THE BAPTISM OF JESUS (CC)
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LET US RISE FOR THE READING OF
THIS MORNING'S SERMON TEXT
RECORDED FOR US IN LUKE'S
GOSPEL WHERE WE READ FROM
CHAPTER 3 FOR SELECTED VERSES.
[LUKE 3:15-17, 21-22]
THE PEOPLE WERE WAITING
EXPECTANTLY AND WERE
ALL WONDERING IN THEIR HEARTS
IF JOHN MIGHT POSSIBLY
BE THE MESSIAH. JOHN ANSWERED
THEM ALL,
"I BAPTIZE YOU WITH WATER.
BUT ONE WHO IS MORE POWERFUL
THAN I WILL COME,
THE STRAPS OF WHOSE SANDALS I
AM NOT WORTHY TO UNTIE.
HE WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE
HOLY SPIRIT
AND FIRE. HIS WINNOWING FORK
IS IN HIS HAND
TO CLEAR HIS THRESHING FLOOR
AND TO GATHER
THE WHEAT INTO HIS BARN,
BUT HE WILL
BURN UP THE CHAFF WITH
UNQUENCHABLE FIRE."
WHEN ALL THE PEOPLE WERE
BEING BAPTIZED, JESUS WAS
BAPTIZED TOO. AND AS HE WAS
PRAYING, HEAVEN
WAS OPENED AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
DESCENDED ON HIM
IN BODILY FORM LIKE A DOVE.
AND A VOICE
CAME FROM HEAVEN:
YOU ARE MY SON,
WHOM I LOVE;
WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED."
THIS IS THE WORD OF OUR LORD.
LET US PRAY:
GLORIOUS AND GRACIOUS GOD,
MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND
THE MEDITATION OR EACH OF OUR
HEARTS BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR
SIGHT, OUR ONLY SOURCE
OF HOPE AND COMFORT. AMEN.
[TEXT TAKEN FROM
THE HOLY BIBLE,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
1973, 1978, 1984, 2011
BY BIBLICA, INC.]
DEAR FOLLOWERS OF OUR LORD
AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST,
IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY
TO FIND THE PERSON THAT
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
OH YEAH, I GUARANTEE
NOW WE HAVE CELL PHONES
AND YOU CAN TEXT EACH OTHER,
WHERE YOU ARE AT, I HERE, YOU
THERE, AND WE CAN HOOK UP
RATHER EASILY AND QUICKLY.
NOT LONG AGO,
AFTER 9-11, JO AND I
WERE TO GO TO THE AIRPORT TO
PICK UP SOMEONE WHO WAS
FLYING IN, TO DO A
PRESENTATION FOR LWMS.
LA SHAWN!
WE WENT TO THE AIRPORT TO
PICK UP LA SHAWN.
FEW DAYS AFTER 9-11,
WHEN YOU COULDN'T GET NEAR
THE AIRPORT.
REMEMBER WHEN THEY BROUGHT
EVERYONE OUT OF THE COMPLEX
OVER TO THE PARKING LOT, AND
PEOPLE STOOD IN THE PARKING
LOT WAITING TO FIND THIS
PERSON GETTING
OFF A BUS.
NOT JUST THE PEOPLE
WHO CAME FROM ONE TERMINAL;
BUT THEY FILLED BUSES
AS MANY AS THEY COULD PACK
THEM IN AND UNLOADED THEM.
I THINK EVERYONE DECIDED AND
TOLD
THE PERSON THAT THEY WERE
LOOKING FOR: WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A BALLOON WITH US. BECAUSE
THERE WERE THOUSANDS
OF BALLOONS FLOATING OVER
PEOPLES' HEADS
IN THE PARKING LOT.
SO WE WERE THERE, THINKING
PLENTY OF TIME, WAITING FOR
LA SHAWN TO GET OFF THE BUS.
WE HAD NEVER MET HER.
SHE HAD NEVER MET US.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE A PHONE. SHE
HAD A VERY SPORATIC EMAIL
CORRESPONDENCE WITH US.
