January 8, 2012 (Baptism of Lord):
Call: Acts 19: 1-7
Text: Mark 1: 4-11
Reading: Psalm 29 (761)
The Difference
Well, all kids have to grow up.
You and I had to.
Although some of our parents might well have wondered whether we would.
Our children had to - or will have to.
Although we as parents might well wonder
whether they have or whether they will
Even our parents had to grow up
Although it is hard for most of us to imagine them as children
And the kid whose birth we celebrated two weeks ago
Had to grow up as well
Although I suspect that his parents were a bit more confident
Than ours were.
The transition from childhood to adulthood is a process
Not a single act or event
However, most of us can look back and identify an event in our lives that marks our move from the former to the latter.
It might be our graduation from high school or college
Or the completion of our graduate work
It might be our enlistment into the military service
Perhaps even our discharge
It might be our marriage
Or the birth of our children.
It is, however, usually something - and that something
Is usually important
For the kid born in Bethlehem
The event marking his transition was his baptism by John
That was and that is important.
It is so important
That the story of Christ's baptism
Is the first and the earliest story
Which is related in all four gospels
Only Luke tells the traditional Christmas story
Matthew, Mark, and John don't.
Only Matthew tells of the visit of the wise men
Mark, Luke, and John don't
Only John begins his gospel with the poetic imagery
of the word coming into the world.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke don't include it
But all four of our gospels
tell the story of Christ's baptism by John ...
Matthew tells it Luke tells it John tells it
And Mark who will furnish most of our gospel scriptures this year tells it as well
This is how he tells it. [Mark 1: 4-11]
The event marking Jesus' transition to adulthood
Was more extraordinary by far
Than the ones marking ours.
The baptism by John in The Jordan
Was a watershed event in the life of Christ
But it is more than an historical marker
It also informs and teaches us.
It informs by continuing to answer the question posed by the hymn writer,
"What Child is this?"
But now the question is revised to "What man is this?"
The answer still remains, "This, this is Christ the king."
For now, in this event, what we understood previously has been amplified by the voice from heaven proclaiming
that Christ is the Son of God
that Christ is loved by God
and that God is well pleased with him
that the Bethlehem born boy
is an adult of remarkable importance.
And now, in this event, we have
The Spirit descending like a dove
imagery confirming the words from heaven.
We knew this kid was important
When the shepherds watched and the angels sang
We knew that this was a special kid
When the gift bearing magi arrived from the East
And now, in this event,
In this event told in all four gospels
you and I have that importance and that "specialness"
Testified to as he begins shedding his childhood
And taking on his adult ministry.
And now, in this event,
we also learn more about what kind of a king the Christ will be.
For we cannot miss that his authority comes not from humankind
But clearly from his Father in heaven - who sent him.
And yet we also cannot miss
That this young man who had every opportunity to be arrogant
Was instead humble
Taking part in a purification ritual
Presided over by one who was not the Son of God.
Jesus could have looked at John the Baptist and sneered,
"You baptize me?"
But he didn't.
He willingly and voluntarily walked into the Jordan River
And was baptized by John
Thereby giving credence to John's baptism
And sending the message that repentance was important
Perhaps though, the most important message is one that doesn't jump right out at us.
For this event also teaches us that Christ worked - and still works
Through people who are not his equal.
And we can say, "Duh!" all we want
"Of course no one is equal to Christ"
But the point is that despite that inequality,
Christ works through these "lesser people"
and thus our frequent pleas of inadequacy don't cut the mustard
John, along with Peter and Paul
Is one of the three most important figures
Other than Jesus himself -
In the New Testament
If this were a movie,
These three would be playing roles
That could well earn them nominations
for the best the Supporting Actor Oscar
John, Peter, and Paul were called by God
To serve in remarkable ways
John was called to prepare the way
Proclaiming the need for repentance
And to announce the coming of Christ.
Peter was called to start the church
To continue Christ's presence and work in the world.
Paul was called to spread the world.
Taking it far beyond its Jewish roots
Opening the church to everyone
Not just Abraham's biological descendents.
These were great men
These were great servants of God.
The tasks to which they were called
dwarf anything to which you and I have been called.
And the price they paid for responding to and accepting their calls
Dwarfs any price we are apt to pay.
Paul was beaten, arrested, and thrown out of communities.
Peter too was arrested, - and he was himself crucified
And John? Well John was beheaded.
They were, therefore, not only remarkably successful servants,
They were martyrs as well
We respect, John, Peter, and Paul
We look up to them
We stand in awe of what they did
Not one of us can even imagine being half the servant
That John was
Or that Peter and Paul were.
But even they
Although well above us in service
are well below the guy that child grew up to be.
John, Peter, and Paul were called to do his work
Despite the fact that they were lesser to Christ
John knew that he was not Christ's equal.
"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."
John knew he was less than Christ - even before meeting Christ
And yet he was grateful to have the chance to serve
Peter knew he was less than Christ
He had after all, three times denied even knowing Jesus
But he was called to feed Christ's sheep and lambs
And to be the rock on which Christ built his church.
And yet he was grateful to have the chance to serve
Paul knew he was less than Christ
Before the trip to Damascus
He had arrested and killed Christ's followers
He called himself the least of the apostles
And yet he was grateful to have the chance to serve
They knew that if they had heard their calls clearly
That they would be successful in God's eyes
Despite their own inadequacies
You and I are less than Christ
We know that
You and I see ourselves as less than John
Less than Peter and Paul as well
Yet despite our inequality
You and I have been called to serve.
Are we grateful?
Or do we consider it an unfair burden
Or an infringement on our time and what we want to do?
Do we raise the protests of inadequacy?
Or do we trust that Christ knows what he is doing when he calls us?
Yes, there is a difference between Christ and us
Christ knows that too.
But despite that difference or those differences
Christ calls us any way.
Will we answer the call like John did?
Or will we let the difference
serve as a stumbling block that generates excuses.
The question is important.
No wonder all four gospel writers
Told us about the time
Jesus came to the Jordan to be baptized by John.