Responding to the Call

Responding to the Call
Epiphany 3 – January 22
Mark 1:14-20

† In the Name of Jesus †

Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Call of Bishop Cowther

That day, as the slaves were packed into the Portuguese slave ship, they probably did not know that they would be free within a few hours. Even as they were freed by the captain of the British frigate, I don’t think anyone knew the incredible long range results. One of the slaves freed that day, would have an incredible journey in that freedom. He would go to school in Sierra Leone, where a lady would teach him to read and to write, despite his being outside the normal age for the school. He did well, very well, and eventually began to teach in school there. He would, in that school, become a believer. He then moved on from being a teacher to assist a pastor, and later become a pastor himself. Not just any pastor – but a missionary called to bring the gospel back to His people.

This young man, enslaved at 21, illiterate at the age of 22, had a future of serving God. Despite those things that held him back in his early life, he would earn a Doctor of Divinity from Oxford University in England. Prior to that, he had preached Christ throughout West Africa and baptize thousands. Such results, that the Queen of England would play a major role in his becoming the first African Bishop in the Church of England.

At Samuel Cowther’s installation as a bishop in the ancient cathedral at Canterbury, sat the captain who freed him, and the teacher who taught him to read were able to be present, to witness the incredible thing that God does, through those He called. How they must have worshipped that day, as they were able to see God’s handiwork so present in their lives.

In our gospel today, we see 4 men, respond to a call from a radical young itinerant prophet, who people claimed was the Messiah. They were, of course, correct. The same man that Cowther, 1800 years later, would be called to serve. 150 years later, we too proclaim that same Messiah, and trust in His work, for us. The four men would journey as well; a journey that was as fascinating as Cowthers, as these men would travel the world, speaking of Christ, telling people about the love of Jesus, and His death on the cross for them – the same message that Bishop Cowther declared.

You and I probably will never preach to thousands, we may not ever see thousands standing in line to be baptized. Yet, in this reading about the call of Peter and Andrew, James and John, we see the incredible blessing that comes, as we realize the gospel of Jesus Christ, and its call on our lives. A call to each of us, to be part of His Kingdom, a call to follow Christ, to be, as scripture describes, to be made to become….

1. The Kingdom Calls
a. It approaches
Imagine being in the hold of a slave ship, with barely enough room to sit against the bulkhead wall if your lucky. If not, you sat back to back with another slave, with barely room to stretch out your legs. If the captain was in a good mood that day, loaves of bread and cups of water would be passed down the seemingly endless rows, barely enough that you could get a few bites, and maybe a sip or two. Back then, a ship where 50% of the “cargo” made it to their destination was considered a good trip. Just a few hours into the sailing trip, you hear the crew act worried, the small cannons creek across the deck above you, as you hear swords and guns are readied. Then a man appears, and orders your chains released, food and water to be broken out in abundance, and announces to you, that you are free, liberated by the King of England.

Can you imagine the feeling, the relief, the peace that you would know?

The illustration suits us well today, for though Peter and his fellow fisherman were not slaves to their fathers, they were slaves to sin. Just as we were. Two months before, in the Jordan river valley, they had heard John the Baptist proclaim that this Jesus was the Son of God, the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.

Undoubtedly, the fisherman had heard that John is now imprisoned in Herod’s jail, and that the message that he had preached about the kingdom of God being near, is replaced by Jesus message, that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Or as another translation phrases it, it has approached. Like the stately British frigate coming upon the slave ship, the Kingdom of God has come to the world, to free those enslaved by sin, the sin that so easily ensnared us! WE are free, freed not by the King of England, but by the King of Kings.

Now, Jesus approaches Peter and Andrew, as they work at their careers, unaware of the great thing that is soon to happen. He will then approach James and John, and make them an offer that they could not refuse.

2. Jesus call them to come, to follow
a. to become part of the unit
b. to follow his lead

Come with me, Jesus calls to Peter and Andrew – follow my path, and I will make you become fishers of men. I will show you, using your talents, how to live in my Kingdom, and do my work. James and John’s invitation is similar, it is the invitation to journey along with Jesus, following His lead, letting Him guide us, as the Good Shepherd does.

When I was a kid, I used to go fishing with my dad and my gramps, one of the rewards we got for getting good grades. Usually, this was at a small lake, with an un-pronouncable Indian name, at the school he worked at. Carrying our fishing gear, we would hike in to the woods behind the school, and follow the lake shore very rough trail to that very special place. Gramps knew the way well, and would point out – that this place was slippery, or those rocks where loose. He would show us how to fish, and how to avoid the sticky spines on this one kind of catfish called a hornpout. Following them along the trail, there was an element of safety.

