"This feeling of being lonely and very temporary visitors in the universe is in flat contradiction to everything known about man (and all other living organisms) in the sciences. We do not “come into” this world; we come out of it, as leaves from a tree. As the ocean “waves,” the universe “peoples.” Every individual is an expression of the whole realm of nature, a unique action of the total universe." — Alan Watts, The Book
There is an inherent power in baptism that can illuminate our understanding as reflected in this Alan Watt's quote. Baptism is central to our second birth and the story of the baptism of Jesus illustrates a unique power in baptism.
Coming into the world and coming out of it are both detailed in stories about Jesus. The birth of Jesus in a beloved manger story is about coming in to a world where there is no room. His birth is out of place. Baptism, on the other hand, reveals something that is also central to Christianity. Being born of the spirit comes out of worldly elements and experiences. For Jesus this was the experience of being baptized by John with the river Jordan used as the key element for this sacrament.
There are many approaches available for us to explore this as a faith story. We have been, since the beginning of the church year, using the Revised Lectionary Readings Year A gospel readings. This marks the first Gospel reading where today's gospel is a different telling of the same event explored last year because the blog started a little over a week after the new year.
Last January what struck me about Luke's baptismal account was the interplay between a personal and public experience. This is still interesting and has a new context this morning as we consider the public / private nature of today's worship. In Matthew's baptism story, Jesus is described more individually as one for whom the heavens are opened with a dove is seen descending upon him. The public part comes in the pronouncement "This is my Son, the Beloved"( rather than singularly addressing Jesus "You are my Son, the Beloved" as recorded in Luke's gospel).
This, however, is not central to what strikes my soul in the baptism of Jesus this year. What I thought about this morning is that no gospel describes this opening of heaven and God speaking in terms in words that are frightening. No gospel treats this as an otherworldly experience at the Jordan that makes anybody anxious. No one is told, as normally happens with divine action or intervention, the often repeated "Do not be afraid". The nativity narrative is one example we have recently shared.
Alan Watts writes "we come out of it [the world], as leaves from a tree. As the ocean “waves,” the universe “peoples.” This is a profound baptismal description for me. Jesus comes out of the water - born again. Just as all God gives to us comes out of the world. Just as the ministry of Jesus comes from, and out of, John's ministry. In John's vision the one who is more powerful, coming after John, is seen by him as a culminating and powerful world figure. So for John, this person's baptism should unfold as an apocalyptic event in human history and not simply as another baptism he will perform.
Apocalypse literally means to uncover (from Greek for un– apo and the Greek for cover - kalupten). Jesus does not see this apocalypse or revelation in the same way John envisions it. Matthew's baptism story underscores the contrast in Jesus and John's ministries and visions.
The past year impressed on me Christianity's power to embrace our world and human mortality. To follow God's path, as a Christian, is to follow a path of mortality. We worship our God becoming mortal and vulnerable in Jesus, with the possible exception of the gospel of John (and there is always an exception when talking about God).
As a result in the biblical stories and in our responses to what happens to Jesus there is something natural described in the actions of those around him. John tries to prevent Jesus from being baptized because feeling John feels unworthy to perform the baptism. Peter will later try later to prevent the death of Jesus.
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Today I had planned to not focus as much on the sermon. I wanted to write about other elements of this Sunday's worship. Those plans changed when worship today was canceled on account of snow and freezing rain. Instead those who would have gathered together at church individually lit candles, remembered our baptism, worshiped, and read Pastor Michelle's sermon.
Here is a link to the whole sermon. What follows are excerpts from her sermon (in the bold italics):
You know, when we hear the story of Jesus being baptized in the Jordan River by his cousin, John the Baptist, I think our first reaction is often a lot like John’s: “Wait. What?!... Jesus wants John to baptize him? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?!...” Hmm...I wonder if we should take another look and approach this from a different perspective. As I said in last week’s sermon, it seems that over the centuries the church has layered Jesus with so much divinity that sometimes it’s hard for us to remember that he was really, truly, fully human—flesh and blood, just as you and I are....
The role reversal is a revelation from God that Jesus obeys. Pastor Michelle speculates that Jesus, as a man, does not know God's plan entirely but has the faith to obey, in his actions and directions, this "immediate" call from God.
By the end of today’s gospel reading, you and I, who have the advantage of looking at this story through the lens of the resurrection, can begin to see the reason for Jesus’ baptism: The Baptism of Our Lord is the public inauguration of Jesus as the Son of God, the One sent to reveal God’s reconciling love for the life of the world.... Matthew the Evangelist tells us that just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he had a vision of the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove.
The importance of baptism does come into sharp clarity through the lens of resurrection. There are many parallels and a sense of promise fulfilled. Pastor Michelle goes on:I want you to notice is that before Jesus even does anything—before he begins his public ministry--God declares him “beloved” and is “well pleased” with him..... Let that sink in for a moment, because the very same thing is true for you and me!
Dear friends in Christ, whether you remember your baptism or not, it was an occasion when God publicly named YOU and declared to you and to everyone present, “This is my son,” or “This is my daughter, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased....” My friends, this is so important and such amazing Good News that I have to say it again: Before you and I even do anything, our God loves us and wants to tell everyone how much God loves us!
Not only does God love us, God loves the world.
What touches us individually as Christians about the life and teachings of Jesus will vary widely - from time to time, place to place, community to community and life to life. What we share in this particular time, place and community is what touches our souls about the Word living in us from week to week. We not only share the good news communicated to us but also discover portraits of who we are and what we hold dear in our response to the word. It amazes me that, for many in our community, what touches us currently is a very human Jesus. Not denying Christ's divinity - only affirming we are deeply involved in God's embrace of what it means to be fully human.
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