Matthew 3:1-17
A story is told of a Baptist pastor who, at his very first baptism, became completely stage struck. Standing in the baptismal pool with the candidate for this sacred rite, the pastor became so overcome with nervousness that he forgot which sacrament he was ministering. Instead of using the words for the baptismal service, he instead uttered the words from the communion service and, in a loud voice gave the command, “Drink ye all of this!” Now there’s a challenge I saved you all from this morning!
For those who are perhaps visiting church for the first time, I can imagine you are asking yourselves the very valid question, why baptism in today’s world?
Firstly, as Christians, we believe baptism tells us who we are! That is why in many Christian traditions, including our own, babies are baptized. It is an indication that every child born into the household of faith is a child of God. Baptism tells us who we are. Whether we are baptized as infants, as was the case this morning with Gerrard, or teenagers or as adults, it is an announcement to the world that we are part of the family of God. Jesus, himself, began his ministry by being baptized. Baptism is central to our lives. It establishes our identity with Christ, and our heavenly Father, rather like our surname establishes our identity with our earthly family.
Baptism also tells us we have God’s seal of approval. Notice what happened at Jesus’ baptism. When he came up out of the water, he saw the skies open up and he saw God’s Spirit which looked like a dove, descending and landing on him. And, a voice said, “This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.” Something like that happens, I believe, at every baptism. When we are baptized, God puts His seal of approval on us. We can no longer count ourselves as creatures of no importance. Christ died on our behalf. We are the redeemed by his grace.
An American woman, Louanne Johnson began her teaching career at a very tough inner city school. In fact, on her very first day, a student threw a hard cover dictionary at her head. However, to a former marine like Louanne, this was a challenge she was ready to face. She knew these kids were programmed for failure and so she took the massive risk to try re-programming them. The first thing she did was to inform her students she expected the very best from them. In her class, she said, they all started out with A’s; Whether or not they kept that A was up to them. Louanne inspired her students to achieve more than anyone had thought possible. So successful was her programme that the movie, “Dangerous Minds,” was made about her.
I believe Louanne’s method is a bit like what happens at our baptism. On the day of our baptism we receive an automatic A. We have done nothing to deserve it but it is granted just the same. That is what a sacrament is. It is a means of grace. It doesn’t mean we are perfect, just as the A’s given out to those students didn’t make them perfect, far from it. Baptism is when God puts His seal of approval on us and says we are forgiven. We receive an A without deserving it because of what Christ has done on our behalf.
So what’s with the water? One of the reasons water is used in the sacrament of baptism is to symbolize the taking away of our sins. In other words it makes us right with God. This wasn’t necessary for Jesus, but it certainly is for us.
Baptism also signifies our new birth into the family of God. Just as there is water present at our physical birth, so the baptismal water represents a new life, a new birth. Hence you often hear the terminology “reborn” or “born again” signifying a spiritual birth into the family of God. At baptism, God’s Spirit comes upon us and we begin living as citizens of God’s kingdom.
What does this mean? Think for a moment what it takes for an immigrant from another country to become a New Zealand citizen. Certainly, Kerry, both you and your family will know all about that coming from South Africa. There are so many hoops to go through and it also requires that person to live here continuously for a period of at least five years I think. However, these are only requirements for immigrants. If you are born in NZ you are automatically a NZ citizen. Think what a privilege that bestows on you, and you did nothing to deserve it. BUT, listen to even better news! Baptism is the symbol that you and I have been born into the Kingdom of God, having done nothing to merit that status. Baptism, is our citizen paper! In other words, our documents are in order, for we are now joined with Christ.
Being part of the family of God, that’s us as church, means we also have an obligation to Gerrard and his parents because we made that commitment in the baptism service to love him and share our faith with him. In fact it was more than just a commitment. It was a very serious promise before everyone gathered here today and most importantly it was a promise before God. I pray we will take this promise very seriously as will both his God parents, Nicki and Jackie
So, Gerrard, by this act of baptism, we welcome you into a journey that will take your whole life. In order to become a naturalized citizen of that country, once you’ve gone through the hoops, so to speak that’s it. Baptism, however is not the end of the journey, it is just the beginning. It’s the beginning of God’s relationship with you. What God will make of you, we know not. Where God will take you, we cannot say. But this we can say from experience and with confidence, God is with you, just as God is with us, as we too, continue to live out our baptism in the world.
Baptism tells us who we are, it tells us we have God’s seal of approval on us and it tells us we are the citizens of the Kingdom of God. What a miracle! All that from a little bit of water! But behind that water stands the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. May God bless you richly, Kerry, Matt and Gerrard in the years ahead