That is the kind of thing I picture, as the four fishermen leave their safety, they abandon their careers, and head off down the road, unsure of what happens next. There is a level of trust, trust in Christ’s leadership, trust in His knowing the way, trust in His protecting us, and ensuring our safe arrival, despite the dangers. They have realized, that if Christ can save them from themselves, from their sin, and the judgment it brings, they can trust Him in guiding their lives.

3. The Call – “to be made to become”
a. Fisherman
b. Throwing the net
c. Mending the Net


In Mark’s gospel, there is an interesting way that Jesus phrases the call to Peter and Andrew. “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men”. The other version of this call, found in Matthew, doesn’t have that word become, but the phrase would not indicate it is out of place. It describes a process, a change, in Greek, literally a process of generation. It is the call of Christ, and His work, that puts us in the places we are, with the gifts we have been given.

Paul tells the Ephesians, that those saved by God’s gift of faith, that they become the resulting work of Christ’s craftsmanship. The kind of work, that can take fishermen, and turn them into the men who would speak, and thousands would come to realize that Jesus died for them. The kind of work that takes an illiterate slave, and turns him into a pastor of pastors.

It does not necessarily happen overnight though, and we may not even see it occurring as it does. For God uses us, as He has prepared us, as He has equipped us, in our callings, in the gifts He has given us in life. He is the one, who guides our way, as we follow His lead. Things of our lives, that we think have no value, all of a sudden, become tools for His use.
Consider the English frigate’s captain, who did God’s work in freeing the slave who would preach God’s word. Or the teacher, who struggled to teach this young man to read, and write, enabling him to eventually translate the Word into the language he grew up speaking. It was God’s work, using them, in their normal lives, to assist in saving this young man. To save him from slavery, to save Him from His slavery to sin, and to save him to the ministry that God prepared for Him.
To me, their work is as incredible of a ministry, as incredible of a testimony to God’s work, as is the Bishop’s! What things do you have, that God will use, to minister to those around you? As the children of our congregation grow older, what gifts do you have, that will equip them, to serve our incredible King. How will you be their ship’s captain or teacher? If they are a mechanic, or work in the church, if they fly a plane, or coach soccer, or if they take God’s word to some remote tribe in Papua New Guinea or just a pastor, how will you have served them, and assisted them.

You see, going back to the fisherman, there are lessons in the very work they did there.
John and James, we saw, were working on mending the net, repairing the tears, adding strength were work had caused bits of the net to unravel. If I can, for a moment, compare the net to the church, this is part of the ministry of the apostles, and of our church today. To strengthen, using God’s words, and the promises delivered in the sacraments, the faith of God’s people. To restore to wholeness, the entire net, that we might work as a unit.

Peter and Andrew, were learning the other half of the ministry, as they cast the net into the lake of Galilee. They would toss it out, as it spread over the water, and caught those passing by. So to is the word of God spread through out our community, as you, having heard it, go into our community, and bring those who Christ approaches, through His people. Just as that captain was in the right place, that day to free the future bishop, you may come across someone in your week, who needs to be freed, a person that God has cross your path, as you follow Christ.

May you share with them, what you have been given, the faith in Christ, who was crucified and died, who descended into Hell, and rose on the 3rd day, for you.
And may God’s peace, which passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus!
AMEN!

How did Nathan Know?

How Did Nathan Know?
Epiphany 2 - January 15th
John 1:43-51


† IN His Name! †

Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord, Jesus Christ!
A great Confession, often overlooked!
Matt 16:16
But how did he know?

In the gospels, there are a number of confessions about who Jesus was. The best known probably, is when Peter confesses in Matthew 16, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Also well known, is the great scene in the upper room, where Jesus asks Thomas to put his hand in His side, his fingers in the His wounds, and Thomas replies, My Lord, and my God!.

There is one confession that often goes overlooked, the one in today’s Gospel reading. Perhaps it is overlooked because it is not Peter who utters the words, or one of the inner circle of apostles. It definitely does not have the dramatic power of Thomas’ confession in the Upper room, or Peter’s confession.

Yet here it is, at the very beginning of the ministry of Jesus, an apostle, declaring Jesus to be the Son of God. Declaring Him to be the King of Israel. Acknowledging Jesus as his Master.

