The Baptism of Our Lord -January 13, 2008

Preached at Providence Lutheran Church, Holland, Ohio

by Pastor Dennis R. King)

"The Baptism of Jesus!"

Isaiah 42:1-9/Matthew 3:13-17

The Peace of the Christ Child be a blessing to you in this New Year!

The prophet speaks of this servant of God that is to come. This servant truly is to be an example to the nations-living faithfully and righteously (that is rightly according to God's perspective). In the Gospel of Matthew this servant, Jesus is baptized. He is baptized not because of sin because He is without sin. But we see that He is baptized as He sets an example for the world-an example for all of us. Indeed, Jesus was this model person. He was so faithfully following the example that His father in Heaven would have Him set for all of us. How often does it happen that we have the opportunity to read about model people or to see a model person in action. We have one here in this one, Jesus, who has come to serve.

Sometimes people think they are models. A father said during an argument one day, "I'll have you know I am a model father."

"Yes, dear," his wife replied." And the dictionary defines a model as a small imitation of the real thing." Well, that is one definition, and I guess we can all look at ourselves and decide what kind of model are we? Are we small imitations of the real thing? Or are we the real thing?

Albert Schweitzer would have us live as examples following in the footsteps of Jesus. He said, "An example is not everything in life-it is the only thing." Albert Schweitzer believed the words of Jesus that we are here in this earth, "not to be served, but to serve" (Matt. 20:28). He felt there was no greater service than to set a good example for others. In fact, Jesus said about those who set bad examples and lead others astray that it would be better for them, "if a great millstone were fastened around their neck and they were drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matt. 18:6)

A man who was a school teacher became quite angry when a woman suggested that due to his position his example was more important than most. His response was "Do not lay that guilt trip on me!"

Well, I am not laying a "guilt trip" on anyone. Jesus said, "To everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded." (Luke 12:48) But why should we resent responsibility? I hope that we can see in this prophecy about Jesus and its fulfillment at His Baptism a glorious opportunity to do more with our lives than we ever thought possible. Talk about famous last words! St. Paul wrote shortly before he died: "Join with others in following my example!"(Phil. 3:17) Join me in imitating Christ! From God's viewpoint, being able to say these words is the ultimate success in all of life.

We might ask the question this morning about what kind of example each of us are? A good example is one worth following. A seminary professor told about a student who preached his first sermon in class standing in a strange position. The sermon was excellent but why was the student standing in such an awkward position? It turned out that after some talk the professor discovered that the pastor whom this young man had while he was growing up had been physically disabled. He had been in an automobile accident and every Sunday he stood in an awkward position because of his disability. Unbelievable as it may seem this young man followed this pastor's example even to the point of standing the way he stood. God says to us, "I have given you as a covenant, as a promise, as an example to the people, a light to the nations." He called the greatest example among us His Servant, Jesus, My Chosen, in whom My Soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him. He calls us to follow this one who is His great example. He would have us live in such a way that we follow only the pattern God Himself has given to us.

The prophet uses the word, "justice" to describe this pattern. No matter what we might think is right, fair, or good. There is only one guide to follow and that is the direct command from God Himself who calls for us to live justly.

Sometimes it seems so silly, what God asks us to do in the face of all the horror and tragedies that we see in the world. We go to church and sing and pray and take communion. Does all that really help? Look at what Jesus did as He began His ministry. He was baptized. He was baptized by John in the river Jordan. Jesus set an example for us. This baptism was a sign of repentance from sin, and Jesus had no sin. But He went right ahead and was baptized anyway that all righteousness might be fulfilled. His baptism was a good example for us and brought us together in Him.

Once a woman told her pastor that she did not really think it was necessary for her to go to church. As she put it, "she had a good personal relationship with God and that was enough." The truth is she wanted her children to go to church. She felt they needed it. And though she brought her children and dropped them off, they lacked the example that she needed to set for them. The pastor tried to convince her that she needed to set that example and be there. But she was convinced that her children were different from all the other children of the world. A study was done several years ago. It showed that when Mom and Dad attend church regularly, 72% of their children remain faithful. When just Dad attends regularly, 55% of his children remain faithful. If just a mother attends alone, 15% of her children remain faithful. If neither parent goes to church with their children, only 6% of their children will be faithful in Sunday School and Church. It is important for us to set a good example, an example of righteousness, and an example that will lead others in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. Jesus was baptized. Jesus gathered with the fellowship. He thought it was important. He who is Lord of all thought it was an important example to set for us. The statistics reaffirm Jesus' action.

Remember that the baptism of Jesus was the beginning of His work. It was the inspiration for greater things. It was the beginning of His life of suffering. It led to His death on Calvary. It opened the door of salvation to the world. It is important that we follow in His footsteps. Our task, as the prophet put it, like that of Jesus, is "to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, to free those who sit in darkness."

One loving action is worth so much. It is important that we set that example. Sometimes you will read in the newspaper about people who are convinced that there is no God. Or maybe even on a television interview you will hear somebody say, "I do not believe there is a God." Lots of times people have not experienced the example of Christian people around them in a very positive way. They have failed to see in them the very presence of God in their lives. How important our example is! Herbert Parker wrote a poem for parents that can apply to all of us. It goes like this:

To get his goodnight kiss he stood beside my chair one night.

And raised an eager face to me, a face with love alight.

And as I gathered in my arms the son God gave to me,

I thanked the lad for being good, and hoped he'd always be.

His little arms crept 'round my neck, and then I heard him say --

Four simple words I shan't forget --four words that made me pray.

They turned a mirror on my soul, on secrets no one knew.

They startled me; I hear then yet. He said, "I'll be like you."

This one whom Paul calls us to join in imitating, Jesus does not need to be baptized. Jesus is without sin and yet we see He is baptized as an example for us, an example of righteousness and good works, an example that will lead us so that we might be examples to others. In so doing our world might be a different place in which to live. Then our world might be just like Him. Amen!