Matthew 3:13-17

Matthew 3:13-17

Called To Please God

January 13, 2007

Baptism Of The Lord

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In her book of poems Searching For Shalom the poet Ann Weems has a poem entitled “New Shoots”. Weems writes:

Born in the light of the bright morning star,

we are new.

Not patched, not mended … but new

like a newborn …

like the morning …

The guilt-blotched yesterdays are gone;

the soul stains are no more!

There is no looking back;

there are no regrets.

In our newness, we are free.

In the power of God’s continuing creation,

we are:

new shoots from the root of Jesse,

new branches from the one true Vine,

new songs breaking through the world’s deafness.

This then is a new day.

New shoots, new branches,

new songs, new day …

Bathed in the promise of God’s New Creation,

we begin.

Ann Weems. “New Shoots” Searching for Shalom, p. 56

Today is one of the days in the Church year when we celebrate the newness God gives us in Christ. Today is the day of The Baptism of the Lord — the day when the church has historically reflected upon the baptism of Christ – what that might have meant for Him – and what Baptism might mean for us.

Baptism is one of the 2 sacraments of the Presbyterian Church – Communion being the other – and we celebrate Baptism when an unbaptised adult joins the church or when parents present their child to be brought into the family of God.

But — what does baptism really mean?

In her poem “New Shoots” Ann Weems seems to understand baptism as an opportunity to somehow become a new person — to somehow become something or someone that you are have not been in the past.

It seems that Baptism may be an opportunity for us to live a life that is pleasing to God.

We are called to please God.

Called to please God.

But — what does Baptism have to do with this?

What does Baptism really mean?

Is it merely an initiation rite into the church — sprinkling water over someone’s head or immersing someone in water — whichever method is used — and saying some words and praying some prayers — so that they will remember the day and the promises they have made or so the parents will remember the day and their promises?

Is it merely words — merely promises — with no requirement of response or responsibility on our part?

Is that what Baptism is all about?

Was the Holy Spirit and the voice of God at Jesus’ baptism only to help him remember that day — but not a call to respond to God?

I don’t think so!

Surely the Sacrament of Baptism – the presence of the Holy Spirit and the voice of God at Jesus’ baptism – are more than just ways to help us remember God’s love and grace in our lives — but not let God’s love and grace change our lives.

There has got to be something more to it than that.

Surely Baptism means more than that!

Here’s what I believe – I believe that Baptism reminds us that we are called to please God – and it is a call to us to live lives that are pleasing to God. It’s a call – and an opportunity for response.

We are called to please God.

Called to please God.

So — what does baptism really mean?

What really happens at baptism?

Today’s Gospel lesson gives us an opportunity to consider Jesus’ baptism — and even reconsider ours.

Maybe we should ask:

What really happened at Jesus’ baptism?

How did Jesus understand His baptism?

Looking at how Jesus may have understood His baptism may help us understand what His baptism may have meant for Him — and what ours can mean for us.

Here is Jesus — born of Mary in a miraculous way – now grown into an adult – probably in His early 30’s. The gospels are relatively quiet about what happened to Jesus as He grew — there is the story of the trip to the temple at the age of 12 — but beyond that — nothing is mentioned. But now He is an adult. He is ready to assume His place in the world.

But — what place is that?

Will He be a carpenter all His life?

No – He must have felt that there was more in store for Him than that.

But — what?

Maybe He is not quite sure.

Surely Mary had told Him about how special He is.

Surely He has divine yearnings within His soul.

But — what does it all mean?

So – maybe He comes to John — a cousin who was also born in a miraculous way — and is baptized.

And maybe He gets some answers to His questions.

The heavens are opened.

The Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove.

And God says:

“This is my Son, whom I love.

With Him I am well pleased.”

I love the way Eugene Peterson translates it in The Message:

“This is my son.

Chosen and marked by my love.

Delight of my life.”

Now — surely all this meant something to Jesus — but what?

I want to make a suggestion here.

Could it be that — for Jesus — His baptism was the beginning of His ministry — the beginning of His understanding of who He is and what He is to do — and the beginning of God’s strength for doing God’s will?

Could it be that baptism was a time for Jesus to realize God’s amazing love — and respond to it?

Could it be that at His baptism Jesus finally realized what it meant that He was chosen by God –

Chosen and marked by God’s love

The delight of God’s life?

“This is my son.

Chosen and marked by my love.

Delight of my life.” Peterson has God saying at the Baptism of Jesus.

What powerful words!

What a powerful – energizing – idea!

“This is my son.

Chosen and marked by my love.

Delight of my life.”

At Jesus’ baptism, I like to think that God acted in a powerful way – that God let Jesus know of His choice of Him as His son – and of God’s delight in Him

– and God called Jesus into and energized Jesus for a powerful ministry. This was the beginning of a 3 – year journey of healing, teaching, and working miracles that ended on the cross — but continued at the resurrection — and by the work of the Holy Spirit — still continues today.

At His baptism Jesus was reminded of who He was – God’s delight – God’s chosen – God’s very Son –

At His baptism Jesus was reminded that He was called to please God – and He was given the strength and ability to live a life that pleased God.

Jesus was called to please God.

So are we.

We are called to please God.

We are called to please God.

At His baptism Jesus was called by God — reminded of who He was and what He was to do — and He began doing it.

Jesus realized that He was chosen by God – called to please God — reminded of God’s plan for His life — and responded to it.

He realized the amazing fact that He was Chosen and marked by God’s love — the delight of God’s life.

He realized God’s amazing love — and responded in commitment.

He realized that He was chosen by God – and responded with a sense of commitment to God’s plan for Him.

He realized that He was chosen.