Every time I come across this passage, I wonder about how Nathaniel knew that Jesus was the Messiah, how he could make that decision, after hearing Jesus speak only 24 words. Peter had several years of observing Jesus, and according to Jesus, the Father revealed it to Him, even then. Thomas had a crucified Jesus, standing, alive, yet with all the wounds easily visible, easily touchable.

So how did Nathaniel know? How did he, after spending just a few minutes with Jesus, know He was the one whom would save the world from sin?
1. Jesus decided to go
a. With a goal in mind…
b. To call those who would follow

I think we have to start that morning, as Jesus, our lesson tells us, gets up, and heads to the Galilee. I would draw out for you, form the text, two verbs. The first , found in verse 43, is that Jesus decides to go to Galilee. That verb desire is one which notes a specific outcome. We see the past tense of the verb in Hebrews 2:4
4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. Hebrews 2:4 (ESV)

That phrase, “according to his will” is the same word as the word translated here as decision, except that on is in past tense. But it shows the point that I am making, that in “deciding”to go to Galilee, Jesus had something in mind for the day. We see the word again used in 1 Cor 12:18,

18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 1 Corinthians 12:18 (ESV)

You see the concept there again, in the word “chose”. God planned how the church would work together, as they chose. In the same way, Jesus, in calling His apostles, planned out who he would call, and how they would work together. He set out that morning, to add Phillip and Nathaniel to his group of men, who would fish for men.

Their hearts were ready, made ready by the Holy Spirit, though we shall see, that they may not have realized, how God had already moved in their lives, getting them ready to meet their Lord, the Messiah.

Who? found who?

So Jesus goes out, and finds Phillip. He asks him to “follow me”. When Jesus asks this, there is a commitment implied. You see, he’s not asking him to follow him over to Outpost for lunch, or down to Starbucks for a triple espresso latte cappuccino with cream and three cherries. He asking Phillip to become a disciple, more like what we would call an apprentice these days.

Phillip goes out, and finds his friend Nathan, and tells him, “we’ve found him, the one whom Moses in the Law and the prophets tell us about!” The way this is phrased, is important. Phillip uses the plural – first person form of the verb. He is telling Nathaniel that Nathaniel and he have found the One whom they have looked. The Messiah, the one that Israel had waited centuries for, the one whom that it was promised would restore Israel, would forgive sins, would reign in peace.

A couple of years ago, the Boston Red Sox won their first World Series in 87 years. It was funny listening to all the stories the next day on Sports Talk radio stations, as they had people from all around the country, telling of how long they, and their parents and grandparents had waited for that day. It didn’t matter if you were 95, like one caller, or 12, like another. The Red Sox fans had waited so long for that victory. It was overwhelming to them. One news report showed a cemetery, that had Red Sox t-shirts placed over about 1/3 of the headstones!
Yet the Messiah coming was so much more, not just one century, since the occupations that Jeremiah and Isaiah witnessed, Israel had longed for its freedom; since Solomon’s sons split the kingdom they had waited for such a king; and the kingdom he would bring. Since the time of the judges, they had waited for someone who would bring justice to the people. Since Aaron, they had waited for the ultimate high priest, whose offering for the forgiveness of sins, would be acceptable, and never had to be repeated. Since the days of Moses, they waited for such a prophet, who would speak for mankind, and bring the new covenant.

Phillip says – Nate – the Messiah is here, the one you and I have been waiting for! As Nathan gets excited about this, Phillip identifies Jesus, as being from Nazareth. Nathaniel throws on the breaks, and asks, you gotta be kidding me, can anything good come from Nazareth? That little place? That slum? His reaction is honest, and instantaneous, and probably is why Jesus will say he is a man who is not deceitful. Biased perhaps, but he doesn’t pretend he thinks other than he does. He states it out clearly.

Imagine if I told you the next president of the United States was coming from Borrego Springs, or even from Anza. What would your reaction be?

Phillip gives one of the best answers possible. He doesn’t debate Nathaniel, he does judge him or get defensive, but he does the one thing that cannot be countered. He says, come and see. In Phillip, we see one of the great simple outlines for evangelism, one of the great ways to invite people to know Jesus.

Tell the person that we have found what we need,
And invite them, to come and see.

Then let God take care of the rest. He will move in their hearts, he will prepare them to hear His call.

Nathan’s call
Not sure of details, but there is some loaded meaning there
i. Moral character?

