Sermon - 2013-01-12

Today we gather to be reminded of the Baptism of our Lord.  The day in which Jesus begins his ministry within the world, that we bear witness to Jesus being claimed by his heavenly Father as his very own.  It is here in Jesus’ Baptism that we hear God declare to everyone with ears to hear that here is God’s beloved child.  Here is our Lord, here is our Savior, and here is our Messiah.  

Take a moment and think, think about your own Baptism.  Now for many the time in which your Baptism took place is different.  For some of you, you were Baptized when you were older, you remember the water on your head and the promises that you made before the whole congregation.  For some of you, you were Baptized when you were a baby.  You do not remember the water being poured over your head, but your parents made promises that they would raise you in the Christian faith. Then at the time of your Confirmation, you came before the congregation to declare that you were willing to take on those promises yourself.  

Who was at your Baptism? Your parents? Family? Friends? Do you remember the promises that were given that day?  

God promised this:  “This is my beloved with whom I am well pleased” God will love you, care for you and all that is around you in creation.  All this has been shared with you in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it is through Jesus Christ that God gives to you eternal life.  The loving relationship that you have longed to receive, God will be faithful in this promise in life and death.  

After God has given us all of this and lays before us these riches that no money on earth could ever buy, we promise to God this:

That we shall profess our faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin, and live in the faith of the church that God has called us to be a part of.  We shall do this by living among God’s faithful people, hear God’s Word, share in God’s supper, proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of our Lord Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.  

It is this Baptism, these promises that are shared between God and you along with all those within the church. As a Disciples of Jesus Christ, you are called to live out every single day.  We talk about baptism because it is here that we bear witness to God making you his own.  We promise to God and we have the whole community gathered right there with us in our faith.

Some may wonder: How can water do such great things? Water that we see all around us in the snow, the rain, the running river and the water that we drink.  However, it is not the water alone but with God’s Word that these things have taken place from the very beginning.  Through Baptism, we are claimed by God and given salvation by his grace.  It is because of God’s Word that this promise will be fulfilled even when we sin, even when we die, and truly it shall be when we have lived out our days.  God shall give us the gift that is found within Jesus Christ in full.

Thanks be to God. Amen.