Baptism of Christ

11 January 2015 – Great Brickhill

Readings Genesis 1: 1 – 5

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

³ And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. ⁴ God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light ‘day’, and the darkness he called ‘night’. And there was evening, and there was morning – the first day.

Reading Acts 9: 1 – 7

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’

⁵ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked.

‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. ⁶ ‘Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’

⁷ The men travelling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.

Gospel Mark 1: 4 - 11

Alleluia, alleluia.

This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.

Alleluia.

The baptism and testing of Jesus

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the River Jordan. ⁶ John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt round his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And this was his message: ‘After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸ I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.’

⁹ At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’

Sermon

Gospel

Mark only book in Bible that announces itself “good news” — says nothing about birth or youth of Jesus.

Baptism of Christ

Starts with Jesus’ baptism — beginning of ministry — John = Messenger in fulfilment of prophecy of Isaiah.

John explains: John baptizes with water — following repentance and forgiveness. Jesus: will baptize with Holy Spirit. In Mark, Jesus sees Spirit descending on him like dove. cf:

John 1.29-34

The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ... And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’

1. Jesus’ Baptism

Did not need baptism — repentance and forgiveness not required — but with Jesus comes gift of Holy Spirit: Beginning of ministry: start of new life in baptism implies end of old. Jesus moves from formation of youth to full time ministry influenced by Holy Spirit.

2. Our baptism

Same elements — repentance; forgiveness; gift of Holy Spirit. Baptism service — renounce old life — begin new life in grace and forgiveness. You have been sealed by the Holy Spirit...

3. Same baptism — ours and Christ’s

James and John enquire about hierarchy —  “the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized” (Mark 10:39). Until Pentecost — no baptism with Spirit.

Pentecost

God gives gift of Holy Spirit — to carry on new life in Christ — to follow him.

Peter’s sermon at Pentecost — listeners ask how they should respond:

“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

Same components of baptism.

Baptism follows faith

As we develop in our understanding — we notice throughout NT baptism follows faith.

Faith of candidate for baptism and/or

Faith of families — Lydia in Philippi:

¹⁴ One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message ¹⁵ then she and the members of her household were baptised (Acts 16)

Same chapter — jailor and entire household. Chapter 18 — Crispus and whole household.

Infant baptism

Infant baptism follows faith of parents.

In baptism we die — through Jesus we are raised again to new life — this is the promise of God. Our promise — bring up child in the faith — equip with knowledge of faith — make informed decision at majority.

Covenant people

In Baptism — we become member of new covenant people. Paul in 1 Cor. 12 talks about the body and its parts:

¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptised by one Spirit so as to form one body ... and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ And so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer led to death —  “For some this is the end, but for me it is the beginning.”

Prayer

We give you thanks

because, by water and the Holy Spirit,

you have made us a holy people

in Jesus Christ our Lord;

Renew in us that mystery in bread and wine

to show forth your glory in all the world.