So Nathan starts on the way. Probably still shaking his head a bit, asking himself, Nazareth? Nazareth? Nah… Nazareth?

We see the rest of the story there, in the gospel, as Jesus notes that Nathaniel is a man of his word, even if his word is, different. He shoots straight-forward, even if it means offending this Messiah. Nazareth?

I love the realism in this story. Nathaniel is not dragged kicking and screaming to Jesus, but he goes with a lot of doubt. Nazareth? He might even be one of the apostles, who when the resurrected Jesus, gives the great commission, is noted as still doubting…

Yet he meets Jesus, and very few words are exchanged, as Jesus notes that He saw Nathan sitting under a tree. And then it comes, the good confession,

"Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"

What was happening, while Nathaniel was under that tree, pastors love to speculate about, was he praying? Was he meditating on the Law? Was he sleeping and having a vision?

Don’t know – wish I did. But Nathaniel did, and he proclaims,

"Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"

Nathan’s Confession
Master –
Son of God
King of Israel

In one feel swoop, Nathaniel’s doubt change to instant faith. His doubt of the origin from Nazareth, is replaced by the undeniable proclamation, that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, the King of Israel, so long awaited for. The one of whom the prophets promised,

Zephaniah 3:15 (ESV) 15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.

In acknowledging that Jesus was the Messiah, the King of Israel, he realizes that Jesus is the one who will remove all condemnation from us, thought Nathaniel doesn’t yet realize this will be by suffering on the cross. In acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God, no enemy can ever prosper against what Jesus does for Nathaniel, and those like him. Not satan, nor sin, not even death can move against him. Again, he while acknowledging this, I do not think, that he realizes this victory we be won at the cross.

You know, I asked a question to start this sermon – how did Nathaniel know? How could he have known that Jesus is the one whom He described? After all, he doubted.

In Peter’s confession, that is so similar, Jesus indicates that it is God the Father who reveals such. That the Holy Spirit prepares the heart, and that the Word of God gives us the grace we need, to believe, to have faith to trust. The Holy Spirit even sends people like Phillip, to guide us Nathaniel’s to Him. Where then, we too can share with others the invitation to come, and see.

While it is not obvious how this happened to Nathaniel- we see that he did know. He did come to believe, he became a man of faith.

So may each of us, and many more, who we invite to simply, come and see…..

Did Jesus Need, to be baptized?

January 8th, 2006 - The Baptism of our Lord
Is 42:1-7, Acts 10:34-38, Mark 1:4-11

† In His Name †

May you realize, daily, the grace and peace of God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Delight – well pleased

The reading of the Gospel of Mark for today, describes and incredible an incredible scene, as the sky is split open, and a voice like thunder echoes thru the hills surrounding the Jordan River.

As the Holy Spirit descends, and settles on this man Jesus, who still wet from John’s baptism, hears words that must have brought a smile, and tears of joys to His eyes.

Words powerfully spoken, heard from the throne of God, to this river valley.
YOU ARE MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.

(pause)

The quiet of the river valley now is astounding. No one is moving, no one speaking, even the birds and crickets are silent, the light breeze seems to have been sucked into the earth, as all wait, to see what happens next.

(pause)

Then, this young man named Jesus, the one whom John identifies as the Lamb of God, who will take away the sins, not only of his people, but of the world, leaves the river, and heads out into the wilderness for forty days. He would be alone, having a chance to pray, and meditate, and be tempted by Satan. Yet even as he heads out into the wilderness, the words of the Father echo through his head; YOU ARE MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.

With what we know about baptism, why would it please God the Father, to witness the baptism of Jesus? Like Jesus’ circumcision last week, why does He who defines holiness, who is the picture of perfection, find himself, wet and perhaps a little chilled, having been baptized in the cold water of the Jordan?

In order to answer the why questions, why was the Father pleased, and why did Jesus get baptized, I think we need a quick reminder in what Baptism is, the details that we all too quickly forget.
Baptism is for – the forgiveness of sins
Psalm 103:11-12 - Isaiah 4:2-4
Did Jesus need this?

Throughout the Old Testament, there is promise, repeated over and over again, to the people of God. A promise that the sins of the people of God will be cleansed, that the guilt of that sin, and the sin itself, will be removed, separated from the people of God. That God would provide, in love, a solution for their sin. Listen to the words of Psalm 103,

Psalms 103:8-12 (ESV) 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. 10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Over and over, the message of hope is given to Israel; your God will heal you of your sins, He will cleanse you. Hear the words found in the Book of Isaiah,

3 And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, 4 when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning.

