St. Luke 3:15-22
Dearly beloved,
I often refer to the life in Christ and the world as two different
roads. There is a reason: it is Biblical. The Bible talks about God's road
as "the Way." The earliest Christians in Acts were referred to as those "of
the Way." It is synonymous to "road." Deuteronomy talks about walking on
"the Way." "You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has
commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that
you may live long in the land that you shall possess"(Deut. 5:33).
Conversely, God tells Moses to go down the mountain because the Israelites
had made the Golden Calf. God says to Moses, "They have turned aside
quickly out of the Way that I commanded them; they have made themselves a
metal image"(Deut. 9:12).
The Book of Psalms begins by spelling out the two roads or "ways" in
Psalm 1, setting forth the pattern for the entire Psalter. "For the Lord
knows the Way of the righteous, but the Way of the wicked will perish"(Psalm
1:6). The entire Old Testament Scriptures set the stage for the gospel
appointed for today. Today is historically known as "The Baptism of our
Lord" in the Church Year. It is a very old feast and falls in the season of
Epiphany because in the baptism of Jesus we see God revealing Himself in and
amongst it.
As I said, there are two roads. In the Old Testament there were two
roads, or, ways. One way was that of bondage and slavery. This is seen in
several examples. It is seen in Joseph, who is locked away in Egypt. It is
then seen in the slavery of Israel to the Egyptians. This has spiritual
connotations as well as real and physical conclusions. The way of God, the
way of Life is seen in God leading Israel out of Egypt and into a promised
land of milk and honey and all goodness. The way of bondage is then seen
again in Israel's slavery in Babylon for seventy years.
There are many examples of God's people going from the way of slavery to
the way of freedom in the Old Testament. In most of these examples, God's
people do something over and over, again. When they are set free or when
they enter the land of promise and freedom, they first pass through water.
Take Noah and his family. Eight people who worship the Lord but they are
hard-pressed by a world that threatens their worship to God. So, God causes
a world-wide flood and destroys....and cleanses. God's people are saved
through water.
The Israelites in bondage to Pharaoh are set free. They begin the march
to the promised land. Millions of people, elderly and young are on the
journey. They get to the Red Sea. They turn and look back and see
Pharaoh's army coming to destroy them. God through Moses' hand parts the
Red Sea and God's people pass through water and are free while the evil is
drowned in the water. Many more examples exist, but you get the picture.
God's people, upon entering the "way" pass through water. Two roads, two
ways...one way out is through water.
Pondering the mystery of the baptism of Jesus, we must ask ourselves a
question: We know that John's baptism is a baptism of repentance. John
readily acknowledges that he should not baptize Jesus but that Jesus should
baptize John. Jesus replies "Let it be done to fulfill all righteousness."
We see in this baptism in the Jordan that God the Father speaks, "This is my
beloved Son. In Him I am well pleased." We see the Holy Spirit descend as
a dove. At this occurrence we see the Holy Trinity. But we also see an
"Epiphany" moment. We see God in the flesh.
But to the question: Why does Jesus need a baptism of repentance if He
is holy and sinless? One answer could be that He is taking your place and
this is one of the signs of this reality. But there is something more that
needs to be mentioned. In the Jordan, by the hand of John, Jesus is
baptized and Jesus' public ministry begins. It is at the Jordan that Jesus
begins His "road," or, "Way" to the cross. The very first thing that
happens in Matthew's gospel after the baptism of Jesus is that Jesus is
driven into the desert to be tempted by Satan–and Jesus wins!
Jesus fulfills "all righteousness" by walking in step with the Old
Testament. He passes through water and begins His journey. But what of
you? Going back to Psalm 1, do you walk in the way of wickedness or the way
of righteousness? Everyone would like to quickly say that they walk the way
of the righteous, but let us search it out. 1 John 2 says it in a
straightforward manner: "Whoever does not love abides in death"(1 John
3:14). Then John says it again, "And this is the commandment, that we
believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He
has commanded us"(1 John 3:23).
How do you love in your family? In your workplace? In the church? Is
anger at work in your life? Do you use your tongue to tear down others? This
is the road, or, "way" of wickedness. Families do not abide well in hate.
Workplaces are unbearable in the midst of hate. But even more, churches
become intolerable places because of hate and anger. The sad reality is
that this is the result of sin. Maybe anger and hate doesn't overwhelm
you. So John reminds the church of another sin that plagues. 1 John 2:15ff
says that if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in Him.
Then John talks about the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes.
If that isn't enough, then he talks about the arrogance of life. These are
harsh things to have to think about, but John recalls it to our attention
for one reason and one reason only: that we stay on the road, or, way of
righteousness. But how can we do that in the midst of all that he has
reminded us of? Are we not all doomed to failure? The answer is not found
within ourselves. It is found in whom we live. We live and abide in
Jesus. It is in Him that we are holy and loved.
What is more, as the epistle (Romans 6:1-11) explicitly states, we, too,
passed through water as we entered the road, or, "way" of Jesus. You are
baptized. You died with Jesus and were buried with Him. You rose with Him,
just as He rose from the dead. This happened to you in your baptism. Not
only did you begin your journey by passing through water and entering the
true holy land–Jesus–but you have the forgiveness of sins and have been
clothed with Jesus. This is huge. His righteousness is applied to you.
His holiness is applied to you. His image is cast upon you and the heavenly
Father sees this beautiful image of Christ in you.
This is in stark contrast to you trying to make yourself holy. You
cannot do it. It is a passive righteousness that shines upon you. It is
the putting on of Jesus in holy baptism that makes the Christian so
special. This is the reason that we drape a funeral pall over a casket in a
funeral. This is why the church rejoices so in baptisms, confirmations and
marriages. The love of Jesus...the very image of Jesus colors all of these
things. The love of Jesus colors your life because Jesus wanted it be so.
So, you are on the road, or, "way" of Jesus. You passed through water and
received the Holy Spirit. You belong to Jesus and you have been set free
and entered a holy land of salvation, which is your dwelling within Christ
and His holy church. Amen.
--
Rev. Chad Kendall
www.frchadius.blogspot.com
Trinity Lutheran Church
Lowell, Indiana
www.trinitylowell.org
