The Baptism of Our Lord (2023)

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ today we celebrate the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is indeed shocking that we transition so quickly from his birth to that second birth that comes from above of Water and Spirit, His Baptism in the River Jordan by John. People wonder why we focus so much on the means of Grace, and things like Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and the Word of God. We find the answer today in our Epistle text, that it shows the power belongs to God, and not men.

The Things That are Nothing

We are asked to consider our callings.

When he speaks of these callings he speaks here of where God has placed us and all he has given to us. These would be our callings within family, within communities, at work, within the church, in all places, and he asks them to consider themselves according to these.

The World did not see many of them as great.

Not many of them were known as the wisest, the brightest, the best, but they were asked to consider themselves according to the worlds’ standards and the world considered them, foolish, weak, lowly no one of note. These words will hurt a person who takes pride in themselves, and reminds us that we too ought to be considered as such.

What about the world today?

How are Christians seen? Do people want to talk about the faith? Are we positively viewed in society believing that all things were made in 6 days? Believing not that Jesus was just some good teacher, but that He is God in the flesh, and he died and rose again to eternal life. That our forgiveness depends not upon what we do, but what he has done for us?

God Works Through Weakness

God uses those things that are nothing to shame the things that are.

This takes the world and flips it on its head, for it is the opposite of what it expects. If a religion is the true religion then shouldn’t it be the only religion in the world? Shouldn’t its followers be perfect? Why isn’t it constantly accompanied by great and powerful miracles to convince everyone to join?

David fighting Goliath is an example.

When David went out to fight this giant of man, he went armed only with his shepherds staff, his slingshot and 5 smooth stones. Goliath laughed at him, and mocked him, but David knew that day that the victory didn’t belong to him, but to the Lord.

When this happens, it shows the work of God.

For when God is able to work through these weak and fallible things to accomplish his plan it strips away any claim we might make. We cannot say the victory belongs to us, that it was because of our ability, our riches, our wisdom, our power, God uses those things that are weak to prove that He alone is our salvation.

The Power of God’s Word

Consider, Naaman who was a leper. (2 Kings 5)

He was a commander of the syrian army and it came to his attention through one of the slaves they had captured from Israel that there was a prophet who might heal him. He told his King and the King sent him. He came with 750 lbs of silver as payment and 75 lbs of gold, and ten sets of clothing. He came with an entourage of servants and horses and chariots to elisha’s door.

Elisha told him to bathe in the Jordan 7 times.

Elisha didn’t even come out to see the man but sent his servant, he turned down the gift of silver and gold all that Naaman had brought to impress and reward the man meant nothing. Here was a man who was a general of a mighty nation, had riches, and servants, and everything that the world valued.

Naaman was angry to say the least.

He expected that Elisha would at least come out and wave his hands over him calling on the name of the Lord, he had come expecting something impressive to match what he had done. He knew the jordan and its waters, the waters of damascus were better, what would bathing in this dirty river do that the rivers back home couldn’t? But his servants approached and asked him since the prophet had really spoke these words, suggesting why not?

All the other cures had failed, but the Word of God is always true.

Sure enough after he bathed 7 times, his flesh was restored, and he was clean. He tried to give payment to the Prophet, but Elisha refused again, and would except none, for if he had, that would mean that the services of God were for sale, and it would no longer be a gift.

What is Baptism?

On the outside, Baptism appears to be nothing.

Indeed we bring a bit of water from the faucet back there, it is not special water, or holy water, or anything like that, but it is ordinary water that is used when we baptize a person. But God has given us a command and promise, and has attached His Word to that water.

To believe that sins are forgiven by Water and Word?

It seems too simple, too easy, a little bit of water washes away our sins? Claims us as God’s child? Gives to us the Holy Spirit? How could you trust that, especially when most people who have been baptized don’t even remember it happening? How can a little bit of water wash away the sin of my soul?

The world sees it as weak compared with to works, money, and status.

You can see why people will downplay baptism, or churches will focus more on the works you do or the life you live, because then you can show your piety, your strength, your devotion to God by the great works you do, which is the way of the world.

It is the Word attached to the Water.

For when that Word is joined to the Water, it becomes a life giving sacrament, the waters of the Jordan were nothing without the Word of God, but when the Word of God was added, that which was unclean became clean. So you too when you were baptized were forgiven by God.

The Power of Baptism Comes From Jesus

Faith clings to Jesus, the Word, who is in the water.

For Jesus is the Word made flesh, that is what we see here, and it is what happens whenever we baptize someone, that when the Word, that is Christ is added to the water, the Holy Spirit descends upon that person, and the speaks this is my beloved Son.

Baptism appears weak that God might shame the greatness of men.

For who can be baptized? The power does not belong to us, but the Word and so it doesn’t matter, whether they are rich or poor, young or old, wise or foolish, God’s word accomplishes that which it says. So it doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done, what matters is God’s promise attached to that water.

This is why we call it a means of grace.

For by the promise that God attached to these Baptismal waters, we have received his grace, and it is quite gracious that through something so simple, that He forgives our sins, and calls us his own.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, let us not be afraid if we are weak in the eyes of the world, for Christ has overcome the world. Jesus is our wisdom, is our righteousness, our sanctification and redemption, so let us not boast in ourselves, but in the great and mighty works He has done for us for it is the robe of his righteousness that clothed us when we are baptized. In Jesus name. Amen.

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