In Malachai, the cleasning again is pictured, as the Holy One, the messenger of God, is compared to one using “fuller”’s soap, and one who purifies silver by refining it under great heat.
The New Testament identifies this, in John 3, Acts 2 & 8, in Romans 6 and Colossians 2, Titus 3, 1 Peter 2, as happening in our baptism. That incredible time, where we are delivered from our sins, washed and brought to life, where the promise of the forgiveness of our sins is applied, to us.

Yet, this sermon is not about our baptism, a baptism we need, for we are sinners, in need of being cleansed from our sin, and from the condemnation it deserves. It is about Jesus, and why He had to be baptized, and why the Father in Heaven was pleased, that He did get baptized. He was not a sinner in need of a cleansing – in fact, it is in our baptism that we are linked with his death, and given the promise of rising from the dead, even as He did. With no sin to be forgiven, why did Jesus get baptized?
Baptism involves Repentance and Confession
But this is what He came to do (Isaiah’s lesson)
Refiner’s fire

In our gospel reading today, two things are associated with that baptism. The first, found there in verse 4 is the idea of repentance, the second, in the next verse, is the confession of sins.

Repentance again, needs to be defined. It is not simply being sorry for our sins, or apologetic. It is literally the idea of a different mind – we no longer find that sin appealing, or satisfying. We see it for what it really is, a horrid problem that we need to find a way to deal with, to rid ourselves of it. Repentance, according to the Acts 5:31 and 11:18 is a gift that God granted to all, both Jews and Gentiles. Having come to repentance, then we are shocked to the depth of our sin, and we realize out need for something that will cleanse us, that will return us to “normal”. We know something needs to be done, and we know, we cannot do it.

The world will tell us we can, that it can be found in things, the right support group, the correct application of counseling, the correct prescription, or the right relationship. The world tries to give our lives, riddled by sin, meaning and esteem, while overlooking the damage. The world is wrong. We need a savior, a deliverer.

Scripture tells us a different story, that we are cleansed, healed by the blood of Christ. That in our baptism, we have died to sin, and come alive in Christ Jesus. That the horror of facing that sin is removed, and replaced with the knowledge that God has given us faith, and has removed our sins.

We then hasten to confess them, realizing that we don’t need to live under the burden that sinning places on us. That we can have the comfort of the Holy Spirit, dwelling within us, having healed us from all of our sin and iniquity.

But again, this shows our need for the package, for baptism, with repentance and confession, and trusting in the work of Christ that baptism unites us with. But this sermon is about Jesus being baptized!
He did not need to confess any sin, nor be repentant. The reasons for our baptism, simply do not apply to Him. SO why did Jesus have to be baptized, and why, once out of the water, did the Father find so much pleasure in the Son?

So WHY?
Immersed in our lives, in our sins
Last one in the bath
To fulfill our righteousness

In order to answer these questions, we must remember that Jesus is both fully God, and fully man. Born of Mary, yet eternal, there is no need to be baptized for his own righteousness. IN the parallel account in Matthew’s gospel, we see this baptism doesn’t make sense to John either. He asks Jesus to baptize him, rather than John baptize Jesus.
Jesus’ reply is interesting, and provides part of the answer. "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Matthew 3:15 (ESV)
There is something in Jesus, joining us in the waters of baptism, that fulfills all righteousness. That fulfills our righteousness. Christ’s submission in the act of Baptism unifies Him with all those who have been, and will be baptized. That as we are baptized into His righteousness, he takes on our sin and guilt, and bears it from there, to the cross, where it is condemned, where we are freed.

Paul says it this way in the book of Galatians,

25 But now you have arrived at your destination: 26 By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. 27 Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith—dressing you in Christ's life, the fulfillment of God's original promise. Galatians 3:25-27 (MSG)
He who knew no sin, was made to be sin, for us. He was fully man, and therefore able to bear the condemnation for our sin.

There in the water and the word, we find righteousness, we find that the heavens, previously closed to us, is now opened to us. The voice of God, so long lost to His people, is now present and heard among us again. The Holy Spirit, descends from heaven, to be a gift to those, who trusting in the promises of God, in repentance are born again.

This because on a day, the one who would be crucified for us, humbled himself, and ask one of his prophets to baptize Him.

So that we could be His, so that we could approach the throne of God, in the same confidence we approach the altar. Knowing that we will not be turned away, but because of Jesus’ active obedience, we are welcomed, as the children of God.

