Remind me Who I Am

Epiphany

Today is the first Sunday of Epiphany, its a time to remember the wisemen, the first gentiles, to recognize Jesus as God in human flesh. To have an epiphany is a light bulb moment of realization now all of a sudden makes sense. Epiphany is marked by the baptism of Jesus by John the baptist. Jesus baptism was an Epiphany moment where the humanity of Jesus realized who God his Father called him to be. God proclaimed and reminded Jesus that he is his beloved son, you bring me great joy.

Today we are going to remember Christ baptism. How before his earthly ministry started God reminded him who he was. How he prayed and the Holy Spirit descended on him. How because of this baptism we can join Christ in the waters of baptism, and realize who we are in Christ. Beloved sons and daughters of God who spoke this world into existence.

Jesus baptism

John the Baptist

* Who came to be baptized

-Tax Collectors, Soldiers, Sinners

Religious leaders came to question him. (Brood of Vipers)

Not worthy to even begin the job of washing Jesus feet. Matthew 3:13-17

Matthew 3:13–17 NLT

13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” 15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. 16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

Jesus

Jesus humanity

Hebrews 4:15 NLT

15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

Came to John to be baptized

Jesus God in human flesh didn’t go to the temple. At the start of his earthly ministry he went to the voice shouting in the wilderness and got in line to be baptized with sinners.

Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year C, Volume 1 Pastoral Perspective

Jesus presented himself for baptism as an act of solidarity with a nation and a world of sinners. Jesus simply got in line with everyone who had been broken by the “wear and tear” of this selfish world and had all but given up on themselves and their God. When the line of downtrodden and sin-sick people formed in hopes of new beginnings through a return to God, Jesus joined them. At his baptism, he identified with the damaged and broken people who needed God.

Luke’s differences on the baptism

Jesus first response was to pray. In Luke Jesus displays a life committed to prayer.

As he was praying, Heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended.

Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year C, Volume 1 Pastoral Perspective

Jesus is not only coming to us sinners; he is coming to God in prayer. He will not undertake his public ministry of teaching and healing in his own power and abilities. The source of his strength will be beyond himself. The Holy Spirit will encourage him all the way, even when the way becomes difficult.

The same voice that said let there be light. The same voice that thunders in Psalm 29. It thundered again over the waters of the Jordan river and reminded Jesus of who he is. You are my beloved son, you bring me great joy.

Jesus went to be baptized to carry out what God requires. Jesus came and got in line with sinners who needed God. It is in the waters of baptism the ministry of Jesus begins. A ministry that starts with prayer and is carried out through the Holy Spirit. The ministry God sent his son into this world for was that the sinners he identified with could also be beloved sons and daughters of God, who bring Him great joy.

Jesus in John’s Gospel before his most difficult time in ministry. Revisited the scene of his baptism. John 10:39-42

John 10:39–42 NLT

39 Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. 40 He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile. 41 And many followed him. “John didn’t perform miraculous signs,” they remarked to one another, “but everything he said about this man has come true.” 42 And many who were there believed in Jesus.

Jesus went to remember his call. He went to remember he is God’s beloved son, who brings Him great joy. He went to remember the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove, that has encouraged and will encourage him all the way to the cross.

Remind Me Who I Am

When Jesus got in line with sinners to be baptized. He was identifying with sinners. He identified with the broken people who needed God. Does our church identify with sinners in this way?

When Jesus got in the waters of baptism, he wasn’t just getting in with us sinners, he, his humanity was coming to God in prayer. It is through the Holy Spirit that Jesus Carries out his ministry and the will of God. Does our church depend on the Holy Spirit and our connection to God in prayer for spiritual stamina to go into the world and make a difference in people’s lives through Christ?

As we wrestle with these questions lets remember our baptism. Because of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ we can stand with him in the waters of baptism.

Allow God to remind you once again who you are in him. Remember how the old sinful died with Christ on the cross. Remember how you rose to new life in that same spirit that rose Christ from the dead.

Remember in Christ we are no longer sinners, God calls you His beloved son or daughter, and you bring him great joy.

Finally it is only through a life like Christ. Who modeled for us a life that identified with sinners, was committed to prayer, and empowered by the Holy Spirit that we do the ministry God has given us to do.