Sermon - January 10, 2010　

Year C - The Year of Luke | The Baptism of Our Lord

The baptismal remembrance that we used this morning is based on what is commonly called "Luther's Flood Prayer." Versions of the flood prayer are found in the two orders of baptism that Luther wrote for his city church in Wittenberg. What Luther wanted to do was to stress the importance of the use of water by God throughout the history of his people. The image of water goes all the way back to creation, and continues with Noah's Ark, the crossing of the Red Sea, and the baptism of Jesus. Finally, the image of water makes its way to each of us in our baptism.

Luther was not the first one to notice this connection. In the early church, that image of water was a central image in the practices and art of the new Christian church. The story of the Great Flood and Noah's Ark was seen as a prefiguring of baptism. The water of the flood washed evil away, and a new beginning was made for mankind. Similarly, the Israelites crossing the Red Sea to escape Pharaoh was seen as a sign of baptism because evil was destroyed by water, and the Israelites were brought into a new life and freedom from bondage.

Water is part of our faith and our lives. It has been said that since our bodies may be up to 75 percent water, we are automatically drawn to water. We know that the body cannot exist without water. Water is life. Water sustains all things.

However, think of a tsunami. There is plenty of water there, more than plenty, there is too much. Instead of being life giving, the water brings death. The blue-green and tranquil sea that painters love to capture on a canvas becomes an enormous force, bigger than life, dangerous, frightening. It becomes black with fury, tossing ships like toys, overwhelming miles of landscape and claiming lives, villages, and a future’s hope.

Water contains both life and death. That, too, is the nature of baptism. Baptism holds life and death. In baptism, we are born to a new life in Christ. However, in baptism is death, for we die to Christ. In baptism, we are baptized into Jesus' death. In baptism, our sins are drowned in the death and resurrection of Jesus. For not only are we brought into Christ's death through baptism, we enter into his eternal life. Like the Israelites crossing the Red Sea, we are freed from the bondage to sin and death; and we enter into a new life in Jesus.

The passage from Isaiah reminds us that even as we pass through raging waters, God is with us. Overflowing rivers will not drown God’s people. Why is this? It is because as Isaiah says, “Fear not: for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name, and you are mine.” That is exactly what God does in baptism. Through the water and Word, God calls us by name and we are his. Through Isaiah God is reminding us that no earthly thing can keep us from the love and comfort of God. He has claimed us; and even death cannot take us from him. God’s Word, his spirit, and his life are with us. We are marked with the cross of Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit forever, not for a day, not as long as the mood is with us, but forever. Even in the middle of all the world can bring upon us. He has claimed us and we are his.

In the gospel, water is used again. John the Baptist offers the people a baptism of repentance. The Jews are drawn to the waters of the Jordan to be cleansed of their unfaithfulness to God. John’s words and message drew them. John offered the people a chance to be renewed; this was a very good thing. The Jordan’s water cleansed the Israelites in order to prepare them with the expectation that something was going to happen and happen soon. God was up to something in John's preaching, and the people knew it, sensed it, and wanted to hear more.

It seems sensible that some would mistake John for the Messiah, but John introduces Jesus by using the two images we heard in Isaiah: water and fire. “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” This is a baptism different from the one John is offering. John's baptism is one of repentance and preparation. The one Jesus is bringing will transform people, their lives, and even the world.

As the heavens opened at Jesus’ baptism, the voice of God anointed the mission and ministry that Jesus would live out among his people. In the person of Jesus, God has pitched a tent among the people. God had changed his relationship with mankind forever. God was telling everyone that his Son was making everything new. In Jesus not only are our sins be forgiven, we are made into a new people, and a new community. We are made a holy priesthood, the Church. Each of us is made into a little Christ living out the life of Christ in our church and lives.

It all begins with water, Word, and promise. It is made certain in the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is confirmed in our lives. The words of the prophet Isaiah speak to us. In the waters of baptism, God calls us by name and we are his for all time. Amen.