January 8, 2023 Baptism of the Lord St. Andrew Church Rev. Anne McAnelly
First Lesson: Isaiah 42:1-9
1 Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
2 He will not cry out or lift up his voice
or make it heard in the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be crushed
until he has established justice in the earth,
and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
5 Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people upon it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
6 I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;
I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,
a light to the nations,
7 to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
8 I am the Lord; that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to idols.
9 See, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth,
I tell you of them.
Second Lesson: Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
The Jordan River. 223 miles of water flowing south from Mount Hermon near Lebanon and Syria through the Sea of Galilee and depositing liquid gold, AKA water, into the Dead Sea. Trivia, the Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth at 1,400 feet below sea level, that is why it is dead because the water has nowhere to go. The River Jordan brings life to the Jordan valley, a lush agricultural hub, much like our own Watsonville, except they are growing dates and olives. This river defines the area establishing borders for Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. It is even a ceasefire line. (P2) Here I am at the Jordan with my roommate Rebecca, excited to be at this very important biblical river. Some in our group put their feet in the water. (P3) Across the river Israeli flags waved, with soldiers posted. But to get to this spot we walked past Jordanian soldiers with AK47s and signs posted that you may not cross this river, you will be stopped. This is Bethany across the Jordan which according to John’s gospel is where Jesus was baptized.
As we traveled around this area which is about the size of New Jersey, we crossed the Jordan several times. (P4) Here it is out our bus window.
The Jordan river feeds into the Sea of Galilee and (P5) here we are out on a sunset boat ride. We read Jesus calling Peter out of the boat and his faith holding him for just a moment, then we just fell into a hushed silence, drifting, the boat slowly turning giving us a 360-degree view, contemplating all that had transpired on these waters. (P6) God painted a glorious sunset for us to marvel upon. (Return to me, black)
The Jordan river is where John baptized Jesus, almost begrudgingly. John wanted Jesus to baptize him. Who wouldn’t. But Jesus is following God’s plan and being introduced in his baptismal moment. The preceding chapters tell of his birth, the magi, Herod and fleeing to Egypt. But now Jesus is beginning his ministry and baptism is how he is introduced and commissioned. John consents, they team up and together Jesus is baptized in the river Jordan. Jesus does not need to be baptized, does not need to have his sins forgiven, but does so with John’s assistance to “fulfill all righteousness.” What does that mean? One commentator writes, “The term can encapsulate complex notions of justice, uprightness, correctness, innocence, and redemption” (WP, Erik Barreto). Much like Isaiah described in our Old Testament reading. I feel like it is Jesus submitting to God’s call and plan, while doing the right thing. Humility and solidarity come to mind. The reason we believe baptism is a sacrament is because Jesus was baptized. We share our baptism with Jesus, and he shares his baptism with us.
Baptism gives us our most basic identity. Through Baptism we affirm that we are sons and daughters of a loving God and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ. We are also a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. This is who we really are.
Then in a revelatory moment God defines who Jesus is. God declares him, introduces him, as God’s Son, the beloved. A voice from heaven proclaims, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Jesus is accepting God’s call, standing ready to begin God’s work of love and hospitality, offering grace and redemption. And I would suggest his baptism becomes a touchstone for Jesus. A deep and spiritual moment when God’s presence is revealed, and he is standing in the light with the heavens parted. His baptism is a touchstone of strength, and purpose and spiritual direction. A beloved moment. Our baptism is to be the same. Even if you were just an infant, or you are uncertain what it means, the fact you were baptized grants you this bond with Jesus, this connection to God. Your sins are forgiven, you are claimed as God’s child, and you are loved and beloved.
How do you know when you are loved? Whether it’s your spouse, partner, parent, or friend, I think there are some straightforward signs:
You feel safe with them.
They listen.
You communicate easily.
They support you and respect you.
They show up with small signs of affection each day.
They want the best for you.
One commentator writes, “Even though God is with all people, it is in our baptism that we experience God’s Spirit claiming us in a new way and God’s voice saying to us, “you are a beloved child of God and with you God is well-pleased.” Regardless of what the world might tell you and what you might tell yourself, you are not defined by your brokenness, weakness, insecurities, and failings. You are defined by your identity as God’s child” (Baptismal Identity, Adrienne Strehlow). Scripture declares, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons and daughters of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:26-27). You are wrapped in God’s love. That is your baptismal identity. That is God’s claim on your life! You are a beloved Child of God.