AND SOMEHOW, IN MY HEAD,
BECAUSE SHE WAS COMING FROM
THE RESERVATION, I HAD
THE THOUGHT THAT LA SHAWN WAS
OF A DARKER COLOR THAN ME.
WE MUST HAVE
WALKED PAST THAT POOR GIRL
WHO WAS PETRIFIED,
LET ALONE TO BE IN L. A., TO
BE FLYING AFTER 9-11,
WHO GOT DUMPED OUT IN A
PARKING LOT.
SHE WASN'T SAYING A WORD.
THE THING THAT
FINALLY TIPPED US OFF WAS
THAT SHE WAS ALMOST IN TEARS.
AND JO WENT UP TO HER AND
SAID:
ARE YOU LA SHAWN?
AND SHE SAID: ARE YOU JO?
JO WENT: YES! AND SHE JUST
THREW HER ARMS AROUND HER,
JUST LIKE: YOU'RE THE BEST
PEOPLE TO SEE AT THIS
MOMENT IN LIFE. I AM SO
HAPPY TO GET OUT
OF THIS PARKING LOT.
YOU KNOW
IT'S AN INTERESTING STORY,
BUT I THINK IT HELPS US BEGIN
TO UNDERSTAND THE FIRST FEW
WORDS OF WHAT LUKE WRITES
WHEN HE SAYS: THE PEOPLE
WERE WAITING EXPECTANTLY.
FOR THE MESSIAH.
FOR THE MESSIAH TO BE
REVEALED.
IT HAD BEEN APPROXIMATELY
30 YEARS
SINCE THE ANGEL HAD COME TO
ZACHARIAS AND ELIZABETH AND
SAID: YOUR CHILD IS GOING TO
GO BEFORE THE MESSIAH
TO PREPARE THE WAY.
ALL OF THOSE MIRACLES THAT
WERE INVOLVED
IN THAT VERSE, AND
ZACHARIAS' SILENCE.
PEOPLE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON.
AND THEY WERE HOPEFUL.
AND THEY WERE EXPECTING TO
SEE THE MESSIAH.
THEY EVEN CAME UP TO JOHN
WHO HAD BEEN NOW PROCLAIMING,
PREACHING, PREPARING HIS
SEASON OF REPENTANCE.
AND BAPTIZING PEOPLE
SO THAT THEY WOULD BE READY
WHEN THE MESSIAH CAME.
THEY CAME TO HIM AND SAID:
ARE YOU THE ONE?
ARE YOU THE MESSIAH?
THIS MAN WHO WAS OUT
PROCLAIMING
A NEW MESSAGE. A MESSAGE
THAT THEY WEREN'T USED TO
HEARING. THE MESSAGE THAT GOD
WAS GOING TO KEEP HIS
COVENANT
AND SAVE HIS PEOPLE.
AND JOHN VERY CLEARLY SPOKE
TO THEM. I AM NOT
THE ONE! I'M NOT EVEN WORTHY
TO
UNTIE THE SANDALS OF THE ONE
THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
BUT HE KEPT PREACHING ABOUT
IT ...
KEPT POINTING THEM TO THE
MESSIAH.
ON THAT DAY WHEN JESUS CAME
TO BE BAPTIZED
IT WAS REVEALED
THAT JESUS CHRIST WAS
THE MESSIAH, THE SAVIOR OF
THE WORLD.
BECAUSE THE FATHER
ACKNOWLEDGED HIM AS SUCH.
AND HE WAS THERE TO
ACCOMPLISH
SALVATION.
BAPTISM! SUCH A SIMPLE ACT!
APPLYING WATER IN THE WORD
OF GOD.
BUT YET ...
SUCH AN IMPORTANT ACT. SUCH
AN IMPORTANT ACT
BECAUSE WHEN CHRIST WAS
BAPTIZED,
AFTER THAT AND HE WAS
PRAYING,
THE HEAVENS OPENED AND THE
HOLY SPIRIT
IN BODILY FORM OF A DOVE,
CAME DOWN AND RESTED ON HIM.
