Matthew 3:13-17

^{011120 – Matthew 3. 13-17  “Don’t mess with my sacrament!”}

^{Jesus lived an ANONYMOUS LIFE pretty much in complete OBSCURITY for thirty years. (Of course, he would have been KNOWN to family and his friends and fellow villagers of NAZARETH during that time.)}

^{As you know, we KNOW NOTHING of what Jesus did from the age of twelve to thirty.  These are known as being the “HIDDEN YEARS.”   As you might surmise, there is TONS OF CONJECTURE, but no one KNOWS ANYTHING with any kind of CERTAINTY.  Just a lot of SPECULATION…that pretty much goes nowhere.  But it does SELL BOOKS!}

^{After living such “a SHELTERED LIFE” for so long there are some SCHOLARS who believe that Jesus left family and friends to JOIN THE MOVEMENT of his ECCENTRIC COUSIN, John.  In order to “join that movement” – it necessitated his baptism.}

^{With some important STYLISTIC differences all four gospels include Jesus BAPTISM by John.  But I want YOU TO KNOW that his baptism caused what has been called an “ACUTE EMBARASSMENT” … even a hundred years later – Jesus’ baptism still TROUBLED some good, well-meaning Christians.}

^{One “unofficial, non-Biblical source” even goes so far as to say that Jesus WAS baptized to PLEASE his mother.  Not because HE WAS SINFUL or NEEDED to be baptized…but to PLEASE Mary, who would have been John’s Aunt.}

^{The CHURCH on the other hand has always stated that Jesus’ Baptism by John INAUGERATED his PUBLIC ministry by IDENTIFYING HIM with the whole Judean countryside and ALL the people of Jerusalem.   The church went on to explain that BY HIS BEING BAPTIZED – Jesus identified himself with the FAULTS and FAILURES, the PAINS and the PROBLEMS, the HURTS and all THE BROKENNESS of ALL THE PEOPLE who flocked to the Jordan River.  Jesus DID NOT HAVE to baptized he CHOSE to be baptized and THIS united HIM with all the people.}

^{And yes, in an “honor/shame culture” Jesus was indeed showing HONOR AND RESPECT to John the Baptizer…by allowing him to baptize him.  SO WHAT?  This was Jesus once more HUMBLING HIMSELF before others…}

^{It was not long after his Baptism that the SANCTIMONIOUS religious leaders of Jerusalem DERIDED Jesus as being a “friend of gluttons and sinners.”  And, they were right! He was friends with all WHOM THEY considered outcasts…}

^{Jesus’ “baptismal SOLIDARITY” with ALL his people was confirmed by God’s affirmation and empowerment.  Kind of like receiving the GOOD HOUSEKEEPING MEDAL OF APPROVAL…}

^{“Still wet behind the ears” and “dripping with the stench of Jordan River water” – Jesus heard a voice and saw a vision – the declaration of God the Father that Jesus was INDEED his beloved SON and that was followed by the DESCENT of the SPIRIT of God in the form of a dove.  (It is hard not to catch the Trinitarian picture here of Father, Son and Holy Spirit!)}

^{It was quite the acknowledgement! The special effects were simply AMAZING and yes you had to BE THERE to take it all in.}

^{It was quite the inauguration.  Quite the coming out party.} 

^{This is where Jesus was “aligned” with the SUFFERING SERVANT PASSAGE of Isaiah…FOR ALL TIME.  You see: the words, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased” comes from Isaiah 42.  And is a “direct reference” to the SUFFERING SERVANT of God.}

^{He will suffer for the PEOPLE, he will suffer for the NATION, he will suffer for his FAITH…and there is the DIRECT TIE-IN between the suffering servant and GOD’S ANOINTED ONE – His Messiah.}

^{This is all pretty BIG and important stuff!} 

^{The celebration of the BAPTISM OF OUR LORD was ORIGINALLY celebrated on the DAY OF EPIPHANY, along with the STAR of the EAST and the WISE MEN or the MAGI, and the WEDDING FEAST at Cana in Galilee (Jesus’ first miracle.)  THREE CELEBRATIONS all on ONE DAY…which over time became separated into three distinct celebrations.}

^{For the record, seeing as we are talking BAPTISM here:} 

^{Getting Baptized is NOT your entrance into the JESUS CLUB.  There is NO such thing!  We are not the Brownies, nor the BOY SCOUTS, nor are we KIWANIS or the ELKS CLUB.  The church never WAS and never should be a PRIVATE CLUB for anyone to join.  We are the church, the BODY OF CHRIST.}

^{Baptism is a SACRAMENT and it DOES NOT come with a membership card.   It is SANCTUS.  It is HOLY, SPECIAL and SET APART.  It includes MARKING the Baptized one with the cross of Christ FOREVER.  It is NOT a RITUAL or a RITE.  It is INSPIRED.  It is a public pronouncement of WHO this child/adult BELONGS TO forever.  It is a HOLY MOMENT IN HOLY TIME.  There is nothing “superstitious about it.”}

^{The way some people talk or “used to talk” you would think that Baptism was some kind of “HELL INSURANCE.”  I have no idea where that stuff ever even came from…}

^{I can remember cautious sensible GRANDMA PRUDENT DEMANDING that her grandson be baptized.  The reason being they were leaving on Monday for a family trip.  And NO grandson of hers was going ANYWHERE, by plane or by car without some form of “HELL INSURANCE.”  The thinking was that being baptized was “your get-out-of-hell-card, “pass GO and collect $200.00” prize ticket.”}

^{Sorry, it doesn’t work that way.}

^{It never did.  I know Grandma meant well.  Her heart was in the right place.}

^{No matter what the church or the nuns used to teach/preach- doesn’t make it so!}

^{Any preacher of worth – could talk until she or he was blue in the face – about OUR LOVING GOD AND FATHER and how we are ALL in the DIVINE HANDS of our MERCIFUL-LOVING AND CARING GOD and it would have mattered NOT.  Not to Grandma, anyways.}

^{YOU NEED THE “INSURANCE.”}

^{YOU NEED THE BAPTISMAL “CERTIFICATE.”}

^{YOU NEED THE “GET OUT OF HELL CARD!”  And, you need it BEFORE the family leaves on vacation.  Grandma SAID IT and that settled it.  So how many children were baptized to appease GRANDMA never to step in a church – ever again?}

^{Do not turn HOLY BAPTISM into something that is superstitious.  Do NOT turn it into something that it is NOT.}

^{Yes, I am aware that the scriptures DOES say, “HE THAT BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED.”  It does say that.  I know it is there.  I have read it.  But it does not say anything about “HER.”  Do hers not count?  It does not say anything about the one that does NOT believe.  And it says nothing about HELL.}

^{You cannot SCARE people into BAPTISM.  You cannot THREATEN people into BAPTISM or into the church, it clearly does not work.  But grandma FELT BETTER.  Which is like saying at least if they all die – they have a “get out of hell card!” Nice!}

^{So Jesus was baptized.  It was his public debut into Ministry.  Baptism means something.  It is not a one time act to be forgotten.  We need to be baptized daily.  We need to be forgiven constantly.  We need God in our lives ALWAYS, NOT just on the day of our Baptisms.}

^{Remember it is HOLY.  It is SPECIAL.  It is SET APART.  It is a SACRAMENT and it is SANCTUS.}

^Amen.