Discovering Jesus: Baptism, the Beginning Place

Baptism: The Beginning Place

Incredible song of praise for God recognizing His power and majesty.

Psalm 29 NIV

A psalm of David. Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!” The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever. The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.

(Shiryown)

Genesis 1:1–5 NIV

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Acts 19:1–7 NIV

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.

Introduction:

Have you ever entered a historic building and it was just like you could feel the weight of all the history contained there? I love American history. I was thrilled when I was able to go to Philadelphia and stand in those buildings where so much history has taken place. I have studied and read so much about those times, it was like I could almost hear the echoes of the voices, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and the list goes on.

I often wonder what mountain climbers feel when they climb mountains such as Mount Everest. They have probably studied every climb of Mount Everest they could get their hands on to prepare them and help them not make similar mistakes as others and end up another dead body on that mountain. As they climb, they may notice a landmark and recall something that happened in that place.

When we are places where we connect with history, it is difficult for us not to be drawn back to memories of the past. History has a unique pull on us. Sometimes, I think in our particular current culture, we lose something because we do not have as much connection to our history. I think this is why DNA testing has become such a big thing these days. I must admit, that I have always thought it would be nice to have that Native American culture that works to keep connected with their past. People who live in the same area all their lives and tell and retell their history to their children and grandchildren. They always feel connected not only to their past, but also to a particular piece of land that becomes home by virtue of centuries of ties to it. Unlike people like me who have moved many times throughout their lifetime and when people ask where home is, I have no answer.

The Jews have this solid kind of history. The Law of Moses was taught as well as the old stories of what has transpired in their history. It was handed down priest to people, parent to child. They had (have) feasts and holidays that kept them tied to their past, connected to their God, even when they were not as obedient as they should have been. There were landmarks where things took place, that when they were in those places they could not but help to be drawn to the stories of what had gone on there before.

Today we will be reading of just such a place. It is important as we look at this story, that we look at it in the same context that the Jews did. As we do so, we may feel just a little of the emotion they felt as the man Jesus is introduced to them.

I have not done this in awhile, but if you will, please stand as I read from our text today.

Mark 1:4–11 NIV

And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Pray

Precious Father,

Thank you for your Word. Help us this morning that as we listen, we would feel a little of what the Jews felt. That we would feel the connection to the events that took place. Help us to understand how this is not just Jewish history, but this is our history. Our heritage, if we have placed our faith in you. Help give us the understanding that we need. Make this story fresh for those of us who have heard it many times before and grant us new understanding and insight of who You are and what You have done for us. Amen.

In recent years, more churches have taken to finishing the reading of a text with a phrase. It goes like this. “The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.” Sometimes, the pastor states the first part, “The Word of God for the people of God,” and then all finish, “Thanks be to God.” I was curious about this and I looked it up and found this explanation for that affirmation of a text reading.

Walter Bruggemann, a well-known Bible scholar said, “the reason we say this after the scripture is to affirm that the scripture is our story/text. It is the text which helps define and identify us as a community and a people.” Well you may hear me begin to use that phrase. Today, as I read our text, I was tempted to do so, but knew you would not understand but it really identifies how I feel about this text. This is not only the story of the Jews, but this is our story. For some of you, this may be a new story and for others, these events may be well-known to you. However, my hope today is to help you not only hear the story, but feel the story in order to identify with the events.

To begin with, we must identify the place. Even though we do not know the exact spot for sure, most believe that it was very near the crossing place of the Jordan river. I am speaking about the place just outside Jericho where the Israelites entered their promised land after the 40 years they spent in the wilderness. Of course, if you were a Jew in this area, it probably also sparked memories of the stories handed down of the collapse of Jericho. The famous march and then the trumpet blasts that brought down the walls of Jericho. This area was rich with all kinds of stories. There may have even still been a pile of stones somewhere in the area that were created as a memorial of their initial crossing. Whenever they were in the area, their minds would be drawn to the stories they had grown up of this area. I suspect they never visited without remembering the stories, just has my mind reflected on stories I had read of Independence Hall when I was there.

Now word is going around town that there is a special man out in this area. This man is different than any they had seen in a long time in that he is dressed much like Elijah the prophet (of course, based on the descriptions they had been told). Not only is he dressed in the same manner as Elijah, but he eats the same kind of wilderness meals as Elijah did. Wild honey, locust, the kind of easy pickings you have when you eat off the land with little labor to obtain it.

This man not only dresses and eats like a prophet of old, but he is crying out to the people with a message from God, like the prophets of old did. And if that were not all, this place of the Jordan is the same place where stories tell that Elijah was swept away from earth in a chariot of fire. Now this is all interesting as scripture tells them that Elijah will come again just ahead of the Messiah.

