WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
January 13th 2008
Baptism of the Lord / Installation of Elders
Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
“Everybody Needs a Bath”
Isaiah 42:1-9; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:3-17
I am a big fan of John the Baptist. Maybe it is his lack of concern for proper dress or it might be his daring diet. More likely though, what I admire most about John is his boldness. He knows that he is preparing the way for Jesus. As a result, John has a prophetic confidence that that all will be made right when Jesus comes on the scene. John is sure that those who deserve it are going to get what is coming to them in the form of a winnowing fork. However, Jesus entrance does not quite turn out like John, or the rest of us, expects or even hopes.
Instead of putting everyone in their proper place Jesus comes to be baptized by John. It is inconceivable to him that Jesus would submit to his baptism. After all, what sin would Jesus need to repent? How could he, the voice in the wilderness, be the one who would administer his baptism? Jesus is supposed to bring out the next generation of baptism. John’s baptism was windows XP and Jesus’ baptism was the well promoted baptism Vista. (Ok maybe that is not such a good example.) Instead of brining in the new generation and sweeping John out of the way with winnowing fork in hand, Jesus willingly submits to this baptism. What could it all mean?
In going out into the wilderness and submitting to the baptism, Jesus is doing more than showing simple humility. Jesus submission to baptism marks his refusal to participate in the ways of empire. The movement out of Jerusalem, crossing the Jordan and entering into the wilderness was an action that symbolized the liberation from the slavery of Egypt. Leaving the place of slavery, crossing the water and moving out into the wilderness was necessary for faithful living.
In the story of the Exodus, it took forty years to break the habits learned while living as part of the empire. Likewise, following his baptism, Jesus will spend forty days in the wilderness being tested on his commitment to turn from the ways of empire. While this may seem like an overstatement remember that each one of the wilderness temptations faced by Jesus are invitations to use his power in ways that mimic the practices of empire. (But that is a sermon for another time.) From the moment of his baptism, to his faithfulness in the wilderness, and even to the cross, Jesus is refusing to participate in the ways of empire.
As Christians we can look towards the words about the Servant of God, in the mornings reading from the psalms and know that what Jesus is acting as the faithful servant of God. We hear in that psalm that the servant of God will bring justice, but not through boasting, or making a show, or drawing attention. A servant of God will not further injure those who are already in pain or who are weak. Instead, a servant of God turns from the ways of domination and power politics and instead brings about healing and restoration by opening the eyes of the blind and letting prisoners go free. It is in these words that we are reminded that the justice of God looks nothing that the justice claimed by the empires of the world.
Each time we witness a baptism, and reaffirm the promises made in our own baptisms, we are reminded of our participation in the baptism of Jesus. It is a sacrament rich in meaning and symbolism. During the renunciations the question is asked if we will turn from the ways of sin and evil in the world. It is in this question, we see most clearly the call to repentance. The call to repent, or turn from the ways of sin and evil, is really a call to change. It is a call to turn from the places of Empire in our lives and in this world. It is a call to cross over the waters and spend time in the wilderness places so that we can begin to shed our love of empire life and practices.
The baptism we share in Jesus Christ is a symbol, a sign, that we are no longer willing participants in the practices of empire in our midst. The markers or signs of empire are legion. As such they are hard, no they are impossible, to shed on our own. But we can take the first step and begin to name the places of Empire practice that permeate our world and have a hold on our hearts. The ways of empire teach that men should dominate women, that white people should have power over all others, that gay and lesbian folk should be hated and used as society’s latest scapegoat, and ultimately that peace and security can only come at the end of a gun or as a result of an ever increasing bottom line. These are the beliefs that cling to us and to which we cling. But the promise of our baptism, the one we share in Jesus Christ, says these do not have ultimate dominion over us.
By contrast, the Son of God, the embodiment of God in human flesh, rejected the mantle of domination and submitted to the baptism of a lowly wilderness preacher. It is an action that reveals what we all try to hide. It reveals all of our well hidden beliefs which fool us into thinking that; our theology will save us, or that we are not really sinful people, or that such teachings are meant for others, or that the benefits that the empire provides do not come at someone else’s expense. All of this, and more, is packed into this simple action of being baptized. Who knew water could do so much! Well, water and the Holy Spirit.
As we celebrate the baptism of the Lord, and install new leaders to serve in the church, it is important to remember that we have been claimed by God. In baptism we are not called to become super-saints who will do all of this on our own. That is not very good news in my book. Instead, the good news is that no one is excluded from the invitation offered to participate in this new reality. It is not invitation that in contingent upon our perfection. Rather, we care called to share our passion, submitting, as best we know how, to the way of Jesus each day of our lives. Amen.
