clean: our sin is removed from life forever. With that, the heavens are torn open; the curtain dividing sinful humanity from God was torn, from top to bottom, making it possible for humanity to be in God's presence and to be a part of his family for all eternity.

Then, we are reminded, that out of heaven comes God's Holy Spirit descending on Jesus and his people, giving direction, help and guidance as we go forward in life as a part of God's family. God's own Spirit descending on Jesus and us to lead us forward in a close personal relationship with God: helping us to live and be what is intended for us: to lead him and us through the temptations and hardships: suffering and death – to eternal life. And with that also comes God voice of approval and acceptance. 'You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.'
Acceptance as a true Son - as true sons and daughters of God himself: people whom he loves dearly and is pleased with: people he wants to share life fully with in every way. And this all takes place at Jesus baptism – and in his death and resurrection.

Jesus’ repentance, death and resurrection was all for us, so that the opening of heaven, the gift of the Holy Spirit; God's acceptance and approval, comes to those who are identified and joined to him. It is at our baptism that we in turn are joined to the Lord Jesus Christ and the salvation he brings: there we are joined to his death and resurrection: there is our turning away from sin – our living against God and his will; a turning away from selfishness and a wanting to live and do our own thing without consideration for what God would have us do. There is our turning from following the devil and all his works and ways. Jesus Christ and his will now becoming all important for us his people.

There we acknowledge God's condemnation and judgment against this life of sin, and our need to be rid of it all from our lives: there is our turning back to God in repentance, and our assurance of forgiveness, and our being given the ability to go forward and live as the people of God, with Jesus Christ as our Lord and master. There in our baptism we died to that former way of life, and have sin and it's consequences washed clean from our lives, so that we can live this new and wonderful life with our Lord forever. There also comes God's Holy Spirit into our lives to help us believe this Good News: to trust in all that he promises us: and lead and guide us to live this new life in close connection with our Lord each and every day. At our baptism also comes God's acceptance of us as his own sons and daughters, and the assurance of his love for us. All of this and more is ours through our baptism, as we are joined with Christ and his work of salvation.

Then just as Jesus baptism, life, death, and resurrection are joined together so also is our baptism and our living life each day as God's people, and our death and rising again in eternity. That is why we as Lutherans stress the need for us to daily go back to our baptisms. Daily we need to live in repentance; and daily we need to turn away from sin to God: daily we need to be cleansed from the wrongs that we are and do. And daily we begin anew to live again focussed on our Lord and in living in a close personally relationship with him: daily seeking to have his Holy Spirit lead and guide us: daily listening for God's word of acceptance and love.

Yes daily we need to listen to our God as we spend time in his Word so that we can be continually reminded of the things that are important for us: So that we can be refocussed again and again on the Lord Jesus Christ and his Good News for us. Then the Holy Spirit can help us to believe and to remain strong in our faith; so that we can look to him and trust him as our Lord and Saviour in the midst of a world that wants to put the focus everywhere else. Then we will be able to go forward confidently into life, knowing that even though we might be out of step with the rest of society, we have that which is important and necessary. Our focus then can be on the Lord Jesus, and so be able to face life in whatever way it comes, and know that our Lord is with us and will help us through.

All of this began at Jesus’ baptism and continues on throughout our life until we finally die and rise again in eternity to then see and hear in all its fullness God's love and approval first of all for Jesus and then for us who are connected into him. Yes, in Jesus baptism all this takes place for us, and at our baptism we are joined to his baptism; his life, death and resurrection; his identifying with us and we with him. He gaining and giving us all that he won for us, and we in turn, living in light of it.

Now then, throughout this Lenten season let us again and again, daily, go back to baptism: Jesus’ baptism and our baptism. There again may we be drawn to that which is necessary and important, and be enabled to turn our focus away from ourselves and the things of this world, back to God where it belongs. Then may our faith; our belief in the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ, help us to go forward boldly and confidently to live as God’s people here on earth. To God be the Glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord, now and forever. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

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