Baptism of Jesus

Every year, early in January, we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord.

After we have made our New Year’s resolutions, about items in our lives we hope to change in the next 12 months, we are reminded of what it means to live as a Jesus’ follower.

And unlike New Year’s resolutions that are solitary pursuits, celebrating Jesus’ baptism, draws us back to the community of faith and the family of God. The very waters of baptism put us on an appropriate, purpose-giving track; trumping the resolutions we made to ourselves only a week ago.  

Yesterday was the Feast of Epiphany, when the church celebrates the arrival of the Magi to pay homage to Jesus.  Epiphany means “manifestation,” particularly to the nations (that’s everyone outside of Judaism). Epiphanies are moments of seeing God through the person of Jesus. There are three great epiphanies celebrated in the church: the wise men’s adoration of the child, Jesus’ baptism where he is revealed as the beloved of God, and the miracle of turning water into wine.

Today, sacrament is the manifestation of Christ in our midst- a manifestation of grace and mercy; a grace and mercy we are then to witness – to share- in the world.

But, let’s hit rewind for a moment.

I began by saying that this Sunday is one that reminds us of what it means to live as a Jesus’ follower.

Jesus’ baptism event is read back into the passage from Isaiah 42, as a fulfillment of that prophecy in first century Judea.

The prophet wrote: I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.

The prophet also wrote:  I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,…I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

From the Apostles in the book of Acts we hear:  [Jesus] commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.

Here we have the “what” of being a Jesus’ follower; to bring forth justice; to be a light to the nations, opening eyes that are blind, bringing out the prisoners from the dungeon and those who sit in darkness; to preach and to testify Jesus was ordained by God.

All of this doesn’t just happen because we decide that these actions should be our New Year’s resolutions. All of this happens through us, because what was said of Jesus, holds true to the followers … we have had the spirit put upon us in baptism, we are called in righteousness (for we have died and risen with Christ), and thus, we are given as a covenant to the people.  God gives us to be a light to the nations.

Think of yourself as a light bulb or a light. What do you picture?

Are you a flashlight; lighting a path? Are you an emergency exit light; showing a way out? Are you a lighthouse; marking safe passage? Are you a flame; bringing comfort or warmth?  Are you pilot light; a project starter? Are you an ordinary ceiling light; lighting the room with continued essential ministry? Are you a laser light; pointing to the fundamentals?  Are you a search and rescue light; looking for those who are lost? Are you a strobe light; calling people to come see what’s up?

When you picture other people sitting with you in church this morning, what type of light are they?

We are quite an array of light --- all reflecting light --- in different ways, in different places, in various times.

This morning, in light, of the star that led the Magi to Jesus, consider yourself a star.

You are a baptized child of God.  You are a Jesus’ follower.  You are seeking for something outside of yourself. You are here.  You are part of this community. You are participating; worshiping, praying; that makes you special; unique.  You mean something to me, and to those around you.  You are missed when you are not present. Your life has meaning. By being here you share yourself with others.  You shine God’s light. You are a star.

I am a person who loves stores that have a section with classroom aids for teachers.  Banners, growth charts, stickers, bulletin board cutouts, and posters.  This past week I was in Staples and purchased something just for you---- something to use and then share.  All of you are being given an A+ in the form of a star.

You are faithfully here this morning.  You share yourself in this community.  You shine God’s light.  You are a star.  (handout stars)  Now I invite you to write your name on the star. 

We have spent a fair bit of time reflecting on the assets we have as a community of faith. In the readings today, there is little doubt that the people of the stories are huge assets to what God was doing in the world. The prophet Isaiah spoke both warning and hope, mixed with a future of repentance and light; a star in that he continued to speak God’s word, bring light into the darkness, and call people back to covenant with God.  John the Baptist and Jesus star in the Matthew text, John acting and bearing witness to the presence of God, and Jesus being the manifestation of God. The Apostles are seen preaching and testifying to what they had witnessed; they are responsible for the immediate continuation of Jesus’ ministry; they are stars.

You are a star, as you further the prophecy of Isaiah; as you like John bear witness to the manifestation of God – through the sacraments to start with; and as the Apostles sharing the Jesus’ story with other people --- you are a light.  You are also a bright asset.

In Neil Pasricha’s book, The Happiness Equation, he tells a story of his friend choosing a university to attend.  The friend was bright and his choices included to Princeton, Yale, Harvard, and Columbia.  Neil asked his friend how he decided: what publications had he read, was there a specific professor he wanted to work with, et cetera – that’s how Neil had picked the university he attended.  His friend, however, used the “Bench Test.” He rented a vehicle and visited each campus – not for a tour- rather, he found a bench (like a park bench) as close to the middle of campus as possible. He would sit down and watch and listen. He listened to conversations and watched interactions.  The friend knew that university students spend more time outside of class in conversations and walking to and from class, than in class; it was the interactions and friendships formed that would directly influence his actions and his thinking; they would make who he ended up being.

The Bench Test is putting oneself in a new situation for a short time; immersing oneself in the situation to test and then patiently observe one’s reaction to that situation. It’s about finding oneself.

I think the Bench Test is more, this kind of exercise is one that can take you to a new situation, to sit on a bench – to watch, to listen- and then determine how to shine light in that space, to those who are there.

At one time, perhaps even without knowing it, we have all done the Bench Test here --- well the pew test. The pew test has had us find in this place hope, community, grace, peace, ideas, et cetera; epiphanies.  We have experienced manifestations of Christ. How do I know? If you hadn’t you wouldn’t keep coming back.

You are an asset. You have Good News to share.  You have a community to share with the world. You have a place to invite others to come.  Invite your friends to come and do a bench test – a pew test.  Share your light; after all it is God’s light.

Finally, I am going to ask you to place your star on the offering plate this morning.  As you place your star on the plate, consider that it is you, offering yourself to God, re-covenanting to live as a Jesus’ follower --- ushering in justice, grace, and mercy; being a light to those imprisoned in darkness.  You are an offering and commit to inviting others to share in this Good News.

Star Maker,   For the vastness of the sky, and the plethora of stars, I give you thanks.  You see I am waiting.  I am waiting for hope, for peace, for happiness.  I am waiting to feel love, forgiveness, and grace. I am waiting for a renewed creation and for the birth of God in the now.

Gazing at the vastness of the sky-- the stars—calms me and gives me comfort; in the vastness and beauty, I am stilled – and therein I know that You, Star Maker, are God. In the stars is written that all will be well.  Amen.