The Start of the Journey – January 12, 2025, The Baptism of Our Lord
Psalm 27:1-6, Matthew 3:1-17
January 12, 2025
We talked about John the Baptist during Advent. I hope you remember that. We talked about how the people believed he was a prophet – a prophet akin to their Old Testament prophets. And that was a big deal! And John created quite a stir! All the people came out to see him! We even talked about his connection with the prophet Elijah!
So as we think about this story for today, I invite you to picture all of that again. Get that image in your minds of John, preaching by the Jordan river. See him dressed in his rustic clothing of camel’s hair and leather, maybe with wild, unkempt hair and beard. Imagine him living off the land, eating locusts and wild honey. But also, picture the huge crowds. Because, as Matthew tells us, “There went out to him all of Jerusalem and Judea and all the surrounding region.”
I hope you can get a good mental image of that scene! While you’re at it, imagine also the religious leaders who were there, dressed in their finery. As I’ve said before, they were always there! They were always “keeping an eye on” things like this. They watched John during his ministry, as they would watch Jesus during his ministry.
In this story, at least some of them seemed to respond to John. Were they trying to cash in on some of his popularity? Did they really believe that the kingdom of heaven was “at hand?” It’s hard to know, exactly. But some of them came forward for baptism. However, they were met with a “less than friendly” reception. John called them “a brood of vipers.” He asked, “Who warned you to flee from the wrath that is to come?” “Bear fruit that befits repentance!” Needless to say, that didn’t go over very well!
Recently we’ve been watching the TV series called “The Chosen.” Have you seen it? If you haven’t, I would recommend it! I think it’s a very good depiction of the events of Jesus’ life and the life of his disciples. Of course, it’s dramatized, but it also has a good biblical basis. And one of the things it does very well is portray the interaction between John and Jesus and those religious leaders.
So that’s the scene here. I hope you can picture John, the crowds, the religious leaders, oh and throw in some Romans while you’re at it. They also kept an eye on all of these things. And they, of course, what made them “nervous” were the large crowds!
Ok, you got that? Now, I want you to picture the scene in our story for today. Because into this scene, that you have in your heads, steps John’s cousin, Jesus. And John has set up his arrival just before this. He said, “He who is coming after me is mightier than I. And I’m not worthy even to carry his sandals!” As we’ve talked about before, the people in the early days had a difficult time understanding that Jesus was even more important. They though that highly of what they saw in John!
Matthew tells us that Jesus stepped forward for baptism, and John hesitated. “Are you kidding me?” he said. “It is I that needs to be baptized by you!” And he’s right, isn’t he? We know that! We’re with John on that, aren’t we? But Jesus gives him this great answer. “Let it be so for now, for thus it is fitting to fulfill all righteousness.”
This was a beginning for Jesus. It marked the official start of his earthly ministry. And this act, this baptism, was his symbol of that beginning. That’s what he was telling John, saying it was “fitting to fulfill all righteousness.”
Remember, John didn’t just baptize for the “remission of sins,” as we sometimes say it. He had a message. He had a mandate. And it was, what? “Repent.” This was baptism to show repentance. That’s why he told the Pharisees to “bear fruit that befits repentance.” And what is repentance? It is turning away from sin. It is making a new beginning. It is the beginning of a life of faith. Jesus doesn’t just take away our sins so we can go to heaven. With him, we start a new life. And that’s what John was calling for here.
I had a pastor friend years ago – when I was a student pastor down at the little church in the Northeast. And I remember when he discovered a quote that he liked very much – and used very often! The quote was, “Faith is a journey, not a destination.” And the idea was that faith is a not just something that happens to us once. It’s not just about fulfilling the requirements for heaven – which is our destination. It’s a journey throughout our lives. And that journey starts when we decide to follow Jesus.
Now, some people can point to an actual day and time that they made that decision. Others can point to an event – a retreat, or a conference. Others have just sort of known it all along. They were raised in the church and they’re not sure when they decided to follow Jesus. They just always have. I’ll bet if we shared stories in this room, we would find all of those different experiences.
But however it began for you, it’s still the same. “Faith is a journey.” And I would say today, that if “Faith is a journey, then baptism is the start of the journey.” Again, baptism is not just the “cleansing of sin,” but it is symbolic of that cleansing that Jesus accomplished on our behalf. But that cleansing is once and for all. Otherwise, we’d need to be baptized pretty often, wouldn’t we? I know I would!
Baptism is a beginning. It is the start of the journey. It was for Jesus in this story. And it is for us. And we may or may not remember our own baptism. I know I don’t. But when I’m in my home church, I often look at the baptismal font, and I picture my mother and father standing there as the pastor baptized me. And I try to think about that beginning, and where it has taken me over the years. And I hope you do, too.
That’s what I want you to do today. I want you to remember your baptism. And I want you to know that, whether it was as an infant, and you don’t remember it, or if you were old enough and you do remember it, it was a beginning. It was the start of the journey of faith.
That’s what we try to get across to people when they bring children for baptism. It’s not a one-time thing. It’s the start of a life of Christian nurture. And in the sacrament of baptism, a lot of people will be promising to help with that nurture. In the case of an infant, we ask you, the congregation, to pledge to be part of that nurture, to help that child “know all that Christ commands, and to strengthen their family ties with the household of God.” That’s the question we ask. And I love that!
So, baptism is an important thing. And it’s good that we celebrate our Lord’s baptism. It is, as Jesus said at the time, “fitting to fulfill all righteousness.” And it is symbolic of the start of a journey, the great journey of faith!
So here, at the beginning of a new year, at the start of the journey through the “Year of our Lord, 2025,” as we think about the start of Jesus’ ministry with his baptism, I’m asking you, as I have each year at this time, to remember the start of your journey. In a few minutes we’re going to restate our baptismal vows. And again, you might remember making these vows that first time, or they were made for you by parents and congregations. But either way, I invite you to remember the start of the journey you’ve been on, and I invite you to use this time as a time of re-commitment to that journey.
Prayer
Eternal God, as we look back on our life’s journey, help us to remember that you’ve walked beside us, in those times we have felt you with us, and even in the times we haven’t. We are grateful that you have drawn us into this life of faith, and as always we ask your strength to continue. We give you thanks and praise in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Renewal of Baptismal Vows.