Baptism: Our Deep Keel

January 12, 2020

Hope Lutheran Church

Rev. Mary Erickson

Matthew 3:13-17

Baptism: Our Deep Keel

Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Today we hear the story of Jesus’ baptism. As he came out of the Jordan River, a voice from heaven was heard to say, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

On this day of Jesus’ baptism we take the opportunity to reflect on our own baptisms. Our Christian baptism is not the same as John’s baptism. John practiced a baptism of repentance. Our baptism is done in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

But there is a similarity between John’s baptism and ours. It’s the kinship. In baptism, we are adopted as God’s sons and daughters. That act of baptism is God’s way of saying, “You are mine. I love you. I am well pleased with you!”

Baptism is a sacrament. It’s a tactile event. It uses earthly, real stuff. And through this event, God proclaims grace and belonging to us. It’s a mystery, something we don’t understand completely.

Baptism happens only once in a lifetime. In the Lutheran tradition, we practice infant baptism. This means that for the most of us, we have no personal recollection of this important event! We know it only by the remnants from that day – a yellowing certificate, grainy photographs, half-burnt candles and the doily used to wipe our infant brow.

The event itself, we don’t recall. We were babies! Unlike communion, we don’t repeat this sacrament. We don’t have to repeat it, like, maybe it didn’t take the first time. It’s a one and done deal.

We experience our baptism vicariously every time we see a baptism at church. As we watch that tiny baby getting baptized, we know that this great event happened to us, too!

Christ commanded his church to baptize. In the Great Commission, he says, “Go and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Christ instituted baptism. He taught us to do this in the name of the Triune God. Martin Luther said the following:

“To be baptized in God’s name is to be baptized not by men but by God himself. Although it is performed by men’s hands, it is nevertheless truly God’s own act.” *

In this act, God claims us as God’s own. “You are mine!” God says, “MINE! And no one can snatch you out of my hand!”

Baptism tells us who and whose we are. We belong to God. The words heard at Jesus’ baptism echo over ours: “My son, my daughter, my beloved.” This is our core identity.

But we might not always feel that way. Many days we don’t feel like a child of God. We don’t feel beloved or even worthy of being loved.

Many other voices speak to us, voices that aren’t affirming in nature. They speak like barbs, and their sentiments stick into us. The tell us we’re not thin enough; we’re not attractive enough. They accuse that we’re too old; we’re not smart enough. These voices persistently point out that we are inadequate. They harp on our shortcomings. We’re from the bottom of the heap.

These voices are very alluring. Their poisoned darts sink deep into our core. But their message is false. They paint a false portrait. They do not define who we are.

Baptism does that. Baptism is what gives us the clearest reflection of our identity. Look into the baptismal bowl! Look into those waters of grace. Take a close look at the image that reflects back at you. It says, “My son, my daughter! You are mine. My beloved!”

Baptism is our true identity. It does not lie! It’s our deep keel. The keel is the deepest structure on a ship. That keel structure provides lateral support. It keeps the ship from tossing sideways in stormy waters. Sailboats in particular have very deep keels. That deep keel keeps the ship upright, even when they’re battling very strong winds. The sailboat may lean sharply from the wind, but the keel cuts through the waters. It holds the ship steady and true.

When you are buffeted by destructive messages, remember your baptismal identity! You are God’s beloved! That is your true self, and it’s your deep keel. That identity will see you through the tempest of self-loathing. Though you are battered by guilt or depression, your deep keel will keep you upright.

The other thing about a keel: a ship is built around its keel. Laying down the keel is the first step in building a ship. All the other parts of the ship are grafted into the keel. It’s the base, the primal foundation.