2020-01-12

Intro

There was a Methodist pastor and a Baptist pastor and they were having a discussion, let’s call it a passionate discussion, about Baptism. The Methodist pastor was suggesting that it is ok for someone to have water poured on just on their head, but the Baptist pastor insisted they had to be completely submerged.

There was a Methodist pastor and a Baptist pastor and they were having a discussion, let’s call it a passionate discussion, about Baptism. The Methodist pastor was suggesting that it is ok for someone to have water poured on just on their head, but the Baptist pastor insisted they had to be completely submerged.

Methodist: What if in water to their ankles… Baptist: No

Methodist: What if in water to their waist… Baptist: No

Methodist: What if in water to their nose… Baptist: No

Methodist: What if in water just over their head … Baptist: Yep

Methodist: Well obviously the top of the head is the most important bit.

So for some of you, this might be the first time you are hearing this can be a divisive issue between churches, for others the whole thing probably seems a bit strange...

Before going any further I think it is worth pointing out that a Baptist, Methodist or otherwise, disagreements in this are aren’t as simple as who is reading the Bible and who isn’t rather, it is more about what placing different amounts emphasis on aspects of what we find in the scriptures… I’m not really going to look at that much further today.

Let’s Look at the Passage

Matthew 3:13–14 TEV

13 At that time Jesus arrived from Galilee and came to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to make him change his mind. “I ought to be baptized by you,” John said, “and yet you have come to me!”

So John the baptist, the one who would come before Jesus to prepare the way, meets the person he had been pointing to…

John’s baptism was all about “Repent, prepare for God’s Kingdom” and with the arrival of Jesus, that Kingdom has arrived...

Matthew 3:15–17 TEV

15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so for now. For in this way we shall do all that God requires.” So John agreed. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. Then heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and alighting on him. 17 Then a voice said from heaven, “This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased.”

Jesus is obedient...

Crazy stuff happens in the sky, the Holy Spirit descends on Jesus and everyone hears a voice from heaven… Crazy stuff...

So what is going on here and what does this have to do with Baptism for us today?

At the same time… Have you noticed that stories of baptisms are entirely absent from Jesus’ ministry… What we do in the church today is different from what John was doing in this passage with Jesus… It is a means of grace for the church that points us to Jesus…

Have you noticed that stories of baptisms are entirely absent from Jesus’ ministry… What we do in the church today is different from what John was doing… It is a means of grace for the church that points us to Jesus…

Baptism as Identity

Jesus identifies with humanity

God doesn’t stay at a distance, but bridges the gap. We talked last week about the way that the accounts of Jesus’ life go out of their way to emphasize that Jesus is God… The confusing thing is that they also emphasize that Jesus is human, like us… How does that work… Great question...

God identifies Jesus for who he is... Publicly...

Baptism as Commissioning

Jesus ministry starts… This is a significant point...

Jesus’ baptism isn’t just a matter of his status, it isn’t just between him and God, is the start of God doing something in the world

Baptism as Revelation

<Baby Baptism Pic>

The gospel acted out

When we participate in baptisms, we are sharing the gospel, re-enacting it, using more than just words… Reminding ourselves of the basis of our relationship with God...

In baptism, God reminds the world whose we are

If you haven’t been baptised, it isn’t just for kids...

If you haven’t been baptised, it isn’t just for kids...

Thoughts

Images: C:\Users\Stephen\OneDrive - Cleveland Uniting Church\Wider Church\Church Services\Cleveland-Victoria Point UC\2015\2015-01-11\Images

In baptism, we are obedient to God

Fulfilling righteousness here isn’t achieving something we earn, but part of receiving the gift