THE BAPTISM OF JESUS (CC)

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.