Sermon Tone Analysis

Epiphany 1 ~/ Baptism of our Lord

Luke 3:15-22

January 7, 2007

*“Bound by Water and the Word”*

Introduction: The season after Christmas, Epiphany, is all about God manifesting, that is revealing, his salvation to us and to the world.

The epiphany of our Savior Jesus Christ as the Father’s beloved Son cannot be any clearer than at his Baptism.

In our text today, Jesus does not introduce himself; John the Baptist does.

He was called to prepare the way and present Jesus as God’s Messiah-Servant, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.

And in the Baptism Jesus, God marks him as the fulfillment of all salvation history.

In His Baptism, Jesus Is Anointed to Complete the Great Exchange, His righteousness for the world’s sin that leads to the salvation that is freely offered to the world.

The details of Jesus’ Baptism are clear, but the meaning is not nearly so.

At Jesus’ Baptism, all three persons of the Holy Trinity together set into motion the final fulfillment of our redemption.

Jesus’ saving ministry and mission began with his Baptism.

Even the greatest of the prophets, John the Baptist, is confused—but Jesus is not.

In Baptism Jesus submits to the Word and will of his gracious Father.

He is praying, “Amen.

Let it be so.

Thy will be done,” as echoed at Gethsemane.

There are no negotiation, no agreements, no bargaining or deal making.

From Baptism Jesus journey’s to the cross.

*Sing stanza 1* of the hymn “A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth” (LSB 438; LW 111; TLH 142).

*“A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth, The guilt of all men bearing; And laden with the sins of earth, None else the burden sharing!

Goes patient on, grows weak and faint, To slaughter led without complaint, That spotless life to offer; Bears shame, and stripes, and wounds and death, Anguish and mockery, and saith, “Willing all this I suffer.”*

The Baptism of Jesus is a window into his sacrificial death as the Messiah-Servant of God.

He was not anointed to be a nice guy or great philosopher, a mere example or coach.[i]

Jesus the Lamb of God goes through the waters of baptism that will eventually lead to His suffering and death on the cross, “The guilt of all men bearing; And laden with the sins of earth, None else the burden sharing!

Goes patient on, grows weak and faint, To slaughter led without complaint, That spotless life to offer.”

Jesus is baptized into the ocean of our misery and wretchedness and sin.

He who is without sin is numbered as one of us.

He joins Himself to the reality of our spiritual condition as helpless, fallen children of God.

He leads us to cry out in repentance.

What is our cry and our prayer?

Our cry of repentance is: “Who will save me from my own sinful nature?”

St. Paul proclaims to the Corinthian church, 2 Corinthians “For our sake,  He (That is God) made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

This is the unique redeeming mission of the Suffering Servant of Isaiah

*Sing Stanza 2* of “A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth.”

*“This Lamb is Christ, the soul’s great Friend, The Lamb of God, our Savior; Him God the Father chose to send To gain for us His favor.

“Go forth, My Son,” the Father saith, “And free men from the fear of death, From guilt and condemnation.

The wrath and stripes are hard to bear, But by Thy Passion men shall share The fruit of Thy salvation.”*

In his Baptism, Jesus completes the great exchange.

At his Baptism, Jesus binds himself to our poor, miserable condition that he might effect the great exchange: He gives us His righteousness, the righteousness of a Holy God in trade for our unrighteousness, our sin which He willing carries to the cross, standing guilty and accused before God His Father.

There on the cross He shoulder’s our punishment, forsaken By His Father.

*Sing Stanza 3 of “A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth.” 3 “Yea, Father, yea, most willingly I’ll bear what Thou commandest; My will conforms to Thy decree, I do what Thou demandest.”

O wondrous Love, what hast Thou done!

The Father offers up His Son!

The Son, content, descendeth!

O Love, how strong Thou art to save! Thou beddest Him within the grave Whose word the mountains rendeth.*

In this life, the only direction that those marked with the name Christ can go back to is one’s Baptism.

In the recent film on the life of Martin Luther, Luther the monk is tormented by his inability to rid himself of his sin.

His superior, Johann von Staupitz, asks Luther, “What do you seek?” Luther cries out, “A merciful God—a God I can love—a God who loves me!”

And where does his closest friend direct the despairing eyes of Martin?

Does he direct Martin’s attention to the uncovered majesty and voice of a holy and righteous God that must punish sin?

Does he direct Martin to within his own fallen heart and good intentions that can not please God and offer no assurance of God’s love?

No!

He says, “Then look to Christ.

Bind yourself to Christ and you will know God’s love.

Say to him, ‘I am yours.

Save me.’ ” Years later, Luther wrote in his commentary on Genesis: “Indeed, if I had the matter under my control, I would not want God to speak to me from heaven or to appear to me; but this I would want—and my daily prayers are directed to this end—that I might have the proper respect and true appreciation for the gift of Baptism, that I have been baptized” (LW 3:165).

In Baptism we see that it is not we who save ourselves, there is no comfort or assurance there.

In Baptism we understand that it is God alone that saves us and in Baptism we have His promise.

What God promises God fulfills.

In Baptism, God has bound himself to us.

He says, “You are mine” (I love you)and (He promises to) save us.[ii]

Do you know the date of your Baptism?

Do you remember the united work of the Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit at your Baptism during the Invocation?

Do you ask God for the ability to pray, “Amen.

Let it be so.

Thy will be done”?

I trust in You alone!

You have saved me through Your Son’s death on the cross!

I am saved.

Say it with me… God loves me, I am saved by His grace.

Do not doubt God’s gracious Word…believe in it!

*Sing Stanza 4, 5. and 6* of “A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth.”

*4 From morn till eve my theme shall be Thy mercy’s wondrous measure; To sacrifice myself for Thee Shall be my aim and pleasure.

My stream of life shall ever be A current flowing ceaselessly, Thy constant praise outpouring.

I’ll treasure in my memory, O Lord, all Thou hast done for me, Thy gracious love adoring.*

*Stanza 5 “Of death I am no more afraid, New life from Thee is flowing; Thy cross affords me cooling shade When noonday’s sun is glowing.

When by my grief I am opprest, On Thee my weary soul shall rest Serenely as on pillows.

Thou art my Anchor when by woe My bark is driven to and fro On trouble’s surging billows.”*

*Stanza 6 “And when Thy glory I shall see And taste Thy kingdom’s pleasure, Thy blood my royal robe shall be, My joy beyond all measure; When I appear before Thy throne, Thy righteousness shall be my crown,— With these I need not hide me.

And there, in garments richly wrought As Thine own bride, I shall be brought To stand in joy beside Thee.*

Conclusion: Faith in God’s grace can look at the sinful condition of our hearts and hands and lips and yet believe that what was spoken over Jesus at his Baptism has been spoken to us: “You are my beloved child; with you I am well pleased.”[iii]

For this reason we shall see the glory of God, clothed with the blood of the Lamb of God, wearing His righteousness as our everlasting crown.

To the glory of our Lord Jesus, through  His baptism, His death, and His resurrection.

Amen

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[i] (See Norman Nagel, Selected Sermons [St.

Louis: Concordia, 2004], 43–45.)

[ii] Daniel N. Harmelink, Huntington Beach, CA

[iii] Rev. Daniel N. Harmelink