People begin traveling out to this wilderness area to hear what this man has to say. They are curious to hear his message. They find him crying out for them to repent, to confess their sins and be baptized in order to prepare themselves for the Messiah’s coming. Now, not only is this man dressing like a prophet, eating like a prophet, preaching like a prophet, but his message fits what they would expect from a prophet in their day. They have been awaiting the Messiah for a long time. They know that they are not spiritually where they need to be. It has been a long time since there was a sincere prophet calling them to make things right with God. This would generate much excitement! This is what they have been waiting for.

The idea of baptism is not new to them either, though this is a little different context. First, baptism was something one did when they wanted to become a Jew. A Jew did not need to be baptized. However, it was expected that you would ceremonially wash as a way of cleansing yourself before going before God. The idea of cleansing yourself to be in God’s presence was definitely not new. Could this man be Elijah returned to prepare them to meet their Messiah? They eagerly accept that he is.

By word of mouth, others heard of this man and went to hear him speak and to be baptized. The scripture indicates that there was a steady stream of people coming to see and hear for themselves, this man who seemed to step right out of their history to share the news they have waited hundreds of years to hear.

There is no scripture that tells us how long this has been going on. All we know is that one day, Jesus arrives to be baptized Himself. He has come from Galilee with the express intention of being baptized by John. Their mothers were related, though there is nothing the tells us in what familial way they were related. We know they were close and it is possible, if not probable, that John and Jesus had been together as children, though like any distant relative, it may have been minimal. As Jesus approaches John, John recognizes Jesus, but it is difficult to know if it was because he had seen the adult Jesus before or if it was more of the Spirits working within John. In Matthew’s account of this story, he shares that John was hesitant to baptize Jesus. John recognized that in Jesus there was no sin and no need of baptism, instead he deferred for Jesus to baptize him. But Jesus insists John do so, saying it is “proper for them to do so to fulfill all righteousness.”

Then an amazing thing happens. As Jesus comes out of the water, God speaks. “You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased.” It takes a little sleuthing to understand who all hears what in this moment. It is not readily apparent who hears the words. Surely, if God’s voice spoke out, you would expect a mass exodus of the people. Though these are God’s chosen people, they early on cried out that it frightened them when God spoke, so God spoke through His prophets and leaders. What the people heard was less intimidating, but became known as the bat kol, which in Hebrew means “daughter of a voice” or “echo voice. The sound was described as that of a “chirping bird” or the “cooing of a dove.” It had been a long time since anyone had heard it, but the people would recognize it from the family stories handed down and know that it was God’s voice even though they could not distinguish what it said.

John on the other hand, as a prophet of God, did hear. He testifies to the fact and we find that testimony related in John 1. Now picture the scene once again. They are in this historic place, with John in historic garb. These people are experiencing something that feels like the many stories they have been told all their lives. Then this man comes and John’s response is significant. It is evident that this man is not just any other man. John baptizes this man after a short conversation with the man. I can just imagine in that moment that the sun broke through the clouds and the people hear this sound. The sound of God that has been described to them since they were children. I cannot even guess the look on John’s face in that moment. I bet at that moment he could relate to the well-known song we sing today, “I can only imagine...”.

Surrounded by your glory What will my heart feel Will I dance for you Jesus Or in awe of You be still Will I stand in your presence Or to my knees will I fall Will I sing hallelujah Will I be able to speak at all I can only imagine, yeah I can only imagine

And now, think of Jesus. What expression would he be wearing? I suspect He felt the warmth that any son feels when his father expresses pride in him.” And with all eyes on Him, He walks away into the mountains.

I suspect all were speechless in that moment. All wrapped up in amazement. However, no one fully understood the significance at that time. Here is where our hindsight and the aid of the New Testament comes to our aid. We have the advantage of not only the back story, but the forward story. You see, the moment Jesus stepped into baptism, is the moment he stepped into His salvation role. He was sinless, but He identified Himself with our sin when He stepped into the Jordan River.

Now, allow me to briefly highlight some key things in this event.

First, consider John the Baptist. John was fulfillment of prophecy. He was the messenger that would come before the King as shared by Isaiah.

Isaiah 40:3–5 NIV

A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Messengers were always sent ahead of a king. Their job was to prepare the roads and the people for the royal arrival. John was the messenger sent ahead of King Jesus. It was his job to prepare the hearts of the people to meet their God. He declares to the people, “it is time the people of Israel abandon their spiritual wilderness and step into their Kingdom inheritance.” Notice that John did not go to the people, he waited in the wilderness for those who cared enough to come find the truth of his story. Oh wait, that was last week’s message! No, that is not a one-time message but has always been the message! God only reveals Himself to those interested in really knowing Him.

