Called and Beloved

Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17

(look these up on oremus.bible.org or biblegateway.com)

This Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord, and in this congregation specifically, we ordain and install our new Elders and Deacons, two forms of volunteer ministry that are essential to the good function of Presbyterian churches, and our ministry to both congregation and community.  

You might even say that on this Sunday we celebrate servant leadership, as exemplified in this story of Jesus being baptized by John.  John wonders how he is fit to baptize Jesus, who, after all, is the Son of God!  And yet Jesus, leader of all creation, submits to the baptism of John.  

Now, many of you know that I meet with my clergy colleagues each Tuesday to study the Bible and prepare for preaching.  This week, we had a lengthy discussion on this question:  Why baptize Jesus?  After all, John's baptism is for the forgiveness of sins, and Jesus is supposed to be sinless.

Well, to be honest, at the time, we didn't actually come up with any great, inspiring answers.  We were kind of mystified ourselves.  But, here's what I got to thinking since then:

First of all, by submitting to John's baptism, Jesus affirms John's ministry.  John's been out there awhile, in the wilderness, considered maybe a little crazy by some, but also hard at work, helping people, and has by now developed quite a few followers.  Jesus isn't about to 'upstage' John, he's affirming all the good that John has done preparing the way for Jesus' own public ministry.  By affirming John's ministry, Jesus is also perhaps enacting a reconciliation with John's followers.   Remember, over the past few weeks we've heard about John's followers wondering and wrestling over whether Jesus is the one they are to follow. 

Next, let's look at what happens after John baptizes Jesus:  the heavens open, the spirit descends like a dove, and a voice is heard saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."  This moment changes the very meaning of Baptism.  John himself said earlier in the Gospel readings, "I baptize with water, but the one who comes after me will baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit."

We baptize infants in our faith tradition, not because we believe they are sinners, but to emphasize God's forgiveness before they can even begin to comprehend their need for it.  We also baptize infants, along with everybody else, to welcome them into the body of Christ, the community of the Holy Spirit.

I imagine that on that day, in the midst of everyone gathered there, doing the daily work of ministry, that these sights and sounds of the heavens opening to announce the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, that it was an absolutely life-changing experience for everyone there.  I imagine it to be a moment of great hope, a little fear perhaps, and many other emotions--and even that daily work of ministering to others or being followers, would never be quite the same.

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Let's return for a moment to the term I used earlier, Servant Leadership.  When we seek to be servant leaders, we submit to one another.  We are not looking out for our own ascent to power or grandiosity.  The servant described in the Isaiah reading today will not break a bruised reed or put out a dimly burning light.

Sometimes in the daily life of the church, these rituals we do of ordination and installation may seem like odd formalities. And yet, in doing them, installing and ordaining to service those who have been chosen by the assembly, we affirm each other's ministries.  We recognize, (especially in Presbyterian life) the equal status held among leaders, despite having different roles: teaching elders (pastors), ruling elders, and deacons.

We are all part of the community of Christ, whether in these roles or others, each with a part to play, and each with gifts to serve.  And we are Beloved, even when, like John, we might not feel quite up to the task.

And no matter what the task, we are certainly never alone.  God is with us, and we are guided by the Holy Spirit, as we seek to follow in Christ's footsteps.

We are called to be servants, but we are so much more than servants.  

We are all beloved children of God. 

Thanks be to God!