2009 Winter Sermon Series

The Water’s Fine

Mark 1:9-13

Opening Words: A year ago I had the opportunity to travel to Israel. It was a great trip and we visited many amazing sacred spots. One of those amazing spots was the Jordan River. I remember two things. First, it was a cool day. Second, I found it easy to imagine Jesus being baptized. I could use my sanctified imagine and picture John addressing the crowd.

To be perfectly honest I have always found it interesting that the Gospel of Mark does not begin with the main character of book, Jesus. The Gospel begins with a secondary character, John the Baptist. Identifying John is extremely important. After 2,000 years of Bible study we understand John’s role in God’s plan for salvation for the world. He was not the long awaited Messiah, however he was the forerunner of the Messiah. His message was clear and consistent, repentance! His words did not fall on deaf ears, many responded to his call. People were baptized as a symbol of their repentance. One of the individuals who came to be baptized was the thirty year old Jesus.

The baptism of Jesus has frustrated the theological world for years. Many Biblica l scholars have debated why Jesus was baptized that day, he had committed no sins. However, I have always understood his baptism this way. It signaled the beginning of his public ministry. Like the christening of a great ship, things would not be the same again. We find ourselves today in the first chapter of Mark, verses nine through thirteen. May God give you ears to hear. Let me call the message The Water’s Fine.

Mark 1:9-13 9At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." 12At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, 13and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

I love the story King Aengus, who was baptized by St. Patrick in the middle of the fifth century. Sometime during the rite, St. Patrick leaned on his sharp-pointed staff and inadvertently stabbed the king's foot. After the baptism was over, St. Patrick looked down at all the blood, realized what he had done, and begged the king's forgiveness. Why did you suffer this pain in silence, the Saint wanted to know. The king replied, "I thought it was part of the ritual." Can anyone her e relate to King Aengus? Do you really understand baptism? Did you know that during the calendar year 2008 there were eleven baptized through this ministry of this church? How many baptisms have you witnessed in your life?

In most cases the young couple brings their little bundle of joy to the church. The baby maybe just a few weeks old but the baby is powerful. The little baby has the power to bring a whole crowd of people, who normally wouldn‘t come to church. The crowd of visitors sits near the baby like the baby is going to offer them some form of protection. The scene is always the same. The crowd is uncomfortable and freezes when I come near them to welcome them. Sometimes they are confused during worship. They don’t know the creed or the prayer. They don’t know the hymns but they are relieved when the sacred moment comes. The parents come to the front of the church holding the baby, armed with God parents. Everyone sees the baby in his or her baptismal grown, that was originally worn by some beloved family member from the past. I will take the baby and walk around the sanctuary so everyone can see the baby. Everyone loves the baby. Even the crankiest person can find a smile. In time the ritual is read, the water applied. The benediction is given and the baptismal crowd is assembled again for the lunch. I eat with them and they tell me they enjoyed the mass. We understand the ritual that comes with baptisms but let=2 0me ask you the question again. Do you really understand baptism? If you think a baptism is just an introduction or a coming out party then you couldn’t be more wrong.

Perhaps one of the reasons we don’t understand baptism is that there are some many different forms of baptism? Just think about it. Each one is valid for its own reason. As United Methodists we practice infant baptism. I assume many people here today don’t remember their baptism because you were just babies. In infant baptism we address the issue of original sin and recognize the fact that adults have an influence on the child. In infant baptism parents stand before God and the church and promise to do all in your power to win their baby’s soul for Christ. The ritual is carried out not with a small amount of water on the head. This is the good news. The Roman Catholic Church and most mainline Protestant Churches recognize infant baptism as valid.

This is the bad news. Some Baptist Churches don’t recognize infant baptism. They believe in something called believers baptism. Do you know someone or where you immersed at your baptism? Raised in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) I was baptized by immersion. That form of baptism recognizes the importance of accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior for yourself. No one can accept Christ for you; you must do it for you rself. God has no great-children, only children. The one being baptized is old enough to speak for themselves. The ritual is unique. The one being baptized is immersed in a pool of water. The symbolism is clear. When you are held under the water it is like you died with Christ. When you are pulled out of the water it is like you were resurrected with Christ. I have witnessed believer’s baptisms, it is a beautiful ceremony.

The one kind of baptism I have not witnessed is baptism by pouring. Do you know anyone who was baptized by pouring? A vase of water is poured on the head of the new convert, symbolizing the washing away of sins. No wonder people so many people can relate to King Aengus. No wonder many are confused about baptism. These seems to be as a many kinds of baptisms as a there are churches. No wonder so many people don’t really understand baptism.

So my goal today is to eliminate some of the confusion you may have about baptism. I am not going to talk about the differences in the baptismal rituals. I am not going to talk about why we are right and everyone else is wrong. I am going to talk about the basics that are needed in any baptism. In the text for today we find a wonderful model for Christian baptism. There are three elements in Jesus’ baptism that are required for every baptism. It doesn’t matter if you are baptizing infants=2 0or adults, if you are in a church sanctuary or a stream, if your parents are present or absent. These three things are required for true baptism and they are keys to understanding baptized. Let me say this clearly. They absence of anyone of these requirements cheapens the experience. So if you are ready to look at three requirements for Christian baptism say, “Amen!”