AND THE FATHER SAID:
YOU ARE MY SON WHOM I LOVE.
WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED.
AND WITH THAT, THE FATHER PUT
HIS STAMP OF APPROVAL ON
THE WORK
THAT JESUS CHRIST WAS GOING
TO DO.
HE WAS HIS SON: THE TRUE
SON OF GOD
SENT BY THE FATHER
TO ACCOMPLISH
WHAT NO ONE ELSE COULD DO!
HE PLEASED GOD.
WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED.
HE WAS THE PURE
HOLY SON OF THE FATHER.
SINLESS ...
SENT INTO THE WORLD TO BE
THE SACRIFICE
FOR SINNERS ... US!
WHO COULD NOT PLEASE GOD.
WHO CANNOT PLEASE GOD.
EVEN WHEN WE TRY OUR
HARDEST,
EVEN WHEN WE THINK: YES!
NOW I AM GOING TO
SET SOME GOALS. I AM
GOING TO DO THE THINGS
THAT GOD ASKS OF ME. I'M
GOING TO STOP THAT SIN
THAT'S A PART OF MY LIFE THAT
I'M SO COMFORTABLE WITH.
AND WE REALIZE SO SHORTLY
AFTER THAT,
WE'RE NOT KEEPING THOSE WORDS.
WE MAY HAVE MEANT THEM ...
EARNESTLY AND HEARTFELT.
OUR SPIRIT IS WILLING,
BUT OUR FLESH IS WEAK.
WE ARE SINNERS.
SINNERS WHO CAN'T PLEASE GOD
AND IF WE REALLY ADMIT IT TO
OURSELVES
THERE ARE TIMES WE DON'T
EVEN WANT TO. THERE ARE TIMES
THAT WE WOULD RATHER JUST
PLEASE OURSELF.
WHAT'S THE SAYING NOW?
YOU KNOW,
DO WHAT YOU WANT. DON'T
ASK PERMISSION.
DO WHAT YOU WANT
AND TAKE THE CONSEQUENCES
LATER.
AND WE'RE KIND OF THAT WAY
WITH GOD SOMETIMES THAT
WE JUST SAY: I'M GONNA DO
WHAT I WANT, I DON'T CARE.
AND I'LL JUST SUFFER WHAT HE
WANTS TO THROW AT ME.
HOW FOOLISH SATAN
MAKES OUR MINDS THINK.
[DO] WE REALLY WANT TO CALL
THAT ON
OURSELF?
THE WRATH OF GOD
FOR OUR SINFUL BEHAVIOR?
A CONDEMNATION
TO HELL?
AND YET, THEN
WHEN GOD EVEN SENDS US A
LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE
AS A CHASTISEMENT,
WE'RE THE FIRST ONES
TO COMPLAIN. WE'RE THE FIRST
ONES NOT TO BE HAPPY
WITH WHAT GOD HAS DONE.
WE CAN'T PLEASE GOD
BY OUR SINFUL BEHAVIOR.
BUT THANK GOD JESUS DID.
THAT HE IS THE ONE
WHO TOOK OUR SINS UPON
HIMSELF.
EVEN THOUGH HE DIDN'T
DESERVE THAT PUNISHMENT
OF OUR SINS. EVEN THOUGH HE
HAD DONE NOTHING WRONG
HE STEPPED INTO OUR PLACE
AND WAS SACRIFICED
FOR OUR SINS.
AND GOD THE FATHER ACCEPTED
THAT SACRIFICE ...
ACCEPTED THAT IN OUR PLACE.
AND WE SEE THAT IN JESUS
CHRIST.
WE SEE THAT
BY FAITH THAT HE IS THE ONE
WHO HAS FORGIVEN OUR SINS.
CAME HERE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT
GOAL.
