April 22, 2015
“B” is for Baptism

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 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. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Mark 3:13 – 17

“The Icon for the Baptism of our Lord is known in the Orthodox tradition as the Theophany since it celebrates the manifestation of G*d in Christ as he begins his public ministry. The Icon we see portrays the Gospel accounts of the Baptism of Jesus and the truth of G*d revealed in three Persons. John the Baptist hears the voice of the Father and sees the Holy Spirit descend in the form of a dove, both testifying to the appearance of the Son of G*d in the person of Jesus.” The Icon of the Baptism of Our Lord “For All The Saints” volume III (p. 228 – 232)

As Lutherans, we see Baptism as the central moment of our faith lives – or at least the beginning of such. Most of us cannot remember our baptisms, but we may remember our confirmation (which is a Re-affirmation of our baptismal promises) and we see the remembrance of our baptism as a singular moment in our days where we can remind ourselves that we are children of G*d, chosen by G*d, and have a date where we can give an answer to the question “When were you saved?” We are called to remember our baptisms every morning when we rise. We remember our baptism because it is there that we are named and claimed by G*d. There are many competing voices that are seeking to claim our attention, our devotion and our finances. There are many other things that want to name as: name us as poor, as ugly, as inadequate, as unpopular, as unworthy. Those things will never claim us or name us if we remember that it is through our baptisms that G*d has named and claimed us – this is all that matters in the scheme of existence – and this will launch us each day into a world that wants to tell us that we are “less than” – and will remind us that we are Loved, Chosen, Claimed, Children of G*d.

Pastor Dave