When I let that truth sink in, it brings tears to my eyes. It is not some theological doctrine, or something that happened many years ago, my identity in Christ permeates everything. Knowing God loves me as a beloved child is so sweet and comforting, as well as inspirational and motivational. I experienced this love, this tenderness anew on my trip. We went to Mt Hermon to one of the three river mouths to the Jordan River. This is the place Jesus said, “Peter you are the rock on which I will build my church.” But for me it was where I reaffirmed my baptismal identity. (P8) Mark and Cheryl, leaders on this trip and my high school youth pastors, led us in worship. (P9) Standing next to the banks of the Jordan river we sang Spirit of the Living God Fall Afresh on Me. God’s love was palpable. Jesus’ presence was real. (P10) Then we paired up, each with water from the Jordan, declaring God’s love and our identity as God’s beloved child. (P11) We reaffirmed our baptism with water from the Jordan river. Water poured freely over our hands, symbolically cleansing us anew, refreshing our spirits and connecting us to God. (Back to me)
Through baptism and Gods’ love for us, we feel safe with God. We know God always hears us. And we can tell God everything in prayer. God loves us just the way we are. We know God wants the best for us. Through loving God, we grow in who we are. We learn to love ourselves, and we learn to love others better and more fully too.
Baptism is about relationship. It’s about a loving, covenant relationship that we agree to step into intimately with God. We die to our old life, and we embrace a new one, a relational one, a loving one, an intimate one, a forever one. (Sermons.com, Lori Wagner)
Soon you will have the opportunity to renew your baptism, to recommit yourself to God.
For God loves you dearly.
You are God’s most valued creation.
You are God’s beloved. Amen.
Reaffirmation of Baptism
Today we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord, and you have the opportunity to reaffirm your baptism with water from the Jordan River. I invite you to come forward to dip your hand in the water, maybe mark your forehead with the sign of the cross. To immerse your hand in the water to claim a stone, a touchstone, a reminder of your baptism, of God’s love and your baptismal identity as a beloved child of God. Then I invite you to the receive this cross made of olive wood, from Bethlehem. Just as the Jordan river defines countries, and our baptism defines our identity, this cross defines you as a Christian, love by God. I chose this Celtic cross because it reflects our St. Andrew heritage.
Join with me in the litany
Sisters and brothers in Christ:
through the sacrament of baptism
God’s Spirit has been poured out upon water,
water poured over and immersing us,
water that flows freely for all who will receive it,
water from the streams of God’s saving power and justice,
water that brings hope to all who thirst for righteousness,
water that refreshes life, nurtures growth, and offers new birth.
Today we come to the waters,
to renew our commitments in each other’s presence
to Christ who has raised us,
the Spirit who has birthed us,
and the Creator who is making all things new.
(Pour the water from the Jordan River)
Through baptism God gave us a gracious sign of love and hope in Christ.
Hear again the promises God has made to us in Christ.
Baptism is the sign and seal of God’s promises to this covenant people.
In baptism God promises by grace alone to forgive our sins, to adopt us into the body of Christ, the church, to send the Holy Spirit daily to renew and cleanse us, and to resurrect us to eternal life.
This promise is made visible in the water of baptism.
Water cleanses, purifies, refreshes, sustains; Jesus Christ is living water.
Through baptism Christ calls us to new obedience: to love and trust God completely,
to forsake the evil of the world, and to live a new and holy life.
Let us pray: Spirit of the Living God, hover once more over us as you did at creation,
energizing us with your life, that as we remember our baptism in Christ, we may be an open conduit of your Holy Spirit flooding all of creation with blessings
of your abundant, redeemed life. We ask this in the precious name of Jesus,
the living water, to your glory we pray. Amen.
Once again you are invited to come forward reaffirming your baptism in water from the Jordan.
Pause at the water, feel the water, take a baptismal stone from the water.
And if you choose, make a sign of the cross on your
forehead before receiving an olive wood cross from Bethlehem.
May the cross and the stone help you recall the power of this moment,
your reaffirmation of your baptism in Christ Jesus our Lord.