TO TAKE THE WINNOWING FORK
INTO HIS HANDS. MEANING THAT
HE WAS GATHERING THE HARVEST.
SEPARATING THE GOOD FROM THE
BAD ...
THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF.
AND THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS.
EITHER WE'RE WHEAT ...
OR WE'RE CHAFF.
WHEAT GETS TAKEN INTO THE
BARN
AND IS USED TO THE GLORY OF
THE OWNER.
CHAFF IS DESTROYED.
BURNED UP. BLOWN AWAY.
BECAUSE IT MEANS NOTHING.
JESUS WAS ACCOMPLISHING OUR
SALVATION
SO THAT WE
COULD BELONG TO GOD.
THAT THROUGH FAITH WE WOULD
TRUST IN WHAT
HE HAD ACCOMPLISHED.
THAT HE TOOK
OUR SINS, ALL OF THOSE SINS,
AND
TOTALLY REMOVED THEM FROM US.
WHAT WE
COULDN'T DO, HE DID.
AND ON THIS DAY WHEN WE
REMEMBER HIS BAPTISM,
WE REMIND OURSELVES OF OUR
OWN BAPTISM.
THAT SIMPLE ACT
WHEN WATER WAS APPLIED
WITH THE WORD
THAT DID AN AMAZING THING.
BY THE POWER OF GOD, IT
CREATED
FAITH.
FAITH THAT SAVED US.
FAITH THAT NOW ALLOWS JESUS,
GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, TO
SAY TO EACH OF US:
YOU ARE MY CHILD.
WHOM I LOVE.
WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED.
BECAUSE I SEE NOW
YOU WRAPPED IN
CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS.
I SEE YOU
NOW STANDING IN MY SON'S
HOLINESS.
YOUR BROTHER'S HOLINESS THAT
HE ACCOMPLISHED FOR YOU AND
I LOVE YOU.
WHAT GREAT NEWS THAT IS
FOR US.
WHAT JOY THAT BRINGS TO OUR
HEARTS.
TO BE REMINDED EACH AND EVERY
DAY THAT WE ARE
CHILDREN OF GOD!
DEARLY LOVED BY HIM!
BUT WE SHOULD OPEN OUR EYES
TO SEE
HIS WORK IN OUR LIFE.
TO SEE
THAT LOVE THAT IS THERE
FOR US EACH AND EVERY DAY;
THOSE BLESSINGS THAT COME TO
US BY FAITH.
THE CONFIDENCE OF KNOWING
THAT
WE WILL BE GATHERED TO OUR
HEAVENLY MANSION BECAUSE OF
WHAT GOD HAS DONE.
WE ARE PRECIOUS TO HIM.
WE ARE PRICELESS TO HIM.
HE HAS PURCHASED US
WITH HIS BLOOD: THE BLOOD OF
HIS SON ...
TO MAKE US HIS OWN.
TO BE MEMBERS OF HIS BODY,
THE CHURCH.
TO LIVE IN THAT FORGIVENESS.
TO EACH AND EVERY DAY, MAKE
THAT SAME PROFESSION
WE MADE THIS MORNING.
DO YOU REJECT
AND RENOUNCE THE DEVIL AND
ALL OF HIS WICKEDNESS.
YES, I DO, WITH THE HELP OF
GOD.
TO LIVE IN OUR GRACE
GIVEN US IN OUR BAPTISM
KNOWING THAT THE VICTORY IS
OURS, THAT SATAN HAS BEEN
DESTROYED. THAT OUT OF LOVE
AND FAITH, YES,
WE WANT TO LIVE AS
CHILDREN OF GOD.
TO LIVE A LIFE THAT IS
PLEASING TO GOD.
BECAUSE HE HAS BROUGHT US TO
BE HIS OWN.
AND WE KNOW IT'S NOT EASY.
BUT WE PLACE OURSELVES IN
GOD'S HANDS
KNOWING THAT HE WILL GUIDE
US.
KNOWING THAT HE HAS GIVEN US
HIS HOLY SPIRIT.