Then the King arrives, but He does not act like any other King. He is not demanding homage. Instead, He steps into the water and is water baptized identifying with us. ALL of us! He has not sinned, yet He is already taking on our sin. Now does that mean we do not have to be baptized anymore? No, that is not what it means. You see, Jesus is our example. Just as He began His journey with water baptism, it is appropriate that we do the same.

It is important that you understand that we are not saved by being baptized. It is also important that you understand that we can still be saved even if we are not baptized. However, Jesus stepped into baptism to identify with our sin. We step into baptism to be identified with His death and resurrection. There are three components of baptism. One is the identification with purification of sin. It is symbolic. It does not have power to make us clean, only Jesus death and resurrection can do that. But it symbolizes our desire to be made clean. It is also identification with his death. We go down in the water like one going down into a grave. Then we are brought up, symbolizing resurrection from that death. In fact, we are dying to the life we have lead to come to take up our new life, a life in Christ. Living as He lived, a life obedient to the Father. Dying as He died with knowledge that we will be resurrected. And enjoying the same inheritance from God knowing that we are no longer strangers to God, but children of God with all the benefits that go with it.

John understood something more. He shared it, though it is difficult to know how much he understood as it would not be revealed until after his death. That is that Jesus would provide for us a second baptism. This baptism was not by water, but by the Spirit. This baptism could not be experienced until Jesus returned to the Father. Jesus spoke of it again just before His ascension.

Acts 1:3–5 NIV

After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Then that day came.

Acts 2:1–4 NIV

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

This baptism of the Spirit was not only for those there on that day. This is a special baptism for all those who are God’s followers. Earlier in our service we read Acts 19 where Paul enquired of some new followers if they have been baptized with the Spirit. They shared about their water baptism, but were not aware of this second baptism. Paul here and the disciples in other places do not offer this baptism, but insist upon it. It is not something they can impart, but something that comes directly from the Father upon request.

There are many names and many understandings of this second baptism. However, I am not going to get into those specifics. The reason is, it is immaterial. What is essential is that we seek it. We call upon God and share our desire that He pour out the Spirit of Christ upon us. Here again, if we truly desire it, God always provides. It is His gift to us. It empowers us. It changes us even deeper than our initial choice to follow God.

Last week, I employed you to seek God. If you have made that choice to follow God, I would encourage you to be baptized. I am always willing to prepare a baptism service for someone. I was thrilled when Macy was recently baptized! The Baptist Church as a beautiful baptismal they are willing to allow us to use.

Second, do not stop with water baptism, but cry out to God to be baptized by His Spirit. When He does, you will know. I am always available to answer any questions on this subject. I experienced it and I have never regretted it. My only regret was that I allowed fear to prevent me from crying out for God’s Spirit sooner.

Please bow your heads. If you will all take a moment to close your eyes and not look around. I do not want to put anyone on the spot, but if you are seeking God, or on a new journey with God, or even desiring a special touch from God, would you be willing to raise your hand so I know and can pray for you? I know sometimes it is hard to find time to seek a pastor out to ask questions, but if you would like me to join with you in prayer, you can just lift your hand so that I know and can be praying for you. I just ask all to keep their eyes closed and heads bowed to allow privacy.

If any would wish to go a step further and come to this altar for prayer, I want to give you a moment to do that also. The altar is a special place to be with God. It is a sacred place, a holy place. We try to treat it as such by discouraging children from climbing on it or treating it like a shelf to hold things. It has a special purpose and that is to come to the throne of God to pray. That is why it has such prominence in all our practices. Wedding ceremonies are done near the altars. Baby dedications are done at the altars. New church members are received in front or at the altars. Funerals are conducted near the altars. They are to be a representation of God’s throne. If you would like to come pray, come do so. If you need to leave, please do so quietly. If you would like to stay and pray in your pew, you can do that also. Pam will play the piano quietly until it appears all are done praying.

Allow me to say a final corporate prayer for those who need to leave. After that, leave as you feel ready to do so.

Pray

Father,

I am so blessed to be able to share this story. Your story. The Jews story. Our story Father. You made it clear that You are not here for the Jews alone. They were just an instrument through which You could reach us all. We thank you for your Word that provides for us the salvation story that we may become a part of it. Father, I ask that Your Spirit meet each person wherever they are at this morning and that as we leave this place, each will know they have been in Your presence. Each would understand just how personal you are to each of us, treating us as individuals with different needs and different levels of understanding. Helping us each understand that You want us to be Your children with all the benefits thereof.

Thank you Father, for Your love and all that You have provided so we can be Your children.

In Jesus name I pray, Amen.