Water's With Purpose
Matthew 3:13–17
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
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Introduction
The rite of Christian baptism dates back to the early practices of immersing oneself in water in Judaism. According to Jewish tradition, the ritual washing for purification marked a person's transition from uncleanliness to cleanliness. The word we know as "baptism" didn't appear until the building of the Second Temple when Hellenistic (Greek-speaking Jews) started to use the term baptmos to describe these religious and social acts. We see the evolution of baptmos throughout the New Testament as John baptizes Jesus in the River Jordan. And later, Jesus commissions his followers to baptize believers in his name. So that's all we need to know about baptism, right?
Well, I admit that that's a trick question because there is more to baptism. The sacrament of baptism is more than an ancient rite; it is a sign and mark that bestows a purpose and a sense of calling. Isn't that what we are looking for, a feeling of purpose? And don't say that it's something related only to age; I know a good number of retired folks who find that the question of purpose becomes even more relevant once their career becomes a past descriptor of who they are as a person. Baptism is a reminder that we carry a purpose in life that never fades away.
Sign of Purpose
Do you know your purpose in life? It's a question I still ponder from time to time when I lie awake at night talking to God. It's a daunting question, often based on parts of our lives that are flexible (constantly moving). And it's a question that we are asking now more than ever. Talk to any educator who will tell you about the pains and crises of youth and young adults. And speaking of adults, a great article in the New York Times articulates how we've seen ourselves changed throughout the pandemic. The question of purpose continues to be at the forefront of our quest to see how we play a role in the larger world.
That is where baptism comes into play in establishing a purpose, a calling, and a vision for life that transcends the hard and the good times. For the early Christians, baptism was almost a type of funeral that celebrated the death of the old and the rebirth of what is new in God's grace. And for those believers, it was a community event, which means that each time we do a baptism, we are reminded of the purpose of our life founded in something more than some vain message that our culture tells us is essential. Instead, our purpose lies in the heart of God.
Sign of Renewal
In our passage this morning, we hear of the Holy Spirit descending from heaven in the form of a dove. The sky opened up, the skies separated, and a voice from heaven boomed forth with the words, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you, I am well pleased.” In baptism, we remember the gifts that we have received from the Holy Spirit. In baptism, we recognize that each of us is created in the image of God, that each of us is a reflection of God and that our various skin colors, ethnicities, cultures, and traditions add to the rich and multifaceted nature of the divine.
Sign of Action
Baptism is a visible, visceral sign that calls us to live a renewed life in God, an experience that asks us to lean hard into the promises, the compassion, and the grace of God. And to live as one who has been baptized means that we are to live lives of radical love, knowing that God is here with us and with those who have been wandering in the wilderness seeking answers to the puzzles and mysteries of life and faith. That God is here and is doing new and good work for us. That God is here and waiting, waiting for us to embrace who we are, to embrace who others are, to embrace who we together have been called to be, a community, a body that is reflective of Jesus Christ.
A study by the Harvard School of Public Health found that if you have a "higher sense of purpose in life — defined as having meaning, a sense of direction and goals — you are more likely to remain healthy and physically strong as you grow older." So take this first month of the year to consider how you can live out God's purpose for your life. Let the higher sense of purpose that claims our lives lead you to ways that live embody the core of Jesus' earthly ministry. These goals give us meaning as individuals and as a corporate entity striving to live out the gospel message.
Conclusion
Jesus was the living embodiment of sacrificial love and modeled for us the importance of care for the broader community as Jesus, in his own words, says, "the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve." May we be inspired by the Holy Spirit to see how acts of service, both big and small, can change the ground beneath our very feet. May we remember and reconnect with the promises made at our baptism when it was proclaimed that we were sealed in the love of God and that nothing in life or death could separate us from the love of God (nothing can strip us of our purpose). Let the waters of baptism continually renew and refresh our spirits to the new ways in which we can respond proactively as people of faith to the needs of a weary and hurting world instead of getting caught up in self-inflated egos and a desire to be on top. And let the waters of baptism refresh us as we journey to carry out our purpose of being the compassionate living heart of God.