A Divine Connection

The first requirement for Christian baptism is a divine connection. One of the things that make this story so wonderful is the presence of all three personalities of the trinity. Look at the text with me. The Son is present in the presence of Jesus, himself. The Father is present in the words found in verse eleven, “This is my Son with whom I am well pleased.” The Holy Spirit is present in the form of the dove found in verse ten. It is rare to find the Father, Son and Holy Spirit found in one place at one time. The first requirement for Christian baptism is a divine connection. Do you feel the presence of God at baptism?

On December 24 we gathered here to observe Christmas Eve. I know that it true because I lead worship three different times. In total, there were 498 of us. I am still looking for the last two, I am still looking for five hundred on Christmas Eve. I design ed the services to be traditional in nature. We heard the scriptures, sung the carols and held our candles. However, the best part of the services wasn’t the order of worship or the fellowship of the people. The best part of the day was the divine presence of God. I find it easy to feel the presence of God on Christmas Eve. Did you feel God or was it just me? In our busy world it is truly special when you are about to make a divine connection.

On January 6 I observed Christmas Eve again. This time I wasn’t in Canfield, Ohio in a United Methodist congregation. It was in Vladimir, Russia in a Russian Orthodox congregation. With all the amazing experiences I have had in my life, that service in Vladimir, Russia may have been the best. I had never heard of Vladimir, Russia on our Christmas Eve but there I was standing in a cathedral that had been built in the twelfth century. My senses could absorb everything. I was surrounded by ordinary Russians, who observed the birth of Christ in their own way. I studied the icons that decorated the walls and the priest’s long white beard and robes. He burned insane as he walked through the crowd. It was incredible! I didn’t understand the language or the order of worship but it didn’t matter. I felt God. The Holy Spirit was washing through my soul like a mighty river. I could have stayed there for hours but the rest of the group wanted to go to the mall and get pizza.20I wondered, “Why would you want to leave?” I had made a divine connection with God in that place. In worship there must be a divine connection. Baptism is worship. The first requirement for Christian baptism is a divine connection. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

A Public Confession

The second requirement for a Christian baptism is a public confession. The ministry of John the Baptist in many ways was opposite that of Jesus. The Master went to the people. John the Baptist had the people come to him. Jesus was not alone in perusing John. Many went to find John to be baptized. Jesus baptism was not a private baptism, it was a public confession. The second requirement for a Christian baptism is that it be a public confession. That is why we normally baptize in the middle of worship, so all can witness your declaration. When was the last time you told your world how you feel about Jesus? When was the last time you told the world what Jesus has done for you?

The Duke of Wellington is best remembered as the general who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815. That was not his only success. During his earlier service in India, Wellington was in charge of negotiations after the battle of Assaye. The emissary of an Indian ruler, anxious to know what territories would be ceded to20his master, tried in various ways to get the information. Finally, he offered Wellington a large sum of money. “Can you keep a secret?” asked Wellington. “Yes, indeed,” the man said eagerly. “So can I,” replied Wellington.

Your faith was never meant to be a secret, it must be heard. You should be telling people regularly about what Jesus was done for you! When was the last time you told someone what Jesus has done for you? Baptism is a public confession. You are standing up in front of your little corner of the world and tell the people in your life that you understand Jesus to be the very son of God, your only hope of salvation. The second requirement for a Christian baptism is that it is a public confession. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

A Lifetime Commitment

The third requirement for a Christian baptism is that it must be a lifetime commitment. Jesus’ baptism was not something that happened one day. It was something that affected his whole life. I said it in the opening words. His baptism did not address his sins, Jesus had no sin. Jesus’ baptism signaled the beginning of his public ministry. It was like christening a great ship, there would be no turning back. After the baptism he began to teach people about the Kingdom of God. His baptism was not just an event in his life,=2 0it altered his life. The third and final requirement for Christian baptism is that it must be a lifetime commitment. How much has your baptism affected the way that you live your life?

I end today not with a story but a challenge. This is a new year and a new opportunity to draw near to God. I challenge you to reaffirm those baptismal vows that you took or were made by you or for you years ago. I would encourage you not to do this lightly. Remember the three requirements for Christian baptism. First, you need to make a divine connection. Second, you need to make it a public confession. You are telling your world that Jesus is your only hope of salvation. Third, your baptism should be life altering. If you would like to reaffirm your baptismal vows today please stand.

Let us all pray…

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1. Do you earnestly repent of your sins and confess Jesus to be your Lord and Savior?

2. Do you believe in God, the Father, maker of heaven and earth?

3. Do you believe in Jesus his only Son and our Lord?

4. Do you believe in the Holy Spirit the giver of Life?

5. Will you live a life that becomes the Gospel?

6. Do you wish to reaffi rm your baptismal vows?