No wonder the Father was pleased.

Did Jesus Need, to be baptized?

January 8th, 2006 - The Baptism of our Lord
Is 42:1-7, Acts 10:34-38, Mark 1:4-11

† In His Name †

May you realize, daily, the grace and peace of God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Delight – well pleased

The reading of the Gospel of Mark for today, describes and incredible an incredible scene, as the sky is split open, and a voice like thunder echoes thru the hills surrounding the Jordan River.

As the Holy Spirit descends, and settles on this man Jesus, who still wet from John’s baptism, hears words that must have brought a smile, and tears of joys to His eyes.

Words powerfully spoken, heard from the throne of God, to this river valley.
YOU ARE MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.

(pause)

The quiet of the river valley now is astounding. No one is moving, no one speaking, even the birds and crickets are silent, the light breeze seems to have been sucked into the earth, as all wait, to see what happens next.

(pause)

Then, this young man named Jesus, the one whom John identifies as the Lamb of God, who will take away the sins, not only of his people, but of the world, leaves the river, and heads out into the wilderness for forty days. He would be alone, having a chance to pray, and meditate, and be tempted by Satan. Yet even as he heads out into the wilderness, the words of the Father echo through his head; YOU ARE MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.

With what we know about baptism, why would it please God the Father, to witness the baptism of Jesus? Like Jesus’ circumcision last week, why does He who defines holiness, who is the picture of perfection, find himself, wet and perhaps a little chilled, having been baptized in the cold water of the Jordan?

In order to answer the why questions, why was the Father pleased, and why did Jesus get baptized, I think we need a quick reminder in what Baptism is, the details that we all too quickly forget.
Baptism is for – the forgiveness of sins
Psalm 103:11-12 - Isaiah 4:2-4
Did Jesus need this?

Throughout the Old Testament, there is promise, repeated over and over again, to the people of God. A promise that the sins of the people of God will be cleansed, that the guilt of that sin, and the sin itself, will be removed, separated from the people of God. That God would provide, in love, a solution for their sin. Listen to the words of Psalm 103,

Psalms 103:8-12 (ESV) 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. 10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Over and over, the message of hope is given to Israel; your God will heal you of your sins, He will cleanse you. Hear the words found in the Book of Isaiah,

3 And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, 4 when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning.

In Malachai, the cleasning again is pictured, as the Holy One, the messenger of God, is compared to one using “fuller”’s soap, and one who purifies silver by refining it under great heat.
The New Testament identifies this, in John 3, Acts 2 & 8, in Romans 6 and Colossians 2, Titus 3, 1 Peter 2, as happening in our baptism. That incredible time, where we are delivered from our sins, washed and brought to life, where the promise of the forgiveness of our sins is applied, to us.

Yet, this sermon is not about our baptism, a baptism we need, for we are sinners, in need of being cleansed from our sin, and from the condemnation it deserves. It is about Jesus, and why He had to be baptized, and why the Father in Heaven was pleased, that He did get baptized. He was not a sinner in need of a cleansing – in fact, it is in our baptism that we are linked with his death, and given the promise of rising from the dead, even as He did. With no sin to be forgiven, why did Jesus get baptized?
Baptism involves Repentance and Confession
But this is what He came to do (Isaiah’s lesson)
Refiner’s fire

In our gospel reading today, two things are associated with that baptism. The first, found there in verse 4 is the idea of repentance, the second, in the next verse, is the confession of sins.

Repentance again, needs to be defined. It is not simply being sorry for our sins, or apologetic. It is literally the idea of a different mind – we no longer find that sin appealing, or satisfying. We see it for what it really is, a horrid problem that we need to find a way to deal with, to rid ourselves of it. Repentance, according to the Acts 5:31 and 11:18 is a gift that God granted to all, both Jews and Gentiles. Having come to repentance, then we are shocked to the depth of our sin, and we realize out need for something that will cleanse us, that will return us to “normal”. We know something needs to be done, and we know, we cannot do it.

The world will tell us we can, that it can be found in things, the right support group, the correct application of counseling, the correct prescription, or the right relationship. The world tries to give our lives, riddled by sin, meaning and esteem, while overlooking the damage. The world is wrong. We need a savior, a deliverer.

Scripture tells us a different story, that we are cleansed, healed by the blood of Christ. That in our baptism, we have died to sin, and come alive in Christ Jesus. That the horror of facing that sin is removed, and replaced with the knowledge that God has given us faith, and has removed our sins.

