The Baptism Of Our Lord, January 12, 2014
- Matthew 3:13-17
I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
- Isaiah 42:6-7
I really doubt Jesus’ baptism happened this way, but you know what I want to believe happened at that moment? I want to believe that after Jesus was able to get John the Baptist out of his way, that Jesus did a big ol’ cannonball right smack in the middle of the Jordan River. And he didn’t just do a cannonball, he did the sweetest, most perfect cannonball that there ever was. He made such a splash that it sent water in every direction. In fact, that splash was so big that the water from that splash is still spreading in every direction. And Jesus has called you and me to keep the splash moving.
Before I way more about Jesus’ big splash, I want to invite you to take a moment to share with one or two people nearby about one time and place that you have volunteered…not including in the church! Share briefly something you decided to do, some time in your life you, “I will do this,” and gave your time to a certain cause or project or activity or program. Go!
Okay, based on the good buzz in the room I’d say that most of you didn’t have a hard time thinking of at least one place you’ve volunteered. It might have been harder for some of you who give so much of your time and energy in the church to think of something outside of the church to talk about. But there was a reason that I restricted the scope of my question. Jesus’ launching a big ol’ cannonball into the Jordan River is my fantasy. But here is a bit of New Testament reality: no one ever successfully volunteered to be a disciple of Jesus. Let me say that one more time: In the Gospels, no one ever successfully volunteered to be a disciple of Jesus.
The only people who have ever properly carried the title ‘disciple,’ or ‘apostle,’ or ‘follower,’ are those who were first called by Jesus.
There’s an old Gospel song that goes:
But if our Lord had heard Peter, Andrew, James or John singing that, before they’d finish half a stanza he would have been shaking his head. And when they finished, he would have said, “No you didn’t. You didn’t decide to follow me. I decided to call you, first. And I am glad to say you answered the call and followed. And I’m glad to hear you don’t plan on turning back. But no one decides to become my disciple. I call disciples, and I send apostles.”
There are times when the word follower is the right word for the occasion. I want Jesus to lead; he knows the way. And I will do my best to follow the way he shows me. All the way through life. All the way through death, too. To the other side.
There are other times when the word disciple is the word of choice. A disciple is a student. I never want to stop learning from Jesus. A disciple is disciplined. Even though I am tempted to be lazy, I know that remaining a student, a disciple requires of me a certain level of discipline. Everything is not okay. Everything does not go.
And there are times when the word apostle expresses in just the right way the angle I’m looking for. Apostle is from the Greek verb apostello – to send. An apostle is one who is called and sent on a mission. And the mission to which we have been called and on which we have been sent is to be the continuous splash of the one who hit the water that day on his baptism.
The power of that splash is so strong that for about twenty centuries now it has not lost any of its power. It hits those Jesus has called and seeks to set them on a new course. The power of that splash is aimed at all the places that need water.
These folks are directing the powerful spray of their hose at a fire. You are the continuation of the splash of Jesus’ baptism and he’s sending you to fight fires, too. But you probably won’t need special equipment. Where in your world are fires of anger burning? And I don’t mean the world at large. It would be nice is one of you were the one who could go over to the Middle East and extinguish the fires of hatred and mistrust that have raged for centuries. But closer to home, in your circle of family, friends, co-workers, neighbors… Is there resentment, rage, annoyance, irritation burning in the life of someone who matters to you and could you be the one to splash a little calm, a little reason, a little understanding that might diffuse or even douse those flames? {Blessed are the peacemakers.” Matthew 5:9}
“I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.” Certainly the splash of Jesus’ baptism would have us soothe the bodily thirst of the world’s poor. And I suspect some of you, through the ELCA’s Good Giftsprogram have contributed toward proving the least of these with clean water to drink. But again, in your own circle of relationship, where are those who are thirsty for intimacy & friendship, who are craving some care and kindness in their life.
One of my first paying jobs was at a full service gas station. Every car that hit the pumps got at least the windshield and back window washed. But the spray of Jesus’ baptism presses you forward for a different kind of cleaning. Sometimes circumstances are such that folks can only see one course of action before them. Or maybe no course of action at all. It is like the mud of life has obscured their windshield so completely, they have no idea where they are going and they are either driving blind or they aren’t moving at all. You may be just the one to apply a bit of that baptismal spray and clear away enough so that a new course can be seen.
Nothing starts its life without water. Nothing grows without water. Nothing can sustain life without water. And for some plants, it only takes a little to make a big difference. Same with people. Husband and wives, parents and friends, never underestimate the power of a few drops of praise, of appreciation, of thanks, of gratitude. And in that way, you continue to be sent as part of the splash of Jesus’ baptism.
Our word volunteer comes from a word that speaks of an act of the will, of volition, the result of a decision. On the other hand, our word vocation, comes from a word that speaks of having been called and sent. Where are you going on your vocation? I just told you. Amen.