Chosen by God – called by God.

Maybe that’s what baptism was all about for Him.

When Jesus came to John – John at first did not want to baptize Him. It’s somewhat humorous that John refused to baptize some of the Scribes and Pharisees because he did not think they were religious enough – and then at first refused to baptize Jesus because Jesus was too religious!

Jesus answered John’s objections with a strange statement:

“It is proper for us to do this

to fulfill all righteousness”.

What does that mean?

While we can’t really be sure – one thing it might mean is that Jesus wanted to fulfill God righteous plan and righteous will for His life – which at that point meant that He be baptized and give God to opportunity to proclaim Him as His son – who was called to please Him.

Jesus’ baptism might have been one of the times when He realized that He was called by God – empowered by God – and called to please God.

Come to think of it — is this not what baptism is all about for us, also?

Whether it be an infant or believer baptism, baptism is a sign and seal — a reminder — of who we are and what we are to do as God’s people. It is a reminder of God’s amazing love for us — and a call to respond to God’s love by letting it change our lives and make us new people.

Baptism is a powerful reminder that we are called – and strengthened – to please God.

It’s a reminder that we are

Called To Please God

Called To Please God

Baptism is a reminder to us that we are chosen and marked by God’s love – that we are the delight of God’s life.

Just as God said to Jesus:

“You are my son.

Chosen and marked by my love.

Delight of my life.”

God says to us:

“You are my child,

My son – my daughter —

Chosen and marked by my love.

Delight of my life.”

Baptism is the sign and seal of God’s love for us – and is a time to remember that we are chosen – marked – loved – and delighted in by God.

It is a time when we can be reminded that we are

Called To Please God

Called To Please God

At baptism, God reminds us that we are God’s people — created by God — called by God — loved by God – and delighted in by God –

We are reminded that we are chosen by God.

What a marvelous truth this is – that we are chosen — created — called — loved – and delighted in by God –

Regardless of who we are –

what we have done in the past –

how we have lived –

what our circumstances might be –

the marvelous truth is that we are chosen — created — called — loved – and delighted in by God!

We are

Called To Please God

Called To Please God

What an act of gracious love God shows – as He chooses us to be His people – and chooses us to live lives that are pleasing to Him!

God is saying to us:

“You are my child,

My son – my daughter —

Chosen and marked by my love.

Delight of my life”

We are

Called To Please God

Called To Please God

But – that choosing – that creating – that calling – that loving – and that delighting carries with it responsibility – and a call to respond.

Jesus responded by taking the strength God gave Him to do God’s work in the world.

How do we respond?

How do you respond?

Jesus knew that He was created — called — and loved for a purpose — that purpose being to live a life that was pleasing to God.

So are we.

We are created — called — and loved for a purpose — that purpose being to live a life that is pleasing to God..

“You are my child,

My son – my daughter —

Chosen and marked by my love.

Delight of my life.”

Baptism reminds us of who we are – children of God – chosen — created — called — loved – and delighted in by God –

and that we are not free to find our identity in anything else but God. We are God’s people – God’s children — and are to live in His ways — loving God and loving others — showing our love for God and the love of God as we reach out into the world doing God’s work.

We are chosen by God – to be the children He delights in – and to do His will in the world.

We are

Called To Please God

Called To Please God

So — what does that mean?

It means that we can repent of our past — be changed — be different — live differently – and look into the future God that has in store for us.

It means that we can no longer be the same or act the same way.

It means to:

Respond.

Repent.

Be different.

Be changed.

Be new.

Be a new person.

It means to discover and respond to God’s love — and let it change who we are.

It means that you are called to live a life that is pleasing to God – called to please God – and that God strengthens you to live this life that is pleasing to Him if you will:

Respond.

Repent.

Be different.

Be changed.

Be new.

We are

Called To Please God

Called To Please God

You are

Called To Please God

Called To Please God

Respond.

Repent.

Be different.

Be changed.

Be new.

Be a new person.

Friends — maybe your baptism was years ago.

Maybe it was so long ago you have forgotten the promises you made as you were baptized. Some of you even renewed your baptism vows when you joined this church. But maybe you haven’t thought about them in a long time.

Maybe – like me – you do not remember your baptism because you were baptized as an infant — and your parents made promises to raise you in ways so you could later on decide to repent and follow Christ.

Well – maybe you have done this – and maybe you haven’t – and even if you have it has lost its importance for you.

Maybe you are not baptized.

Whatever — on this day when we celebrate Jesus’ baptism — this day we celebrate God saying to Jesus:

“You are my son.

Chosen and marked by my love.

Delight of my life.”

let God speak to you – let God tell you:

“You are my child,

My son – my daughter —

Chosen and marked by my love.

Delight of my life.”

– then –

Respond.

Repent

Be changed

Be new

Live differently

Let yourself be changed by God

Let God call you again into repentance — into forgiveness — and into ministry – into a life that is pleasing to God.

Let God remind you again of who you are and what you are to be doing in the world.

Let’s let this Baptism of the Lord day be a time of renewal and recommitment for all of us – a time of a renewed commitment to God who loves — guides — and protects us — God who blesses us and calls us — just as Jesus was called and blessed.

Baptism is indeed more than just a way to remember an event.

It is a call that comes to us again and again.

A call to repent — to live differently — to be different — to be God’s people — to love lives pleasing to God.

Celebrate and live out the ministry God has called you to be doing in the world. Celebrate and live out this calling to live a life that is pleasing to God.

Indeed — as Ann Weems writes —

This then is a new day.

New shoots, new braches,

new songs, new day …

Bathed in the promise of God’s New Creation,

we begin. Amen.