Water and Spirit – Luke 3: 15 - 22
Intro: As a pastor, there are many questions you are asked. Some of them are harder to answer than others. One I have frequently heard is “What would your congregation think? Life seems to be full or question. This morning, I want to share an easy question: What do John the Baptist and Winnie the Pooh have in common? --- They have the same middle name! There are many more serious questions some of which I will address this morning.
I VS. 15 “The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possible be the Messiah.
A This was a legitimate question for these people. They were living under the oppressive rule of Rome. They paid heavy taxes, had little freedom and were sometimes used as slave labor.
B The rulers sent by Rome to keep peace were often corrupt. They did whatever they wanted and treated non-Romans as less than human. The Jews were promised by God to be sent a “redeemer” who would set them from their situation with the Romans.
C VS. 16 “John answered them all, ‘I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’” Question answered.
II I have another set of questions related to baptism that may cause you to ponder the answers. Exactly what is the meaning of baptism and why do we do it the way we do?
A The GK word for baptism is ßapt??? / baptiso which has several meanings. It originally involved washing oneself / to wash with water in token purification from sin. This is why some denominations immerse or submerge individuals. In our tradition we can immerse, sprinkle, or pour water as a way of identifying us spiritually with Christ Jesus and is always done in the names of the trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).
B Our denomination has a definition of baptism. “Baptism is the sign and seal of our incorporation into Jesus Christ.” There are only 2 sacraments in the Presbyterian tradition: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Our tradition understands baptism to be a sign of God’s covenant. The water of baptism is linked with the waters of creation, the flood, and the exodus all of which tie us to God’s redeeming grace.
C Both believers and their children are included in God’s covenant of love and are recognized and marked as belonging to God. Through baptism we and are children become a child of the covenant through the presence of the trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
III Theologians through the centuries have debated another question: If Jesus is the perfect Son of God, why did he submit to baptism? He had no need to have sins washed away, he was sinless. Why?
A There are traditionally 3 reasons why Jesus was baptized. First, it was a sign of His complete dedication to following the will of God. Second, It announced the beginning of the earthly ministry of Jesus. Third, it serves as a example to us.
B All of these answers are true. But, look at VS. 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
C Jesus didn’t NEED to be baptized. It was something He chose to do. Jesus loved humanity so much that he chose to identify with us. --- For us, baptism is something we choose to do for ourselves and our children to show that we are children of God who are loved by God.
Concl: The story is told about the baptism of King Aengus by St. Patrick in the middle of the fifth century. Sometime during the service, St. Patrick leaned on his sharp-pointed staff and inadvertently stabbed the king's foot. After the baptism was over, St. Patrick looked down at all the blood, realized what he had done, and begged the king's forgiveness. Why did you suffer this pain in silence, St. Patrick asked. The king replied, "I thought it was part of the ritual.”
My father once said to me that he gave me my name and he did not want me to bring disgrace or dishonor to that name.
The most important thing for us to remember is that through baptism, we are once and forever marked as belonging to God. What we do or don’t do in that relationship should bring honor and praise to God not disgrace.
