Sermon on the Baptism of Christ

A sermon on the baptism of Jesus, from Isaiah 42:1-9 and Matthew 3:13-17. Lectionary year A

If you want to perform a baptism, especially that of a baby, first you have to put the kettle on.

There are trade secrets to this job, words of wisdom passed on from one generation of ministers to the next. Things you can’t learn from a textbook. So I paid close attention when a wizened old sage told me the kettle trick.

Before the service of baptism starts, you pour boiling water into your font. It looks a bit odd, even dangerous, so it’s best if the family don’t see what is going on. Then, allow time for the intimations, a hymn and a prayer, and the water will be at a safe and comfortable temperature for the baptism. If you want to upset a baby, baptise them with water that is church room temperature – cold water. They think it’s a bit of fun if the water is a little closer to tropical temperature than arctic.

I have to wonder how far back this advice goes. Certainly not as far back as John, and in fact, I would be surprised if it goes back more than a few decades. But it’s useful advice. Other baptism advice I have been given, from the minister from Arbroath, is that while you might like the idea of full immersion baptism, the North Sea is a rather cold place to be doing it.

For a time, many people would hold off being baptised until they were on their death bed. The idea being that, to them, baptism was the washing away of all previous sins. Baptism is a one off event, so you might was well wait until you were at deaths door before washing away a lifetime of sin.

I am aware this morning that we are a gathering of two congregations, and we both perform baptisms, perhaps with subtle differences, but pretty much the same. However there are some denominations, for example the Salvation Army, and the Quakers that do not see baptism as necessary. There is so much tradition associated with baptism, and theologians have spent the past two thousand years debating why we do it, when it should be one, how much water to be used, and whether you are sprinkled or immersed. If you want to complicate things, get a group of theologians involved.

And then there are some denominiations that do not recognise baptism performed by other denominations, requiring a convert to be baptised again, while others, like the church of Scotland believes that Baptism is a one off event, and isn’t to be repeated.

Frankly, it all gets a bit confusing...

Nowadays, with exception of the places that are kept clear for the tourists, the river Jordan is a polluted ditch. Not really the sort of place where you want to be born again to newness of life. In John’s day, the Jordan valley was quite a pleasant place, and the theologians hadn’t got in the way to make a mess of things. It was a simple life, where John was the voice in the wilderness, preparing the way for one who was greater than him. As the people repented their sins, John baptised with water, but one was coming that would baptise with the Holy spirit and fire.

So someone is coming, and in his baptismal ministry, John prepares for the one that Isaiah talks of. A servant that will bring justice. John is doing the groundwork, making the people ready for the one that is to come after him.

We have to then ask, why does John need to baptise Jesus?

John acknowledges that it is he himself that should be baptised by Jesus. John is an eartlhy man, full of the sin that exists in all of us. Ministers from john right up to today are entrusted to undertake baptisms on behalf of God. Now while [Rev Stephen] may be as close to earthly perfection as one human can be, and for saying that, he assures me that the cheque is in the post, but [Stephen], myself, and anyone who dares to stand up here is nowhere near as perfect as Jesus.

I suppose it’s part of the priveledge that comes with the job, that we are trusted to do a bit of work on behalf of God, and while it’s a wee while before I am permitted to perform the sacraments, it’s not a task that I approach lightly.

There are some reasons why it is important that Jesus was baptised by john. First of all, it is important that Jesus should receive public recognition from his predecessor before Jesus embarks on his work. John is the voice crying out in the wilderness, as predicted by Isaiah, and it is appropriate that John demonstrates that Jesus is the one that the people have been waiting for.

And doesn’t it show a togetherness? In accepting baptism from John, Jesus is identifying with all us sinners, and we are united together in baptism, dying together and rising together to newness of life.

We don’t know how many people were present at the baptism of Christ. Did John have his own disciples, helping him with baptism? Were there other people there that day, also accepting baptism from john?

Matthew’s gospel tells of the sight of the Spirit of God coming down on Jesus and a voice from the heavens. The other gospels tell a slightly different story. Either way, in Christ’s baptism, God shows his approval of Jesus. It’s not God hidden behind the curtain in a temple, but out in a public place, where all may see and witness God.

It is perhaps most important that, in the public baptism, this records forever the triune God reveled in glory from Heaven. What we see is the Father expressing his pleasure upon his Son and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus. It is a beautiful picture of the trinity, of the triune nature of God, and shows the work of the Father, Son and Spirit in reaching out to save the lost.

Many of you may not remember your baptism, some of you may have been baptised later in life. But in baptism, we are collectively back in the Jordan.

So let us remember our own baptism. I’m reading from the baptism service, and I invite you to reflect on the words that we use in the service of baptism.

We thank you gracious God, for your gifts of water and the Holy Spirit

Send your Holy Spirit upon us, that we here today, being buried with Christ in Baptism,

May rise with him to newness of life;

And being born anew of water and the Holy Spirit

May remain forever in the number of your faithful children;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord,

To whom you and the Holy Spirit be all honour and glory, now and forever. Amen