The Baptism of Christ (A) 2020

+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.

Text: Matthew 3:13-17
Theme: Baptism and Constitutions



Dear followers of the Saviour,

The baptism of Jesus served to define Christian identity. There was no shortage of opinions about Jesus’ own identity during His earthly sojourn. Some of the greatest controversies in the early church centered on the question of exactly who this Jesus was. At one point there were more Arian Christians than Christians who followed the Nicene Creed. Arius did not believe Jesus was fully divine. That’s still the case today. Jehovah’s Witnesses and members of the Latter-Day Saints relegate Jesus to a diminutive status and role in salvation. In fact, until; He comes again in glory, it’s inevitable that controversy will always exist because the God enfleshed Jesus is the one person nobody can finally avoid a destiny-defining relationship with. There will be no middle ground. May God daily strengthen us with the confidence that Christ has secured our future by grace.

It’s not coincidental that the baptism of Jesus is early in the Season of Epiphany. During the Epiphany season we’ll be learning from those sections of Scripture that share specific events in the life of Jesus that reveal Him to be the Son of God. What did He say? What did He do? How was He different from everyone else who has ever lived? What evidence proved His divinity? Were the prophets on task? Were the Scriptures proven to be fulfilled in Him? Epiphany throws light on the identity of Jesus. Through the recorded events of His interactions with fallen humanity the Holy Spirit kindles the light of faith in hearts previously darkened with unbelief and doubt.

Today we are witness (through the Scriptures) to the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptizer. It was a dramatic scene involving the Holy Spirit’s presence in the form of a dove and the voice of the heavenly Father. Understandably, John is reluctant to concede to Jesus’ request. But notice that Jesus doesn’t chastise John for his reticence. John has indeed seen the matter clearly. Jesus does not need to repent. He does not have any sins to be forgiven. He doesn’t meet the criteria. A fallen Saviour could not Himself redeem corrupted humanity. Yet, Jesus replied to John, “It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”1 Now, that sounds pretty official, pretty weighty. What does all righteousness mean? Good question!

The baptizing done by John was preparatory- calling to repentance and pointing one to the coming Messiah. Christian baptism is covenant-creating, incorporating one into the saving works and life or Jesus, the Christ. The Scripture is clear: Jesus was baptised not because it was essential for Him, but because it was necessary for us. In His baptism He received the divine approval of the heavenly Father and was anointed by the Holy Spirit, thereby being consecrated for His mission. The public ministry of Jesus essentially begins with His baptism. He now stands in solidarity with sinful humanity. Through Him we receive divine approval.

From the divine perspective Jesus’ identity has never been in doubt but now the Trinity wishes to make that identity explicitly and overtly clear to humanity. The prophets had already opened the blinds to let some light in. Consider again what Isaiah said today, “Here is My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen one in whom I delight; I will put My Spirit on Him and He will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.”2 What a description: Powerful enough to bring justice to the high and mighty, and yet gentle enough to never damage the vulnerable. Ponder that thought for a moment; the Saviour never intentionally, or clumsily mishandles those clinging to the tiniest bit of faith.

Dear friends, your identity as a Christian is constituted by Christ who bestowed God’s name on you in baptism and received you into His good graces. His suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension are the events that empower and inform the covenant of your baptism. Without a Jesus who had truly died in place of sinners and shattered death’s power by His bodily resurrection from the grave, baptism would amount to little more than a sentimental, but powerless and hollow naming ceremony. His crucifixion was no empty ritual and His resurrection no magician’s trick.

He is the author and perfecter of your faith3. He initiates life and He sustains it. You cannot initiate your own Christian identity any more than a newborn can choose his or her parents and give himself or herself a name. The work of God always precedes human response. The critical importance of baptism lies in its purpose of giving us access to the Saviour’s work. Holy Communion also functions in this way. The Spirit uses word, water, bread and wine as the means by which the completed acts of salvation become directly beneficial for us.

Baptism, therefore, is the constituting reality of your Christian identity. The on-going public evidence of this identity is an additional matter though. People who haven’t witnessed your baptism have no firsthand knowledge of it. How then, is your Christian identity publicly witnessed? What evidence gives testimony? Jesus says, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.”4 Dear friends, the time is quickly passing when the nominal Christian will be charitably mistaken for a genuine one. The leniency of the wider society that led to apathy of distinction is quickly changing. Tolerance of mis-identity, or misrepresentation is waning. Christian truth is being challenged and the contenders for that truth will be increasingly distinguished from the pretenders.

While that’s a challenge, and somewhat daunting for many, it’s a situation through which the Holy Spirit will bring about good for the church. The church has gone through times of purging throughout its history and we shouldn’t think our age will be any different. Setting out from Hamburg, Germany, one day to give a concert in London, a famous violinist named Fritz Kreisler had an hour before his boat sailed. So, he wandered into a local music shop, where the proprietor asked if he might look at the violin Kreisler was carrying. He then vanished and soon returned with two policemen, one of whom told the violinist, “You are under arrest.”
“What for?” asked Kreisler. “You have Fritz Kreisler’s violin.” “I am Fritz Kreisler,” protested the musician. “Oh, you can’t put that on us”, said the policeman. “Come along to the station.” As Kreisler’s boat was sailing soon, there was no time for prolonged explanations. Kreisler asked for his violin and played a piece he was well known for. “Now are you satisfied? he asked. The policemen let the musician go because he had done what only Fritz Kreisler could do.

The good tree produces good fruit. Half-hearted commitment will not endure the time of testing. We cannot serve two masters. Consider, dear friends, what a mysterious and magnificent thing it is that when you step out the door each day you are a servant of the Servant, you are an ambassador of the King of kings. You have a high and holy calling even if your professional vocation seems ordinary and mundane. You are light. You are salt5. You are blessed6. You are these things not in and of yourselves- not by nature or accomplishment, “flesh gives birth to flesh”7- but through the living power of Christ and His Spirit that reigns in your mortal flesh8. The Scripture says, “You are of Christ, and Christ is of God.”9

Don’t vex over whether you are the active agent or whether you’re being acted upon when it comes to your Christian life, wondering: Are you building? Or are you being built? Are you extending? Or are you being extended? Are you teaching or are you being taught? Are you serving or are you being served? The Spirit is all too happy to use fallible beings to accomplish God’s holy work, serving them while still using them as His vessels to serve others. Most of all, don’t try to construct your own identity. Jesus has already done that. Aspire to the lifelong discipleship of appreciating what that means!

Did Jesus need to be born in human flesh? Did Jesus need to be circumcised? Did He need to be baptised? Did He need to be crucified? For Himself: No, no, no, and no! For us: Yes, yes, yes and yes! And so, we say, “Amen” to the glory of God!

+ In nomine Jesu +

First Sunday After Epiphany
Baptism of Our Lord
12 January 2020
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt

1 Matthew 3:15 2 Isaiah 42:1-3
3 See Hebrews 12:2 4 Matthew 7:18
5 See Matthew 5:13-14 6 See Matthew 5:1-11
7 John 3:6 8 See Romans 8:11
9 1 Corinthians 3:23