Lutheran Church of the Resurrection

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“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.”

‘Tis the season of Epiphany. ‘Epiphany’ literally means, ‘bright light.’ Epiphany begins every year on the 6th of January by recalling that time when the that star in the sky led the Magi from the east to the child in Bethlehem who was born King of the Jews. The light that that star shed was the light that God created by His Word on the 1st day of creation. He packaged that light He created on the 1st day in the stars He created on the 4th day.

Of all of the billions of stars in the sky, each one placed into its exact spot by the Word of God, no star has ever served a more glorious and holy purpose than that star that led the Magi to Jesus. For the light that it radiated shone upon the One who spoke it into existence in the beginning. The light that come into existence in the beginning and packaged in that star, shone upon the light that is eternal, without beginning and without end. Jesus Christ is the light of the world. “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.”

The very same Word of God who said, “Let there be light” in the beginning, has Himself entered into the darkness. The “light of the world” has entered into the world, and through Him, God has truly separated the light from the darkness, the righteous from the unrighteous, the saint from the sinner, the living from the dead.

So, in the beginning there was God who created the heavens and the earth and the Spirit of God who hovered over the face of the waters, and Word of God, which spoke the formless and void into its proper form and filled with content. In these first three verses of the Bible, we meet our God, the one God, The only God, the Triune God, the Creator, the Spirit, the Word, one divine essence in three distinct persons.

That star that appeared in the east and which that led the Magi to Jesus by its light has been sighted once again. Only this time, it’s not up in the sky. It’s in the wilderness. It’s Matthew who tells us that “a star appeared,” but it’s Mark who tells us that “John appeared.” And just like the star in the sky, this star in the desert leads men and women to Jesus. “And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him.” Unlike the Magi who were led to Jesus by the sight of a bright light, these men and women and children were led to Jesus by a bright word. John was “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

John the Baptist’s baptism was only a preview of the baptism that was to come. John told people that they needed to confess their sins and swear to change their behavior. “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance,” John would tell them. For example, rather than stuffing more clothes in your closet that’s already so full of clothes you can’t close the doors, “whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none.” The same thing applies to your food. Whatever your vocation in life might be, do it honestly and in sincere service to those whom you serve. If you’re a tax collector, “collect no more than you are authorized to do.” If you’re a soldier don’t abuse your authority to intimidate or extort, “be content with your wages”.

And with that, they were baptized. Their sins were forgiven. Really forgiven. Not just symbolically or spiritually forgiven. But really forgiven just like when the pastor says, “I forgive you all of your sins.” And they were given a fresh start to return from the wilderness to their lives with a clean slate.

But there was something better just ahead when the one mightier than John made His entrance. “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” And before they knew it, the time had fully come.

“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Moses told us that, “In the beginning” of the world, there was God, the Creator, the Spirit and the Word. Now Mark tells us that in “the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” there is God the Father and the Spirit resting on the Son who is coming up out of the water. And all this in just three verses. Behold your God, the one God, the only God, the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one divine essence, three distinct persons.

Personally, I like Mark’s account of the baptism of Jesus better than Matthew’s. Matthew tells us more than we really want to know. Matthew’s the one who tells us that John didn’t want to baptize Jesus and argued with Him about whether or not it would be appropriate. Mark skips all of that and simply says, “Jesus was baptized by John.” As someone who doesn’t like arguments, that’s just fine with me.

What’s important here is this, the Father is ‘well pleased’ with His ‘beloved Son’ who has just been baptized. That should be enough for us to be fully convinced that Jesus’ baptism by John was a good thing. The “it was good,” that God pronounced over the light He created in the beginning, He here pronounces over His baptized Son. The Father confirms His divine approval for His baptized Son by sending the Holy Spirit to rest upon Him. This is just what the prophet Isaiah had foretold, “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations…” (Isaiah 42:1).

