Epiphany 01B

Getting Ready for Sunday

Introductions to the Lectionary Readings Assigned for

The Baptism of the Lord

January 8, 2006

©Robert Gail Stoddard

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth.

O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy your consolations. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

GENESIS 1:1-5

Genesis 1:1-5 makes the point that God’s active involvement in creation gives shape and order to what was an empty, formless world. By extension, just as God’s involvement gave shape and order to an otherwise dull and empty bit of galactic real estate (the earth), God’s involvement in our lives can add light and life to our daily lives. Three main points lead to that conclusion.

First, however we understand what precedes it (whether we accept what is currently referred to as “intelligent design” or accept instead the latest theories of modern science), Genesis begins with the notion that the earth was – at some point – an empty, formless, blank canvass for God’s creative activity. It is important to understand how absolutely empty and formless the earth was at this point; the seemingly obvious fact that it had some sort of surface is actually a surprise. God’s active involvement will give shape and form to the otherwise ill-defined earth.

Second, God spoke to the empty, formlessness and it lit up. Don’t be misled by the apparent clarity of our English translations. God didn’t necessarily issue a command – “Let there be light!” – compelling the earth to light up. As I read it, Genesis 1:3 simply reads, “God said, ‘Light.’ Light.” Personally, I have the sense of God issuing a simple invitation: “Light.” Some of creation accepted the invitation and lit up. Other parts said, “No, not just now. Perhaps some other day.” This may seem odd considering how long we’ve lived with the notion of creation-by-divine-command, but it will find a home in the Gospels when, rather than issuing commands, Jesus will say, “Come, follow me.” Some will, but others will reject his invitation.

Finally, like an artist stepping back from his canvas, God expresses an opinion about how things turned out. It’s looking good! And, as the passage concludes, we realize that this is an inclusive judgment: both light and darkness are good because – taken together – they form day and night. Day and night introduce shape and order into what was an empty, formless world. That’s good!

How does that make a difference in our lives? This Bible passage is inviting us – as individuals and as a church – to step back, listen closely, and see what God is inviting us to do. Hearing and responding to God invitation will keep us moving forward down “the narrow path” to the Kingdom. When we accept the invitation, we will hear God intone his judgment, “It is good.”

ACTS 19:1-7

John’s followers were believers who hadn’t received the Holy Spirit, but it’s only when they received the Holy Spirit that they experienced the fullness of God’s love and power. This Bible lesson describes how one group of believers experienced the outpouring of God’s anointing.

The story opens when Paul encounters a dozen believers, apparently disciples of John the Baptist who had relocated to Ephesus. When or why they might have done this is unknown. We cannot say whether they relocated before or after John’s murder. It isn’t even clear what they believed. Certainly they believed John’s message but, if that’s all they believed, then it’s hard to understand why Paul baptized them. On the other hand, if they believed in Jesus, then it’s equally hard to understand why they settled for “John’s baptism.” Many are tempted to fill in the blanks, solving the problem according to their personal theological perspectives. However, according to this Bible lesson, Paul is more interested in the men’s religious experience than he is in their doctrine.

In the course of their conversation, Paul differentiates two baptisms – John’s baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit. Since there’s a fair amount of controversy surrounding Christian baptism, it’s important to see the distinction Paul is making. John’s baptism, which is the model for water baptism and the reference point for those who reject any baptism other than total immersion, “was to demonstrate a desire to turn from sin and turn to God.” However, the way Paul describes it here, John was pointing beyond himself and his baptism to Jesus. Since he never sinned, Jesus’ baptism didn’t involve repentance. Instead, it involved an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. As I understand this text, it is this participation of the Holy Spirit differentiates John’s baptism from Christian baptism.

Christian baptism – including the anointing and indwelling of the Holy Spirit – changes believers. Without trying to solve the on-going debate over “initial evidence” (whether or not speaking in tongues is required to prove that someone has received the Holy Spirit), we can expect that Spirit-baptized believers will possess new spiritual power including, perhaps, speaking in tongues and prophecy. We would do well to recall Paul’s wisdom when he wrote, “Let love be your highest goal, but also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives, especially the gift of prophecy” (1 Corinthians 14:1). We should expect Spirit-filled Christians to be filled with love and power!

This Bible lesson is an invitation for every believer to ask her or himself, “What have I experienced? Have I received John’s baptism or have I received something more?” The experience of justifying grace – as repentance leads to salvation – is an extraordinary experience of God’s love, but it’s just the beginning. It is only when we receive the anointing/indwelling of the Holy Spirit that we know the real measure of God’s power.

MARK 1:4-11

Despite the importance of John’s baptism, it isn’t the driving force for Jesus’ ministry. Instead, God stepped out of the heavenlies, into our world, so this apparently ordinary person would be fully equipped to defeat the devil and reclaim the world for God.

As the passage opens, John the Baptist emerges as a prophetic messenger of repentance and a messianic figure who has yet to arrive. This combination links the Old Testament with the New. On the one hand, John had the marks of a traditional Hebrew prophet, especially Elijah (2 Kings 1:7-8) who conveyed “a double portion of his spirit” to Elisha (2 Kings 2:1-18 NKJV). On the other hand, he sets the stage for a new era, the messianic age.

John the Baptist realizes that there was a radical difference between himself and this messianic figure, as well as between “his” baptism for repentance and the messianic baptism in/with the Holy Spirit. This distinction is all-too-often ignored by Christians who see John’s baptism as the paradigm of Christian baptism. However, John’s own words encourage us to move beyond that perspective. The experience of justifying grace, a personal encounter with God’s kindness, is a pivotal moment in our spiritual lives, but John points us forward to the messianic baptism to come – baptism with the Holy Spirit.

When John baptizes Jesus, Jesus is revealed as the messianic figure John was looking for as he becomes the first to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Paul provides critical insight into Jesus’ earthly life and ministry: “Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form” (Philippians 2:6-7). This explains why we know so little about Jesus’ early years; they were exceedingly humble. He was just like us, but the anointing/indwelling of the Holy Spirit sets him apart as the One who pleases heaven and is fully equipped to confront Satan (an encounter which follows immediately on today’s Bible lesson in Mark 1:12-13)

Jesus is the heavenly role-model for our lives. However, unless we are baptized with the Holy Spirit, there is no possibility that any of us will live up to his example. So, while most of us have received John’s baptism for repentance and forgiveness, we need to open our hearts and lives to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Although this step seems controversial to many mainline believers, today’s Bible lesson says that it will be pleasing to God.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture readings are from the Holy Bible: New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved.