January 11, 2015 – The Baptism of Our Lord

“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.” Mark 1:4 – 10

“I say this in order that we may not adopt the opinion…that our Baptism is past and can never be used after we again have fallen to sin. The idea goes back to St. Jerome, who wrote, “Repentance is the second plank on which we must swim ashore after the sinking of the ship” in which we embarked and sailed for when we entered the Christian church at Baptism. This view deprives us of the use of Baptism, so that it can no longer benefit us. It can happen…that we slip and fall out of the ship. But when this happens and someone does fall out, he should at once swim for the ship again and cling to it until he can climb back on deck and sail forward as he had earlier begun to do. Thus we see how splendid a thing Baptism is. It snatches us out of the Devil’s jaws, makes G*d our own, defeats and puts away sin, daily strengthens the new man (and woman) in us…and remains with us until we leave our present troubles to enter glory everlasting. Everyone should therefore look upon his Baptism as his everyday wear, to be worn constantly.” Martin Luther (1483 – 1546) Large Catechism “For All The Saints” volume I

You see, our baptism is not a band-aid – like so many parents tell me. They look upon baptism as a way to protect their child from scrapes and bruises. Baptism is more like a trampoline – it supports our ups and downs, it catches us as we are falling to earth. But it also propels us upward and outward. Baptism is not a band-aid – it is a “spring Board”. As a pastor it truly is a privilege to announce the abundance of God’s generosity extended to G*d’s people in baptism. We become members of the church, which is the body of Christ. We receive new life, a rebirth through water and the spirit that ends with eternal life. And, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. Baptism is truly a gift. It is a grace-filled gift from G*d, another gift from G*d that we need only receive – in the true sense of a “gift”.

When Martin Luther felt tempted by the devil, when all “heck” was crashing down around him, he would call out in thanksgiving “I am Baptized”. Our faith may wonder, our gifts may go unused, our transformation may get squelched, but as baptized children of G*d, we have the assurance that in Christ, the one called Immanuel, G*d is with us. Luther reminded us each day to rise in the morning and make the sign of the cross on our foreheads, reminding us that we are baptized children of G*d. We begin each day with this assurance – because more than likely we will be bounced around by life today. So we need to ponder this question: Are we open to where G*d will lead us in 2015 – and will we be obedient to follow?

Pastor Dave