BAPTISM OF THE LORD

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, he embraced his vocation. By accepting John’s baptism of repentance, Jesus is identifying himself with John’s movement of national repentance for unfaithfulness to the Covenant. Besides that, in Jesus’ baptism we are brought into the very heart of two profound mysteries of our faith: firstly, the depth of Jesus’ identification with the human race, and secondly, a revelation of the triune God. Today’s Gospel helps us marvel at God’s plan for our salvation.

            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.