That the Father is well pleased at the baptism of His beloved Son however means more than simply that the Father was glad Jesus got baptized. It means that the Father is well pleased with all that His Son is about to do and will accomplish from this point forward. Here at Jesus’ baptism, the Father is pronouncing His divine favor, His ‘very good’ on His Son’s passion and suffering, His crucifixion and burial, on His resurrection from the dead, and His ascension into heaven. The point here is that all that Jesus does for us men and our salvation is contained in His baptism. Jesus’ baptism is like the star that holds the light. It is the water that holds the eternal and life giving light of the world. Apart from the Jesus, it’s just plain water. But with Jesus in the water, it’s a life giving water.

The most practical application of all of this is simply this, your baptism unites you to Christ’s baptism. Your baptism unites you to Jesus and His baptism. By your baptism, you have been united to Jesus and all that He has accomplished for you and for your salvation.

This is nothing less than what St. Paul has said to the Romans. “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were been baptized into death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Romans 6:2-5).

This union to Jesus Christ happens through Baptism. This is why Jesus, as He is about to ascend into heaven, does not command His disciples to go and crucify all nations, or to resurrect all nations, but to baptize all nations. You are not united to Jesus’ crucifixion on the cross by being crucified on a cross. Nor are you united to Jesus’ resurrection from the dead by being buried in a tomb and walking out of it three days later. Nor must you ascend into heaven like Jesus ascended into the clouds and disappeared from sight in order to be united to His ascension. In and through baptism you receive all of this by your union to Jesus.

Through holy baptism, * you are crucified with Christ and raised with Christ and ascended into heaven.
* You are reconciled to God, * all of your sins are forgiven, * the righteousness of Christ is credited to you, * the Father calls you ‘my beloved,’ and with you He is ‘well pleased.’ * You have been set free from the power of sin, * you are pardoned by the judge who judges between the living and the dead.
* You receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and all the fruits that the Spirit produces in you- * love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

You have been united to all of this by the one, simple, salutary act of holy baptism. What a glorious and bright light is contained in this one, sacramental star.

So, this is not just a point of doctrine to be discussed and debated among us. This is the basis for our life of faith. We live in a time of great uncertainty. Things that seemed so sure and solid have turned out to be much more fragile than we thought and things which we though could never fail have crumbled and fallen. We’re not so sure just what’s durable and dependable anymore and we feel like our present and our future is on such thin ice, it could all fall through at any time.

So, I can’t think of anything more relevant and appropriate to be sure about than our baptism. Here is the basis for real assurance and confidence, not only before the creation that is crumbling because of sin’s effect, but also the basis for our assurance and confidence before God. Put no confidence in your sound investments or secure savings, nor in your good works and moral lifestyle. But put all of your trust and confidence in your union to Christ and all of His good works and His holy life and all that He has stored up on heaven for you.

Some people like to pit baptism against faith. “You have your baptism, I have my faith.” “I don’t need baptism because I’ve got faith.” Don’t go there. It’s shaky ground and we’ve already go plenty of that. Don’t rely on your faith. Your faith is weak at best and we often stumble and fall. Your union to Christ through your baptism on the other hand is sure and certain because it depends entirely on God and His Word and promise, and not at all on us.

Baptism is not just a sign of our union to Christ. It’s the concrete time and place where you were united to Jesus. Paul writes to Titus saying, “He saved us, BY THE WASHING OF REGENERATION and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” (Tit.3:5). Speaking of the Church, Paul writes to the Ephesians saying that Christ has “sanctified her, having cleansed her BY THE WASHING OF WATER WITH THE WORD.” (Eph.5:26). Writing to the Galatians who are acting as if nothing really happened in their baptism, Paul says, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Gal.3:27).

It’s not too late to still make a New Year’s resolution. In addition to going to the gym and losing weight, resolve that this year you will daily remember and think about your baptism. No matter what the New Year has in store, whether it be good or bad, prosperity or poverty, trials and troubles or blessings and benefits, even life or death, resolve to learn to say in all things, at all times, and in every circumstance, “I am baptized!” “I am baptized!” “I am baptized!” “And since I am baptized, I have been united to Christ Jesus, my Redeemer, and nothing can separate me from Him.”

Tags: Baptism

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This entry was posted on Monday, January 12th, 2009 at 4:30 pm and is filed under Audio Sermons, Sermons - Lutheran - LCMS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.