Baptism Homily 9/17

Alright little friends, we have something very special happening today. In a few minutes I am going to baptize a sweet little baby, Haddon Carolina Wikkerink, she’s sitting right there behind you with her parents. I thought it would be fun to have a few minutes with you all to talk about baptism and how special it is.

So, how many of you know about Elmo? All of you I hope. Ok Good. Well maybe you’ve seen the special Elmo show called “The Not Too Late Show.” We watch it sometimes before our kids go to bed. It’s a funny little show with Elmo where he has guests and musicians come on to play games and sing songs and have a good time together.

Well a couple weeks ago, we were watching an episode and Elmo had a guest on the show named John Oliver. Here’s what happened. John Oliver came out to sit down next to Elmo. And you know what the first thing Elmo said to John Oliver was? It was super silly. He said, “John Oliver, I’ve always wanted to ask you, what is it like to have two first names?” Did you guys catch that? Both John and Oliver could be someone’s first name, but for him, it’s his first and last name. And you know what John Oliver said? He said, “Well Elmo, I have a question for you - what’s it like to only have one name at all!”

Have you guys ever thought about that? I wonder why Elmo only has one name. Do any of you have two names?

So Elmo laughs at John Oliver’s joke and says, “You know what, that is funny. Maybe I could borrow one of your names.” To which John Oliver said, sure, I’d be happy to let you borrow a name. But then this is where it was really silly. Elmo said, “Well, if I take your name John, I become Elmo John, but you’re now just Oliver, so you wouldn’t have that name anymore!”

Do you think names work like that? Can you take a name from someone so they don’t have it anymore? No, that’s silly, but it would be funny if you could, right?

Do you know what Jesus said to his friends before he went back to heaven? He told his friends to baptize other people in “The name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” You may have heard us say that when we baptize people here. We baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Have you ever wondered what that means? I have. Do you think it’s like Elmo, where we can take one of those names from God? Like maybe I become Ben Spirit and God becomes Father Son? Is that how it works?

Noooo. Of course not. So what does it mean to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. I’ll tell you. It means that through baptism, God is sharing himself with us. He is sharing everything that he has, all that he is, he’s giving it to us. He’s extending his love to us, bringing us into his family, promising to give us life and happiness with Jesus, and if we put our faith in him, he promises to give us his Spirit so we can be with him forever. Everything that he has, he wants to share with us.

So in a few minutes I’m going to take some water and pour it on Haddon’s head and I’m going to baptize her in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There’s nothing special about this water. Does anyone want to touch it? There ya go. Parents, I promise this isn’t a bait and switch baptism here. There’s nothing special about the water. And yet God has promised, when we use this water to baptize in his name, he has promised to do something miraculous here. He has promised to bring Haddon into the church, his family, and share himself with her.

Now, I know many of you up here have been baptized. I know some of you have decided with your parents to maybe wait until you’re a little bit older. Either way, I want you to hear that this promise is for you too. God has promised to share himself with you, all that he has, all of his love, through Jesus. And I hope you have accepted that love he’s offered to you.

Let’s Pray.

God we thank you for being so generous and promising to share yourself with us. Help us to put our faith and trust in you so that we can receive the love you’ve shared with us. Amen.

Well many of you have probably already met sweet Haddon Carolina Wikkerink. I know many of you have been praying for her, and for her parents. I count it a real privilege to be the one baptizing you today.

Haddon, your name is very special. Carolina is in honor of Lauralee’s mother, Carol, who died when she was a teenager. That is so special. I know your mom is going to tell you all about her as you grow up. But your middle name is also a pointer to something bigger, and that’s the rest of your family, all your grandparents, your aunties and uncles, who have been faithful followers of Jesus. One thing your parents told me is that they often pray Psalm 61:5 over you as a blessing, thanking God for the heritage you have received of family who has feared his name. God loves your family.

Haddon, as many of you may have guessed, is in honor of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, a preacher from 19th Century London who has made a big impact on Mark and Lauralee, both individually as well as together. Spurgeon was a remarkable man who loved God, who loved the church, and who loved people. He in many ways embodied the prayer that your parents have for you that they shared with me: that you would love God and love others.

The Wikkerinks have a blessing written by Spurgeon printed in Haddon’s room that I want to read for you all.

“May your God bring home to you a sense of your safety in Christ Jesus! May he assure you that your name is engraved on His hand, and whisper in your ear the promise: Fear not, for I am with you to the end.”

Haddon, before I baptize you, I want to tell you 3 very important things. This is probably going to be hard for you to remember, so your parents have promised to remind you all the days of your life. Are you ready? Number One: God loves you a whole lot. He does. So much that he sent Jesus into the world to die for your sins. He loves you, and you can trust him.

Number two: He likes you. He really likes you. That’s why he is giving you this sign of baptism, to remember how much he likes you. That’s why he’s given you the church, all these people who really like you too, and who will remind you all the time of how liked you are.

Number three: God enjoys you. Like, big time. He enjoys you so much that he’s promised to pursue you, to never give up on you, to chase after you when you’re afraid. He’s promised to give you his Spirit if you’ll trust him, so that you can be with him forever.