To be Baptized

It was half of a year after I started working with the children. I began felt led to teach them about baptism. I had one little girls, whose brother I’ve baptized. For 5 months after her brother was baptized, little Lila would ask questions about baptism. One Sunday I reached to her mom and asked her if she knew if Lila wanted to be baptized…She looked at me and said “she has been talking a lot about it at home, but she gets stage fright. She fears getting in the front of the congregation.” I just suggested her to continue to encourage her.

It was on a Sunday where we did the remember the baptize, a day where those who have been baptized go to a small pool something like this, and they would grab. A bit of water and put it on their forehead and that is a time to remember their baptism.

Well one of those Sunday’s I was telling the children that we were going to go back to the big church, I wanted them to see adults doing the “remember the baptism.” I sat with the children and was looking at Lila, how intrigued she was. She came up to me and said, “Ms. Cindy, I am ready to be baptized, I’m not afraid anymore.” I saw something different in that little girl. We talked to that pastor and on that spot that little girl was baptized.

The next week I asked her what changed, she said “I know Jesus was baptized and so I remembered that, and I wasn’t afraid anymore.” That touched my heart.

Today as part of the “Why behind what” I hope to properly preach and explain the meaning and reason of Baptism. Before we read what scripture says about baptism. Let me explain the definition of it. In the OT those who enter in the presence of the Lord, needed to cleanse themselves. God’s presence is so Holy that it required ritual purities. They had to do it every time they world enter the temple. However, the idea of baptism that John the Baptist introduces is related to spiritual purity, involving repentance and confession of sin.

Let us go to the book of Matthew 3:11-17

11 “I baptize you with[a] water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

So, this is not the first time that John the Baptist come out in the bible. He was in his mother’s belly, Elizabeth, when Mary the mother of Jesus went to see her to tell her that she was also expecting a baby. From the womb John heard the voice of Mary and he moved. John knew all his life, that he was going to be coming before the Savior. John the baptized had his own disciplines and he was teaching them about baptism and what it meant, as well as the man who would follow him. He who would be after John, would be the savior.

The verses that we just read, explains how John is baptizing those around him. Then Jesus, comes to Him and asks to be baptized. Even john recognizes that he is not worthy. However, we need to remember that Jesus was not only fully God, but He was also Human. Sometimes as Christians we forget that important part. It is important to remember that Jesus was also 100% human, it is through that we are encouraged to continue living a Holy life. To continue making the right choices to continue bringing honor to God through our actions. If Jesus was able to live a set apart life for God, then we could too. He was also tempted in fact right after he was baptized, we read how he was by himself for 40 days and how we were tempted by the enemy. He overcame!

So why do we get baptized:

-Jesus gave us the example. Jesus was baptized to identify with those He came to save. (us)

AND

-When one gets baptized it is a sign to the community of believers that you too are joining in to live a life pleasing to Jesus.

Growing up I was not familiar with baptism. Both my dad and mom grew up Methodist. Which we believe in infant baptism. However, my dad learning from other mentors and then studying the idea of baptism wanted us to be older and be able to make decision ourselves. I got baptized at the age of 20 for the first time. But it was at the age of 17 when I started to wonder why is important to baptized. You see I know I am not the only one, but I need to fully understand why I need to do what I am being asked. I was not going to do it because others were doing it or because other would threat that I was not going to heaven. I knew better, I also knew that we do it as Christians but why? There was a time where I avoided being baptized because I started to believe that after one gets baptized, one is required to never sin. That I was meant to be holy, and well I was in my late teens, and I did not think that I could do it.

But of course, that is not the case. Being baptized is a symbol that means that we are making the decision to the best of our knowledge and will power to live a righteous life. Again, I bring this up, God knows our hearts and he knows when we are sincerely trying but fall or do something that is not right in His eyes. That is why we are told to repent every day from our sins. Whether intentional or not. God hears our sincere plead and forgives us.

I know most of you have probably been baptized. But I find it important to either learn or remember the reason we are asked to be baptized.

We are currently living in a world where pleasing God is not a priority. Where power or greed and selfishness are the ones leading people’s hearts. Seeing what is going on in the world can be heartbreaking and sometimes disheartening to the point of losing hope. And I am not only talking about what is going on in the world around us and what we hear in the news. but in our personal life’s, we are faced by trials, temptations, tribulations and even the death. This past week we had our first bible study, and everyone shared things that they have been struggling with. To hear their stories and even shared some fo mine, reminded me that though we do follow Christ and are trying ot live a hioly life, we are not exempt from pain. Sometimes we can come to church with a smile on our faces but with a heavy heart or worries. We do not wasn’t to share because we probably think they are no important or that no one carwes. I am here to say someone cares. Your heavenly Father cares and your bothers and sisters’ care. Being baptized is a sign that you are not alone. You are entering into this community of believers. This is why is important to remember we are a family. We are here to support one another, to encourage and to love one another.

This past week I was able to tour Ginger’s farm. Let me tell you it was great. I thought I was going to see bulls but I learned a lot of new information. I was interested learning that cows are smart. In the winter they is a shelter for the cows to go. But no one takes them there they themselves know that there is shelter and they can keep themselves “warm” during the time of winter. The heifers know where to find shelter. I say that to say we as Christians should know where to find shelter. That is in in our father arms. God is faithful. God has seen us through our spiritual walk with Him and for us who have been baptized He was there. He was with us since the beginning.

Do not be distraught do not be discouraged. God sees what is going on God hears what is going on. And want sus to know that He is in control. Look at HIM. If you have to close your eyes and go back to that first encounter that you had with Jesus, for sime that could be the day we were baptized. I know for lila, my student that I talked about in the beginning. When she has fear she will think of that day where she lost fear becaue of being baptized because she simply remember Jesus did it too.

Jesus walked here on Earth and trust me back then it was just as broken as it is today. He saw and heard pharisees put down the poor and the needy. However, He knew who he belonged to and knew that this walk on Earth was necessary but temporary. The pain, fear or whatever we are going through is temporary.

During my time of recovery i remember feeling so lost and hopeless and I did not understand why my life had gotten so miserable. Then I till this day I can hear this clear though in my heart. “Trust the process” while I was having anxiety and did not know what was happening to me I heard that 3 more times. “Trust the process” and so I did. And I would now change that process for anything in the world. Because that was the day where I realized true freedom in God’s arms.

Going through the trials is not easy. Jesus literally went to trial to hear his fate. He heard the people that He came to die for, yell “crucify Him crucify Him” I mean before being capive, we read that Jesus is crying by himself in the garden of getsemath. Asking God if there was a chance to not go through this. But He says “your will be done.” Jesus knows pain, Jesus knows what betrayal feels like, Jesus knows what hunger and thirst feel like, Jesus knows what being in community feels like Jesus know aht being baptized feels like. Jesus has victory over death and because of Him. His children, us, also have victor over death.

All is well brothers and sister. Let our faith not weaken but strenghted as we remember who saved us who loves us and Who is with us since we decided to follow Him. That is the Fathewr, the Son and The SWEET Holt Spirit. Let us pray.