Submitted to Red Rock News Jan 10, 2025
- Rev. Dona Johnson |January 12, 2025
All four Gospels, even though they may differ stylistically, tell the story of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. This fact in itself indicates that it is a very important mile marker in Jesus’ spiritual life, as it remains so in the life of every Christian. Baptism is a Christian sacrament in almost all denominations. The Latin word sacramentum which meant “oath” was applied to Baptism in connection with it’s establishing of a “new covenant” between a human being and God. Now, different Christian faith traditions emphasize the different ways people are baptized. Some denominations emphasize the person being baptized must be submerged under water, while being able to make that decision for themselves— commonly called adult baptism. While other denominations believe that God’s grace is imparted to the infant through baptism and confirmed at the age of twelve through the pouring water over the head of the child or adult being baptized. But whether you were baptized as an infant or adult, whether you were baptized with a little water or a lot, what all baptisms have in common is Jesus. Jesus was baptized and so we who follow Jesus are also baptized. By faith, a Christian is baptized in the name of God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit—the Trinity. Their names are written in the palms of God’s hand (Isa 49:16).
Since God chooses us and not the other way around, God gives us the faith to come to the waters of baptism (Eph 1:4-6), and that is the true mystery of the faith. Baptism also brings many gifts. First, baptism is an entrance into the body of Christ, the Church. Secondly, it gives the baptized the gift of eternal life through the forgiveness of sin. Thirdly, the Holy Spirit is poured out upon the baptized imparting spiritual gifts to be used in building the Kingdom on earth, enabling one to understand the scriptures, live them out through fidelity to Jesus Christ and sincere desire to love all people.
Many people are perplexed by why Jesus who was co-equal to the Father, one without sin would ask to be baptized by John the lesser. And this is a great question because the answer reveals
the mystery of Jesus. As the poor, the broken, the sick and hurting people gathered on the shores to be baptized by John, Jesus wades into the same water and takes his place beside them. This is an amazing moment. Jesus, creator of the universe openly and without hesitation and unashamed, stands shoulder to shoulder with sinners. He did not identify with the pious and smug religious leaders. No, he identified with the weak, those who were plagued with fear and anxiety. What other gods would do this?
As Jesus went down below the waters of the Jordan, “…as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:21-22). In that moment, God affirmed the divine love and goodness he had for his Son. God also claims and affirms us as his sons and daughters in our baptisms. In baptism, the church declares what has always been true, that each of us belong to God, and only to God.
In our Western culture, there are many malignant forces that try to name and claim us. But through our baptism, God claims us as his own. We don’t belong to our illnesses, successes or failures. We don’t belong to our sinful pasts, the hurts and traumas we have endured. We don’t belong to our poor choices. And our souls don’t belong to the advertising moguls of popular culture. We belong to the God its that simple and yet that profound! In the name of Jesus who claims us. Amen.
- Rev. Dona Johnson |January 12, 2025