THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD JESUS
Imagine someone lingering on death
row, guilty of a heinous crime. The wheels are in motion to carry out the death
penalty, but suddenly an innocent man steps forward and offers to take their
place. Such a notion is shocking. The idea that an innocent man could identify
with and ultimately become a substitute for a guilty one offends our sense of
natural justice. The point is that the baptism of Jesus isn’t about natural
justice, but God’s justice. Jesus’ baptism was a defining moment; immersed in
the water of Jordan
The baptism that Jesus received was
one of repentance (Mark 1,4) which is why John tried to deter him - he
was clearly shocked at the suggestion that Jesus should be baptised. But Jesus’
logic was simple and honest. Since he had assumed humanity he had taken on our
sinful condition, without, though committing a personal sin. It’s like when you
jump in to rescue somebody from sinking in the mud you’ve got to be ready to
get muddied all over. He who had no sin had no need to repent. We can’t really understand
what it would be like to be sinless. To be free of pride, jealousy,
self-seeking and all the other pervasive drives inside us is something we
cannot know. In fact, there is a human tendency that means that once conscious
of any moral or spiritual strength we seek to elevate ourselves above our
fellow human beings. We’re only deluding ourselves. For example, over the years
I had read so many books on high spirituality and mysticism that I thought I
was a mystic. But I discovered in a hurry that I was not a mystic but a mistake!
God’s love
for us, however, is revealed by his desire to identify with us with all our
failures and mistakes; and concentration on our failures may distract us from
this tremendous truth that God is one with us in our very sinfulness. We heard
that beautiful expression of the Heavenly Father: “My favour rests on him.”
That expression comes from Isaiah 42.1 and refers to the suffering servant who,
though innocent, has to bear the sins of his people. We see Jesus as the
chosen, anointed one who, as a suffering Messiah, will free his people from
their sins.
Baptism gives us a share in the life
of Christ so that we can begin to restore the image of God that we have
tarnished to its original splendour. If we could begin to take on board the wonder
of God’s solidarity with us and his invitation to all in Christ we would see
ourselves and our neighbours in a different light. The great spiritual writer,
Thomas Merton, had such an experience. After spending many years in a strictly
enclosed Trappist monastery, he had to go to Louisville
To his amazement he was overwhelmed by the
goodness in saw in total strangers. He described them as walking around shining
like the sun, seeing the core of their reality, the person that each one is in
God’s eyes. If only they could all see themselves as they really are. If only
we could see other that way all the time. There would be no more war, hatred,
cruelty and greed. We would mysteriously hear God saying to each one: “you are
my child, my beloved; my favour rests on you.” I’m sure that many of you here
have heard that voice some time or other in your life.
As
we begin our walk with God in 2011 we need to guard our hearts against certain
attitudes that will keep us far from His heart. These include the mind of the
proud who wants to know it all; the opinion of the critic who wants to judge it
all; the attitude of the narcissist who wants to be it all; the desire of the
covetous who wants to have it all.
Instead,
walk with God in 2011 as a child. Never lose the simplicity of trust and the
world of wonder that a child lives in from day to day. Walk with your eyes on
your Father—happy in His presence, content in His care, awed by His greatness,
delighted by His surprises, secure in His love.
Let
your prayer be similar to one spoken by Vance Havner, “Lord, let me never get
used to living. Keep afresh in my heart a childlike wonder. Above all, let me
never get used to being a Christian. Let me walk with a constant sense of
surprise and expectancy. Why should there be a dull moment in the life of a
Christian when every hour is a fresh adventure in faith and love?”
The
following quote became the signature of the life of Gypsy Smith, the well known
evangelist who lived into his eighties, “I have never lost the wonder.” May you
never lose the simplicity of trusting His love and the wonder of watching Him
work in marvellous ways.
When John baptised by Jordan'e river,
In faith and hope the people came,When John baptised by Jordan'e river,
That John and Jordan might deliver
Their troubled souls from sin and shame.
They came to seek a new beginning,
The human spirit’s ageless quest:
Repentance and an end of sinning,
Renouncing every wrong confessed.
There as the Lord, baptized and praying,
Rose from the stream the sinless One,
A voice was heard from Heaven saying,
This is My own beloved Son.
There as the Father’s word was spoken,
Not in the power of wind and flame,
But of His love and peace the token,
Seen as a dove, the Spirit came.
O Son of Man, our nature sharing,
In whose obedience all are blest,
Savior, our sins and sorrows bearing,
Hear us and grant us this request:
Daily to grow, by grace defended,
Filled with the Spirit from above,
In Christ baptized, beloved, befriended,
Children of God in peace and love.
“
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