We then hasten to confess them, realizing that we don’t need to live under the burden that sinning places on us. That we can have the comfort of the Holy Spirit, dwelling within us, having healed us from all of our sin and iniquity.

But again, this shows our need for the package, for baptism, with repentance and confession, and trusting in the work of Christ that baptism unites us with. But this sermon is about Jesus being baptized!
He did not need to confess any sin, nor be repentant. The reasons for our baptism, simply do not apply to Him. SO why did Jesus have to be baptized, and why, once out of the water, did the Father find so much pleasure in the Son?

So WHY?
Immersed in our lives, in our sins
Last one in the bath
To fulfill our righteousness

In order to answer these questions, we must remember that Jesus is both fully God, and fully man. Born of Mary, yet eternal, there is no need to be baptized for his own righteousness. IN the parallel account in Matthew’s gospel, we see this baptism doesn’t make sense to John either. He asks Jesus to baptize him, rather than John baptize Jesus.
Jesus’ reply is interesting, and provides part of the answer. "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Matthew 3:15 (ESV)
There is something in Jesus, joining us in the waters of baptism, that fulfills all righteousness. That fulfills our righteousness. Christ’s submission in the act of Baptism unifies Him with all those who have been, and will be baptized. That as we are baptized into His righteousness, he takes on our sin and guilt, and bears it from there, to the cross, where it is condemned, where we are freed.

Paul says it this way in the book of Galatians,

25 But now you have arrived at your destination: 26 By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. 27 Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith—dressing you in Christ's life, the fulfillment of God's original promise. Galatians 3:25-27 (MSG)
He who knew no sin, was made to be sin, for us. He was fully man, and therefore able to bear the condemnation for our sin.

There in the water and the word, we find righteousness, we find that the heavens, previously closed to us, is now opened to us. The voice of God, so long lost to His people, is now present and heard among us again. The Holy Spirit, descends from heaven, to be a gift to those, who trusting in the promises of God, in repentance are born again.

This because on a day, the one who would be crucified for us, humbled himself, and ask one of his prophets to baptize Him.

So that we could be His, so that we could approach the throne of God, in the same confidence we approach the altar. Knowing that we will not be turned away, but because of Jesus’ active obedience, we are welcomed, as the children of God.

No wonder the Father was pleased.

On the 8th Day

January 1, 2005
New Year’s Day


† IN the Name of Jesus †

Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!
He humbled himself….
Even to circumcision…

Last Saturday, and Sunday, we celebrated the incredible birth of Jesus into this world. The long awaited Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, the Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace, the one whom through everything that was created, now lives and breathes, among His creation. A little baby, born in that cold stable, lying in a hard manger, packed with strips of cloth. His eyes look around and see people, people He loves, and people He will, in 3 decades die for, on a cruel, hard cross.

Today, we see him pictured in the one verse of the Gospel lesson, visibly 8 days old, yet really older than time. Scripture tells us what happened on that day, as in obedience to the Law of Moses, and in obedience to the covenant of Abraham, a sharp stone knife was taken, and they circumcised this little baby, their creator. It is then scripture tells us, that to all the named commanded by the angels, was given to him, and made known to the community of God. Jesus, which means God saves.

In having a one verse reading to preach on, I was tempted to focus on the other action that takes place, the naming of Jesus. For what is there to talk about, in the fact that a little baby was circumcised? What difference should that make to us, for no longer does the church practice circumcision? Why did the creator of the universe, the only begotten son of God, have to go through such a ritual?

Is there any value to having Jesus circumcised? Does it benefit him in the same way it benefited Issac, or one of David’s sons or grandsons, or any of the children of Israel? Does it somehow benefit us? Is the benefit simply keeping the Law, or is there more to circumcision in the Old Covenant, and in Jesus’ time, than we see at first? The answer of course, is yes, even more than I realized, prior to realizing I had to preach on one verse.

So we shall answer these questions, did Jesus have to be circumcised, and is it any benefit to us, that He did?
Did he need it?
For righteousness? No
For unity with us? Yes!
It is too early to be “cut off” from His people!

All things were created through Jesus. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is Holy, the Alpha and Omega, He is pure and righteous, and perfect. He is without sin. Even without the little ones, like lieing to his parents, or to his boss. He would never gossip, or lust, or think evil about others. In His life, he would put others ahead of himself, ministering to their needs first. He was patient with sinners, and in our cases, He still is. With all of that noted, did Jesus really need to be circumcised?