- Matthew 3:13-17
I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
- Isaiah 42:6-7
I really doubt Jesus’ baptism happened this way, but you know what I want to believe happened at that moment? I want to believe that after Jesus was able to get John the Baptist out of his way, that Jesus did a big ol’ cannonball right smack in the middle of the Jordan River. And he didn’t just do a cannonball, he did the sweetest, most perfect cannonball that there ever was. He made such a splash that it sent water in every direction. In fact, that splash was so big that the water from that splash is still spreading in every direction. And Jesus has called you and me to keep the splash moving.
Before I way more about Jesus’ big splash, I want to invite you to take a moment to share with one or two people nearby about one time and place that you have volunteered…not including in the church! Share briefly something you decided to do, some time in your life you, “I will do this,” and gave your time to a certain cause or project or activity or program. Go!
Okay, based on the good buzz in the room I’d say that most of you didn’t have a hard time thinking of at least one place you’ve volunteered. It might have been harder for some of you who give so much of your time and energy in the church to think of something outside of the church to talk about. But there was a reason that I restricted the scope of my question. Jesus’ launching a big ol’ cannonball into the Jordan River is my fantasy. But here is a bit of New Testament reality: no one ever successfully volunteered to be a disciple of Jesus. Let me say that one more time: In the Gospels, no one ever successfully volunteered to be a disciple of Jesus.
The only people who have ever properly carried the title ‘disciple,’ or ‘apostle,’ or ‘follower,’ are those who were first called by Jesus.
There’s an old Gospel song that goes:
But if our Lord had heard Peter, Andrew, James or John singing that, before they’d finish half a stanza he would have been shaking his head. And when they finished, he would have said, “No you didn’t. You didn’t decide to follow me. I decided to call you, first. And I am glad to say you answered the call and followed. And I’m glad to hear you don’t plan on turning back. But no one decides to become my disciple. I call disciples, and I send apostles.”
There are times when the word follower is the right word for the occasion. I want Jesus to lead; he knows the way. And I will do my best to follow the way he shows me. All the way through life. All the way through death, too. To the other side.
There are other times when the word disciple is the word of choice. A disciple is a student. I never want to stop learning from Jesus. A disciple is disciplined. Even though I am tempted to be lazy, I know that remaining a student, a disciple requires of me a certain level of discipline. Everything is not okay. Everything does not go.
And there are times when the word apostle expresses in just the right way the angle I’m looking for. Apostle is from the Greek verb apostello – to send. An apostle is one who is called and sent on a mission. And the mission to which we have been called and on which we have been sent is to be the continuous splash of the one who hit the water that day on his baptism.
The power of that splash is so strong that for about twenty centuries now it has not lost any of its power. It hits those Jesus has called and seeks to set them on a new course. The power of that splash is aimed at all the places that need water.
These folks are directing the powerful spray of their hose at a fire. You are the continuation of the splash of Jesus’ baptism and he’s sending you to fight fires, too. But you probably won’t need special equipment. Where in your world are fires of anger burning? And I don’t mean the world at large. It would be nice is one of you were the one who could go over to the Middle East and extinguish the fires of hatred and mistrust that have raged for centuries. But closer to home, in your circle of family, friends, co-workers, neighbors… Is there resentment, rage, annoyance, irritation burning in the life of someone who matters to you and could you be the one to splash a little calm, a little reason, a little understanding that might diffuse or even douse those flames? {Blessed are the peacemakers.” Matthew 5:9}
“I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.” Certainly the splash of Jesus’ baptism would have us soothe the bodily thirst of the world’s poor. And I suspect some of you, through the ELCA’s Good Giftsprogram have contributed toward proving the least of these with clean water to drink. But again, in your own circle of relationship, where are those who are thirsty for intimacy & friendship, who are craving some care and kindness in their life.
One of my first paying jobs was at a full service gas station. Every car that hit the pumps got at least the windshield and back window washed. But the spray of Jesus’ baptism presses you forward for a different kind of cleaning. Sometimes circumstances are such that folks can only see one course of action before them. Or maybe no course of action at all. It is like the mud of life has obscured their windshield so completely, they have no idea where they are going and they are either driving blind or they aren’t moving at all. You may be just the one to apply a bit of that baptismal spray and clear away enough so that a new course can be seen.
Nothing starts its life without water. Nothing grows without water. Nothing can sustain life without water. And for some plants, it only takes a little to make a big difference. Same with people. Husband and wives, parents and friends, never underestimate the power of a few drops of praise, of appreciation, of thanks, of gratitude. And in that way, you continue to be sent as part of the splash of Jesus’ baptism.
Our word volunteer comes from a word that speaks of an act of the will, of volition, the result of a decision. On the other hand, our word vocation, comes from a word that speaks of having been called and sent. Where are you going on your vocation? I just told you. Amen.
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