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The Baptism of Our Lord
January 11, 2009
+ Jesu Juva +
St. Mark 1:4-11
Well, Baby and Twelve Year Old Jesus is all grown up. Now He’s thirty. What’s He going to do with the rest of His life? Don’t you think it’s about time to choose a career and make a difference in the world?
Yes, indeed. More than you could ever imagine.
Grown up Jesus comes to the Jordan River from Nazareth. He’s come to preacher John’s church service for sinners. John’s been blasting away at sinners in all his camel hair vestments and desert pulpit. “Brood of vipers,” “The ax is at the root of the tree,” “the coming wrath of God,” and “prepare the way of the Lord” kind of sermons.
Most of us wouldn’t give John the time of day. Blow off John’s in the wilderness congregation to go to Pastor Gabe’s hip and swanky mega church where everything is permissible and nothing is forgiven. A happy slappy come get your Starbucks, sit back, and enjoy the entertainment kind of Galilean congregation.
And lo and behold grown up Jesus shows up at John’s service! The one for sinners.
Has Jesus come to sit back and watch John at work? Evaluate John’s preaching? Observe how he baptizes? Makes sure he doesn’t hold people under the water too long? Teach him some people skills?
No! Shock of all shockers! Jesus has come to participate! To take part. To receive a baptism for sinners from John!
Are you kidding me? Jesus should baptize John. But no. Grown up Jesus comes to make a difference in the world in a way we’d never have imagined. His career was chosen for Him centuries ago as the Suffering Servant prophesied in Isaiah 53. “To justify many.” “To bear their iniquities.” Iniquities. That’s sins. The Sinless Jesus comes to take on all that is wrong with sinners here in a sinner’s baptism.
And so grown up Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan. Taking the world’s sin in His body in the river. Absorbing it all like a sponge. He’s going to take it to the cross. And there, as He suffers and dies, He is treated as a sinner!
Calvary! That’s what He’s going to do with the rest of His life. He’s going to give it into death. Purpose driven all the way to the cross. To be the sin bearer. As a ransom for many.
And what a difference. He’s the Savior. To save His people from their sins by taking them in His Body and answering for them all with His Good Friday death. The sacrifice of atonement that covers all sin with His Blood.
It’s what the Father always had in mind for His only begotten Son. This is where Jesus is supposed to be. At the Jordan to be baptized by John. And then the trek to Golgotha. So when Jesus comes out of the water all heaven breaks wide open. The Holy Spirit comes on Him like a dove. And the Father speaks: “You, Jesus, are my Son. I love you. I am well pleased with you.”
Again, all this in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy: “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight. I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations,” (Isaiah 42:1). God’s promise through Isaiah is now being done. As Jesus takes on sin in a sinner’s baptism.
Grown up Jesus joins us in our sin. Takes it in His Body. Bears it. He moves from the Jordan to Jerusalem. Making all the difference in the world for us. For in bearing our sin He is our Savior. Your sin is His. And it’s all answered for.
The Father is absolutely delighted in grown up Jesus doing just that. Giving His life into death for you and for your salvation.
Into Christ’s sin forgiving death you are baptized. Holy Spirit-ed too. And so God is most pleased with you. For you are now clothed with Christ and all His righteousness. That’s right, His righteousness. What’s His is yours. Christ and you together. And if that isn’t enough to give you joy, there’s more togetherness with Him. His Good Friday Body and Blood. Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins.
Grown up Jesus makes all the difference in the world for you.
Have a happy season of Epiphany. Ash Wednesday will be here before you know it.
In the Name of Jesus.
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