It will help – I believe, to go back to when circumcision was initiated, and for what purpose, it is copied there, in your outline.

11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant."
Circumcision was not the law of the Mosaic Covenant alone, for here, a half century before, we see it is the sign of the covenant between God and Abraham, and his descendants. The circumcision marks them as members of the group of people collectively known as God’s people, the sons of Abraham. Without that mark, the man is cut-off from the people of God, not counted among them. Without that mark, one could not be part of the people of God, or receive the blessings that they received, as they trusted in the promises of God.

One thing interests me here, and that is that receiving the mark that identifies the person as a member of God’s family, is done without their permission. They are identified as God’s, without their “decision”. Normally, we think of circumcision, and baptism, its New Testament counterpart, as events or actions which fulfill a command of God. Yet, that command is not fulfilled by the individual, but by people acting on his behalf. It is not their fulfillment of the law, but the fulfillment of the Law for them, by another.

More on that later – but did Jesus need to be circumcised? For righteousness sake? Not exactly, for in being both man and God, He was already fully righteous, prior to being born of Mary. Yet, He was circumcised, and in doing so, and important thing happens.
He is counted among the people of God. He is not cut-off from the people of God. He belongs among them. He is one of them, one of us. He can identify with us, as one of us. There is a bond between us, a very important bond.

Had Jesus not been circumcised, he would have been cut off from us. He would not have bonded with the people of God. In His crucifixion, He will be cut off, but so shall we be, with Him. For as we shall see, the cross is the most incredible of circumcisions.

It was not for His own righteousness sake was Jesus circumcised; rather in order to be righteous for us, Jesus was circumcised.
Did/do we need it?
As Law? Nah – it wasn’t really ever law
It is gospel

Jesus was circumcised for us, and later would be crucified for us. That fact brings us to an interesting question. Is circumcision, or for that matter baptism, as work of the Law, or a act of Grace? I will contend, that according to scripture, they are primarily acts of Grace. As acts of grace, we passive receive through them, the gift of God’s forgiveness, we become His people.

In John 7, in a discourse with the Pharisees over the Sabbath, Jesus noted that in order to count a baby boy as a member of the Jewish people, they would circumcise the baby on the Sabbath. Because it was not a work of man, rather it was a work that noted – to this person, the grace of God was given. The boy was marked, noted that the person was a member of the covenant, identified as one of the people of God. That is why even the Pharisees, the ultimate legalists of the Law, would circumcise on the Sabbath.

Even more important in distinguishing circumcision/baptism as acts of grace, is the idea that the Law was fulfilled by someone other than the one who was circumcised. The Law was fulfilled for them. That too, is a hallmark of grace, an act where in God’s favor was given to a person, where they were counted among God’s people, because of the action of another. Ultimately, the act of God, who bestows the grace, the forgiveness, the love.

Did we need him to be?
Yes – look at Col. 2
Jesus Saves!

This is why I consider the work of the Cross, and our baptism, where we are united with Christ’s death, the ultimate form of circumcision, the ultimate grace filled surgery on mankind. Of course, I am not the only one who makes this case. Look at your outline again, and look with me at the quote from Colossians,

11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

There is an incredible picture in circumcision – literally, to “cut-around”. It is an operation that is done with extreme care, with steady hands, by experts. To carefully remove that which is unnecessary, and leave behind all that is important to life. That is what the circumcision of Christ pictures, and God takes all of us that is unnecessary, and cuts it away, leaving us. He circumcises us in our baptism, as Buried with Christ in His death, we are raised in faith with Him as well.

It is the powerful working of God, that in “operating” on us so, our sin is removed from us. Death has occurred at the cross, the penalty has been paid. God carefully removes all that which is unrighteous from us, leaving us united with Christ Jesus – whole, free, delivered, saved.
We are free. For Jesus is God who saves. Even through something like a circumcision, or now, in the promises of His word, attached to the pouring of water.

I do not want to forget that it is in faith that this occurs. We trust that God will do as He promised in His covenants. That He will make us His people, identifying us as His, as we realize that He is simply, our God. The action, whether baptism now, or circumcision then, is meaningless without trusting God; without having faith in His saving us from our sins, and the punishment they deserve. Faith in what He did for us, in his life, in His circumcision, in His death, burial and resurrection.

In the promises He made, a promise of life abundant, life eternal, a life filled with the joy and peace of God, at peace with God.

And may His peace, the peace that passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
AMEN.