1-12-97	Who Will Receive the Word?	Genesis 1:1-5

Acts 19:1-7

Mark 1:4-11

Today is known as the Sunday of the Baptism of our Lord. It is the Sunday that follows the Day of Epiphany, a day that took place last Monday. And as I've told you before, Epiphany literally means, "to make manifest." So, indeed, as we begin this year, we begin to ask the question: How was Jesus manifested or revealed to the world? What was necessary for him to begin his ministry? Well, the answer, of course, is this: It was necessary for Jesus to be baptized before he began his ministry. And, of course, the same is true for us, as well. For, traditionally, baptism is the beginning of our experience in the life of the church. Baptism is the experience of initiation into the ministry of God's people.

In fact, there are perhaps three statements about baptism that may be made by our gospel lesson for today: The first thing that we can say about baptism is that it represents God's literally washing away of our sins. The second thing that we can say about baptism is that not only is it done by water, but that it is done by spirit, as well. And the third thing that we can say about baptism is that it is a sign to believers that the person so baptized is a child of God.

Most of us, when we think of baptism in the United Methodist Church, get a picture in our mind of a mom, a dad, and a baby standing before a congregation next to a baptismal font full of just enough water to get a baby's hair wet. Certainly, I haven't baptized anywhere as many adults or youth as I have babies. But, no matter what the age of a person baptized may be, what is important is this: In baptism we claim the power of God to conquer the power of sin. In baptism we claim the power of God, not only to forgive those who sin, but to create community and build fellowship among those who are sinners and continue to be sinners. In fact, the church is very much like a 12 point program in this regard. Like Alcoholics Anonymous, whose members can never and should never hope to be completely cured of their alcoholism, we who are members of the church can never and should never think that we may be completely cured of our tendency to sin. Everyone in AA knows what they are – alcoholics. They admit it, they work on it, and they encourage each other in the struggle to keep sober. Likewise, in the church, everyone one of us here knows, or at least should know, that we are sinners! We admit it, we work on it, and we encourage each other in the struggle to keep from sinning.

The danger in a group like AA is when someone suddenly thinks that they're cured. No longer are such persons helpful to their fellow members because they think they're better than everyone else in the group and actually start judging their fellow members. Suddenly the group becomes divided between those who think they're cured of alcoholism and those who know that they're not. And a house divided like that, as Abraham Lincoln once said, cannot stand. And likewise, that is what happens in a church if someone suddenly thinks that they're cured of sinning. No longer are such persons helpful to their fellow members because they begin to think that they're better than everyone else in the group and actually start judging their fellow members. Suddenly the group becomes divided between those who think they're cured of sinning and those who know that they're not. And, as Abraham Lincoln said, a house so divided cannot stand.

So, it is important that we do not forget that we are sinners! For our fellowship, and our ability to help one another, and patience with one another, and our openness to one another, and even our eagerness to reach out to others, to the unchurched, to the pre-churched, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ depends upon it. It really IS as simple as that.

And, so, baptism is a recognition of our human condition. And, yet, it is also a recognition that God can take the frail, mortal, ugly, despicable sinners that we are, and make use of us.

In the ancient church, and in some churches, even today, one of the symbols of baptism was a new set of clothes. After a person was baptized they would be given a new white robe to wear. The robe symbolized the Righteousness of Christ that saves us. For it is not our own righteousness that can saves us. Rather, it is by our faith that our sinful selves are robed in the perfect Righteousness of Christ. That is what happens when we are baptized. Certainly, there is a confession of sin at baptism. But in no case is there a cessation of sin. Instead, as we practice a life of faith and strive to be faithful God continues to look with favor upon us, not because of our perfection, which is impossible, but only because we have been robed, by faith, in the Righteousness of Christ.

But, not only does Baptism have this meaning. There is also the sense in baptism that along with the water comes the filling of the Holy Spirit. Remember what John the Baptist said? He said, "I baptize with water, but the one who comes after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Have you ever wondered what that meant? It means that not only is a person cleansed of the effect of their sins, but it also means that by God's grace a person becomes a vessel that the Holy Spirit can use to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, in our own ritual, in our own denomination, whenever we baptize infants or adults, not only does the pastor say, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy, Spirit," but the pastor also prays the following prayer as well: "The Holy Spirit work within you, that being born through water and the Spirit, you may be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ."

And, so, as we baptize infants and adults through water and the Spirit, we expect not only a cleansing from the effect of sin, but we also expect to see God's Spirit, and the gifts of the Spirit, being revealed in the life of the Christian. And, yet, all of this takes place within the context of the fellowship and love and encouragement of the Body of Christ – persons who are, themselves, caught up in the ongoing struggling with what it means to be disciples of Jesus Christ. And that's everyone sitting here in this room, including me, as well.

But, not only is baptism a cleansing from the affects of sin; and not only is baptism an opening that is made in a person's life for the filling of the Holy Spirit; but baptism is also a time wherein the Church and God proclaim that the person being baptized is a child of God.

Remember what happened when Jesus was baptized? The scriptures say that as Jesus came up out of the waters of the Jordan River a voice could be heard coming out of heaven saying, "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Likewise, when ever any of us is baptized that is what God is proclaims. We are recognized as children of God, who like the Hebrews who crossed the Jordan River out of the Wilderness, are given the blessing of a Promised Land before us. We become children of God, and therefore brothers and sisters in faith. That is why in our hymnals we can sing the words:

Wash, O God, our sons and daughters,

where your cleansing waters flow.

Number them among your people;

bless as Christ blessed long ago.

Weave them garments bright and sparkling;

compass them with love and light.

Fill, anoint them; send your Spirit,

holy dove and heart's delight.

We who bring them long for nurture;

by your milk may we be fed.

Let us join your feast, partaking

cup of blessing, living bread.

God, renew us, guide our footsteps;

free from sin and all its snares,

one with Christ in living, dying,

by your Spirit, children, heirs.

O how deep your holy wisdom!

Unimagined, all your ways!

To your name be glory, honor!

With our lives we worship, praise!

We your people stand before you,

water-washed and Spirit-born.

By your grace, our lives we offer.

Recreate us; God, transform!

Amen.