Epiphany 2 2023

John 1:32-33 “And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’”

What is Baptism?

I recently spoke to a woman who had heard a sermon about baptism (not by me) and she really appreciated it. She appreciated it because, as she described it, she knew that baptism is really important but she really couldn’t articulate why.

What is it about baptism that makes it so important? What does it give? What does it do?

I suspect that her experience is probably not unusual. You’ve been made to memorize that section of Luther’s Small Catechism: “Baptism is not just plain water, it is the water, included in God’s command and combined with God’s Word.” “It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe it, as the words and promises of God declare.” “It indicates that the Old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.”

You had to memorize all those words. But what do they actually mean? And what do they mean as you go about your daily life?

If you understood the promises made to you at this font, the words “I am baptized into Christ!” would be a constant refrain from each and every one of us.

If you truly understood our guilt, if you understood the depth of your need for a savior, and if we grasped what you are truly given through baptism, those words would be the first words you spoke when you got up in the morning and the last words you spoke when you lay down at night. They would be the automatic response to every temptation, they would be your antidote to anything that might cause you fear. Those words, not any others, not conservative or liberal or American or German or male or female or white or black or anything else would be the very first thing that identifies you.

If you understood what was done to you at this font, the very first words that would come to mind when you describe who you are would be: “I am baptized into Christ.”

But they’re not, are they?

Think about it: If you had not been baptized as infants—be honest now—how many of you would be in such sorrow over your sins, such deep anguish over all the evil you have done and the good you have left undone that you would be running—on foot, even—running to Sebewaing to some bizarre looking man preaching fire and brimstone in order to be baptized by him in the Sebewaing river as an act of repentance and a desire for a new beginning?

In your defense, understanding baptism goes against everything that we sinful humans are. One of the basic reasons you and I do not understand baptism as we should is because our hearts are filled with lust instead of with an unquenchable thirst for God’s Word.

Because you so easily slander your neighbor instead of defending him (let alone sharing the Gospel with him). Because you are so often discontent, unhappy with your lot in life. Because you look at the world around you that looks so dangerously out of control and you’re afraid.

The first step in understanding baptism is fairly simple: Repent. “Don’t waste time denying your sins,” Luther once wrote. “You crucified Him.” “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,” Peter instructed (Acts 2:38).

“Wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this body of death?” Paul cried out (Rom. 7:24). “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” (Ps. 51:3). “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!” David wept (Ps. 51:2). “Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” John warned (John 3:3).

To quote our synodical president, the Good News, “my friends, [is that] Jesus Christ died for sinners. “In Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself” (2 Cor. 5:19).

“…[If] you are not a sinner, if you do not recognize yourself in the scorching mirror of the Law, if you are not a real, hard-boiled sinner like the rest of us, then you must leave. Jesus is not for you. [We, as a church, have nothing to offer you.] You see, Jesus Himself said, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32).

Repent! The path back to Baptism is through repentance. Jesus Christ comes only for sinners. And, for sinners, what He has to offer is indescribable. The gifts He gives in baptism can hardly be overstated.

So let’s look at what those gifts are that He offers to sinners like you and me.

Seeing Baptism Through the Baptism of Jesus

Today’s Gospel reading is a great opportunity to make sure that you can explain why baptism is so important; what it gives; what it does. We’re going to do that by looking at Jesus’ baptism.

The baptism of Jesus is one of those events from His life that we struggle to figure out what to do with.

For a lot of the events that are recorded for us about His life and ministry we can attach some meaning, some greater significance. The miracles, too, are pretty straightforward. Even events like a 12-year old Jesus staying behind at the temple don’t take too much effort to draw out the significance. The crucifixion and resurrection—we spend most of our time fleshing out the meaning of those events. But not His baptism.

Why was Jesus’ baptism so important? What did it give? What did it do?

My goal is that, as you better understand the answers to those questions, you’ll better understand your own baptism, too.

The baptism of Jesus is considered to be the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

So we have that. You’ve certainly seen many politicians put on different kinds of events to kick off their campaign to be elected to some office. Perhaps that’s what this is, a chance for Jesus to go where the crowds were—to John the Baptist—and perform a symbolic act that caught everyone’s attention. Throw in the opportunity it gave for God the Father to announce His endorsement, and there you have it—an historical footnote about where the whole thing started. You can sort of picture that. But still, there has to be a lot more to it than that. And there is.

There is far more. “What does baptism give?” we asked. “What does baptism do?” The answers to those questions are answered by what Jesus gave and what Jesus did when He went into the water.

Luther said—about Jesus’ Baptism—that here “Christ sticks Himself into the water,” and when you went into the water in Baptism, you pulled Him out with you.

Let’s think about what Christ sticks into the water.

John was correct that day. Jesus had no need to be baptized. He had no sin to confess. But He knew you would. So He answered John, “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness,” (Matt. 3:15). He “who knew no sin” (2 Cor. 5:21) took His perfect obedience to the Law—He puts His righteousness—into the water for you to find.

When Jesus is baptized, Mark’s Gospel says, “Heaven was torn open” (Mark 1:10). So says Luther, “In baptism heaven is nothing but doors and windows.” That open heaven goes into the water for you to be joined to!

In Jesus’ Baptism, the Holy Spirit descends as a dove. The Holy Spirit goes into the water for you to find there.

In Jesus’ Baptism, the voice of God from heaven says, “You are My beloved Son; with You I am well pleased!” (Mark 1:11). It goes into the water so that, when you come out, it applies to you. “You are my beloved child, in whom I am well pleased!” says our Heavenly Father.

What does baptism give? What does baptism do?

“You were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death” (Rom. 6:4). Christ’s Passion, the death sentence, the ridicule, the standing before Pilate, the beatings, the whippings, the bloody crown of thorns, the King of the Jews, the nails, the “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34), the “Today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43), the “It is finished” (Luke 19:3), the last breath: all that He would suffer on the cross to pay for your sins went into the water. For you.

And there’s still more! “For if you have been united with Him in a death like His—in the water—you shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His—in the water. You know that your old self was crucified with Him—in the water— in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that You would no longer be enslaved to sin—in the water. For one who has died has been set free from sin—in the water. Now if you have died with Christ, you believe that you will also live with Him—in the water. You know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus—in the water” (Rom. 6:5–14).

Paul goes on in Titus 3: “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit—in the water—whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior— in the water—so that being justified by His grace—in the water—we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life”—in the water! (Titus 3:4–7).

Peter says, “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you —in the water—not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience—[Baptism is the appeal. It is the good conscience!]—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21).

Christ has stuck all this into the water, and because you’ve been stuck into the water, it’s all yours now. Baptized sinners: That’s what you are.

What is baptism?

Baptism is the very Gospel itself in action, and you are baptized for witness. You are baptized for acts of mercy. You are baptized for life together in His Church. You are baptized for this moment.

What does baptism give? Everything. “Do I need earth’s treasures many?” you sing. “I have one worth more than any!” “I am baptized into Christ!”

When Satan attacks us and our flesh would tempt us (say it with me): “I am baptized into Christ!” and that is not who I am any longer.

When the nations rage, when the world is plunged into violence and bloodshed: “I am baptized into Christ!” and a citizen of His Kingdom.

When disease strikes us or those we love, when death itself draws near: “I am baptized into Christ!” I am living an eternal life.

It may seem odd, but Jesus’ baptism offers a window into your baptism. Baptized sons, baptized daughters of God. That is what you are. “The promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself” (Acts 2:39).

In the name of Jesus … in the water. Amen.