January 13th 2008
Baptism of the Lord / Installation of Elders
Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
“Everybody Needs a Bath”
Isaiah 42:1-9; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:3-17
I am a big fan of John the Baptist. Maybe it is his lack of concern for proper dress or it might be his daring diet. More likely though, what I admire most about John is his boldness. He knows that he is preparing the way for Jesus. As a result, John has a prophetic confidence that that all will be made right when Jesus comes on the scene. John is sure that those who deserve it are going to get what is coming to them in the form of a winnowing fork. However, Jesus entrance does not quite turn out like John, or the rest of us, expects or even hopes.
Instead of putting everyone in their proper place Jesus comes to be baptized by John. It is inconceivable to him that Jesus would submit to his baptism. After all, what sin would Jesus need to repent? How could he, the voice in the wilderness, be the one who would administer his baptism? Jesus is supposed to bring out the next generation of baptism. John’s baptism was windows XP and Jesus’ baptism was the well promoted baptism Vista. (Ok maybe that is not such a good example.) Instead of brining in the new generation and sweeping John out of the way with winnowing fork in hand, Jesus willingly submits to this baptism. What could it all mean?
In going out into the wilderness and submitting to the baptism, Jesus is doing more than showing simple humility. Jesus submission to baptism marks his refusal to participate in the ways of empire. The movement out of Jerusalem, crossing the Jordan and entering into the wilderness was an action that symbolized the liberation from the slavery of Egypt. Leaving the place of slavery, crossing the water and moving out into the wilderness was necessary for faithful living.
In the story of the Exodus, it took forty years to break the habits learned while living as part of the empire. Likewise, following his baptism, Jesus will spend forty days in the wilderness being tested on his commitment to turn from the ways of empire. While this may seem like an overstatement remember that each one of the wilderness temptations faced by Jesus are invitations to use his power in ways that mimic the practices of empire. (But that is a sermon for another time.) From the moment of his baptism, to his faithfulness in the wilderness, and even to the cross, Jesus is refusing to participate in the ways of empire.
As Christians we can look towards the words about the Servant of God, in the mornings reading from the psalms and know that what Jesus is acting as the faithful servant of God. We hear in that psalm that the servant of God will bring justice, but not through boasting, or making a show, or drawing attention. A servant of God will not further injure those who are already in pain or who are weak. Instead, a servant of God turns from the ways of domination and power politics and instead brings about healing and restoration by opening the eyes of the blind and letting prisoners go free. It is in these words that we are reminded that the justice of God looks nothing that the justice claimed by the empires of the world.
Each time we witness a baptism, and reaffirm the promises made in our own baptisms, we are reminded of our participation in the baptism of Jesus. It is a sacrament rich in meaning and symbolism. During the renunciations the question is asked if we will turn from the ways of sin and evil in the world. It is in this question, we see most clearly the call to repentance. The call to repent, or turn from the ways of sin and evil, is really a call to change. It is a call to turn from the places of Empire in our lives and in this world. It is a call to cross over the waters and spend time in the wilderness places so that we can begin to shed our love of empire life and practices.
The baptism we share in Jesus Christ is a symbol, a sign, that we are no longer willing participants in the practices of empire in our midst. The markers or signs of empire are legion. As such they are hard, no they are impossible, to shed on our own. But we can take the first step and begin to name the places of Empire practice that permeate our world and have a hold on our hearts. The ways of empire teach that men should dominate women, that white people should have power over all others, that gay and lesbian folk should be hated and used as society’s latest scapegoat, and ultimately that peace and security can only come at the end of a gun or as a result of an ever increasing bottom line. These are the beliefs that cling to us and to which we cling. But the promise of our baptism, the one we share in Jesus Christ, says these do not have ultimate dominion over us.
By contrast, the Son of God, the embodiment of God in human flesh, rejected the mantle of domination and submitted to the baptism of a lowly wilderness preacher. It is an action that reveals what we all try to hide. It reveals all of our well hidden beliefs which fool us into thinking that; our theology will save us, or that we are not really sinful people, or that such teachings are meant for others, or that the benefits that the empire provides do not come at someone else’s expense. All of this, and more, is packed into this simple action of being baptized. Who knew water could do so much! Well, water and the Holy Spirit.
As we celebrate the baptism of the Lord, and install new leaders to serve in the church, it is important to remember that we have been claimed by God. In baptism we are not called to become super-saints who will do all of this on our own. That is not very good news in my book. Instead, the good news is that no one is excluded from the invitation offered to participate in this new reality. It is not invitation that in contingent upon our perfection. Rather, we care called to share our passion, submitting, as best we know how, to the way of Jesus each day of our lives. Amen.
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