We’ve been here before, this river. I don’t just mean every year when we revisit Jesus’ baptism.
I mean a few short weeks ago, with John the baptizer doing his thing,
“…and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.”
We heard his prediction about the one coming after him: "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals.”
Soon enough, some thirty years after the birth we just celebrated, Jesus showed up at that river:
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’
We heard his prediction about the one coming after him: "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals.”
Soon enough, some thirty years after the birth we just celebrated, Jesus showed up at that river:
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’
All four gospels reference this event, the water, the Spirit’s descent, the heavenly voice of acclamation. Jesus’ baptism becomes the pattern for Christian baptism to our own day. We will explore the rite and rituals of baptism this week; today let’s immerse ourselves in this story. Let’s go to that river, among the crowds, imagine the stir when John reacts to Jesus’ presence, the hush that falls as he enacts this ritual of repentance for one who has no need of it.
Close your eyes and see Jesus lower himself into the water until it closes over his head, and then, as he emerges, a dramatic play of clouds and light, and what looks like a dove coming upon him. Maybe you hear a sound from the skies, like thunder or a loud wind, perhaps a sound like words that you can just make out… “You are my Son, the Beloved. With you I am well pleased.”
How would you feel as an eyewitness to Jesus’ baptism? I’m sure some thought they were seeing things, hearing things. Others knew they’d witnessed a divine intervention into the human sphere, and they told the story and told the story and told the story, until it became one of the foundations of the Christian movement.
How has baptism changed your life? Give it some thought. Baptism is one of God’s great gifts to us. We will explore this rite of initiation which is so simple yet carries so much power. Perhaps we will get in touch with the Spirit’s anointing of us, even if the sacrament that enacted this happened decades ago, or when we were barely conscious.
Faith and even ministry may not always begin with baptism, but each Christian traces our membership in the Body of Christ back to that river Jordan, back to that water of life. Let’s go down to the river again this week.
Close your eyes and see Jesus lower himself into the water until it closes over his head, and then, as he emerges, a dramatic play of clouds and light, and what looks like a dove coming upon him. Maybe you hear a sound from the skies, like thunder or a loud wind, perhaps a sound like words that you can just make out… “You are my Son, the Beloved. With you I am well pleased.”
How would you feel as an eyewitness to Jesus’ baptism? I’m sure some thought they were seeing things, hearing things. Others knew they’d witnessed a divine intervention into the human sphere, and they told the story and told the story and told the story, until it became one of the foundations of the Christian movement.
How has baptism changed your life? Give it some thought. Baptism is one of God’s great gifts to us. We will explore this rite of initiation which is so simple yet carries so much power. Perhaps we will get in touch with the Spirit’s anointing of us, even if the sacrament that enacted this happened decades ago, or when we were barely conscious.
Faith and even ministry may not always begin with baptism, but each Christian traces our membership in the Body of Christ back to that river Jordan, back to that water of life. Let’s go down to the river again this week.
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