“John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 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. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Mark 1:4-11  

“I want to start with a question: how often do you think about your baptism? Perhaps your family reminded you of its importance by celebrating the anniversary of your baptism each year and so baptism has always been important to you. Or maybe you learned to appreciate it later, at confirmation or sometime as an adult. One of things I’m struck by in today’s culture is the omnipresence of affirmation. Facebook gives us the chance to “like” movies or books or posts and to have things we write or post “liked” by our “friends” in return. Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram invite us to collect thousands of “followers,” “fans,” or “friends,” most of whom we’ve never met. Sports programs routinely reward kids just for showing up with medals “for participation.” Ads are increasingly personalized, targeting our particular tastes and creating the impression that we are the most important customer in the world. And so on. One of the reasons I think digital platforms, and social media in particular, are powerful is precisely because they creatively offer affirmation in plentiful doses. Deep down, of course, we know that this kind of affirmation doesn’t mean all that much. Or at least shouldn’t. Many of the folks we encounter via the web, after all, don’t really know us and we don’t know them, so how can their “likes” or “hearts” create any enduring sense of value or worth? And yet it’s hard not to wonder what was wrong with the picture we posted to Instagram if only twenty people liked it when another picture garnered two hundred nods? 

So while this affirmation may be somewhat superficial, it’s at least better than nothing. We crave that recognition and interaction because we are, at heart, inherently social people. Almost every element of our being reflects God’s observation in Genesis that is not good for us to be alone, and so the affirmation, relentless as it is ubiquitous, social media offers creates the perception that we are linked to so many others – indeed, that we are surrounded by a community of like-minded, and like-able, people that value us.  Similarly, Jesus’ baptism isn’t preamble to all that comes later in his life, it’s the highpoint and climax of the story in a nutshell. Again and again, as Jesus casts out unclean spirits, heals the sick, feeds the hungry, and welcomes the outcast, he will only do to others what has already been done to him, telling them via word and deed that they, too, are beloved children of God with whom God is well pleased. And the darkest moment of the story when Jesus feels absolutely abandoned is followed immediately by the story of resurrection, where the messenger testifies that God has kept God’s baptismal promise and continues to accept and honor Jesus as God’s own beloved Son. So also, at our low moments, we might remember that the God who raised Jesus from the dead is the same one who promised in baptism to never abandon us and to love and accept us always and still as beloved children, even and especially when we have a hard time loving and accepting ourselves. This is why I think baptism is so incredibly important, because it offers us the acceptance, not merely affirmation, of the Creator of the Cosmos and thereby empowers us to accept others in turn. Baptism reminds us that wherever we may go and whatever we may do or have done to us, yet God continues to love us, accept us, and hold onto us. And for a generation that has been sold cheap affirmation as a substitute for genuine acceptance, there is no more powerful word.” (David Lose, January 5, 2015, Baptism Of Our Lord B: Baptism & Blessing) 

Let’s take a look at 2018- -this brand new year that is spread out in front of us like a blank canvas – who were the people we set apart in 2017 and who might end up being marked as special in our society in 2018?  I would suggest that the people we most set apart in 2017 were people like movie stars, athletes, the wealthiest of our society, and politicians.  These were the people we mark, to whom we throw special ceremonies – for example ho received the most press – like our president Donald Trump.  He couldn’t help but keep himself in the headlines with his constant “tweeting” and statements – seemingly forgetting the rights and responsibilities that come with the office of the President.

None the less, we still do things to mark certain people, to set them apart, treat them differently – and special – giving them awards, and toasting them.  And generally it is all done in very public ways, and they carry that mark, that “specialness”, they carry it around in public as much as possible so that they are treated differently in public. 

Now we do the same in the Church, if you realize that or not.  We set people apart through calling pastors, electing council members, and endorsing teachers. And, we set people apart and mark them as special when we baptize. And this marking, this anointing, is done in a public ceremony — but how we choose to carry it around is our choice. We can carry it around in visible, public ways, or in private and invisible ways. And as David Lose commented in the above commentary, “Baptism reminds us that wherever we may go and whatever we may do or have done to us, yet God continues to love us, accept us, and hold onto us.”  This my friends is why Baptism is so important, and so special to us. It is the only affirmation we need. 

Pastor Dave