SHARED IT WITH US.
IN OUR BAPTISM.
HIS HOLY SPIRIT EVERY DAY
WHO WORKS WITH US
AND WITHIN US
AND OUR OWN WEAKNESSES.
TO KEEP US IN THE FAITH.
TO KEEP US
FOLLOWING CHRIST.
TO KEEP US DOING
THE THINGS THAT GOD HAS ASKED.
TO NOT JUST GIVE UP
IN OUR LIFE. TO NOT JUST
BE CONTENT
TO HAVE FAITH
BUT TO HAVE FAITH THAT IS
LIVING.
FAITH THAT IS ACTIVE.
FAITH THAT HAS
A PURPOSE.
BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY
PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD
WHO ARE STILL LOOKING
FOR SOMETHING.
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING
TO HELP THEM
WITH THEIR TROUBLES. LOOKING
FOR SOMETHING TO HELP
THEM WITH THEIR LONELINESS,
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO HELP
THEM COME TO PEACE. IN A
WORLD THAT DOESN'T
MAKE SENSE IN A LOT OF TIMES.
IN A WORLD THAT IS TRULY
DIFFICULT AND HARD AND UGLY.
AND YET WE HAVE THE
PEACE OF GOD IN US.
AND WITH US.
AND WHEN WE LIVE IN OUR FAITH
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
SEE THAT WE'RE DIFFERENT.
AND THEY WON'T ASK US WHY.
THEY'RE GONNA ASK US HOW DO
WE DO IT.
HOW DO WE GO THROUGH EACH DAY?
AND THE DOOR IS OPEN FOR US.
TO WALK THROUGH WITH GOD AND
CHRIST
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT AND SPEAK
TO THEM.
AND TELL THEM THAT WE'RE
LOVED.
TELL THEM WHAT WE HAVE BEEN
GIVEN BY GOD.
THAT THIS WORLD IS NOT
THE END.
THAT THERE'S ETERNAL LIFE
THAT WAITS FOR ALL PEOPLE.
NOW IS THE TIME
TO SEE CHRIST. NOW IS THE TIME
TO SEE THE MESSIAH ... WHO
LOVES YOU
AND SAVED YOU FROM YOUR SINS.
AND THAT'S WHAT
WE PROFESS EACH AND EVERY
DAY.
THAT'S THE FABRIC OF OUR
LIFE. IT'S WHAT WE DO.
IT'S THE WHOLE PURPOSE
OF WHY GOD SENT HIS SON.
TO MAKE US HIS OWN.
TO LIVE
WITH HIM WITH INNOCENCE AND
BLESSEDNESS
FOR ALL ETERNITY.
AND ALSO
TO CARRY THAT MESSAGE TO THE
ENDS OF THE EARTH.
BECAUSE CHRIST DIDN'T COME TO
SAVE JUST
A FEW PEOPLE.
HE CAME TO SAVE EVERYONE.
BECAUSE A FEW PEOPLE, AS
ISAIAH REMINDS US,
WOULD BE TOO SMALL OF A
THING FOR GOD.
BECAUSE GOD DOES LARGE THINGS.
GOD DOES GREAT AND AMAZING
THINGS.
HE SENT HIS SON
TO SAVE ALL PEOPLE.
THAT MESSAGE HAS COME TO US;
LET US LIVE IN THAT MESSAGE.
LET US SHARE THAT MESSAGE AND
SHOW THAT MESSAGE BY THE
THINGS THAT WE DO.
WE HAVE SEEN THE CHRIST.
WE HAVE COME TO WORSHIP HIM.
LET US GO AND LIVE
IN HIS LOVE.
AMEN.
LET US RISE.
NOW MAY THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH
GOES BEYOND ALL OF OUR
UNDERSTANDING KEEP YOUR HEARTS
AND YOUR MINDS AND ESPECIALLY
YOUR LIVES IN THE ONE TRUE
FAITH UNTO LIFE EVERLASTING.
AMEN.