Baptism of Jesus 2011, Immanuel Chapel,
Romans 6:3 -5, Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ have been baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Do you ever think about attending your own funeral? Sit on your coffin listening to what people say? Well, you have attended your own funeral. This is what was said. “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Everyone said, “Amen.” With those words and in the water you died. You were baptized into the death of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, we were crucified with Christ. We hung on the cross with him. When he hung naked for the world to see, our sinful self hung in full public view. When Jesus was taken down from the cross, the nails screeched as they were pried from the dry wood. Those nails tore back through our dead sinful flesh. When he was carried to a borrowed tomb, we were buried with him. Jesus pallbearers, were Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Our pallbearer was whoever baptized us into Christ death and burial
In the Good Friday, song we ask, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” The answer is, “Yes, I was there.” “Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?” “Yes, I was there.”
In baptism we died the death we inherited from Adam and Eve. So it really doesn’t matter what people say about us when our body is stretched out in a coffin. It simply means that our body, which has participated in sin during our lifetime, has finally succumbed to the wear and tear of such a life. What is important is what was said at our first funeral, “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Then the Spirit descended and rested upon us. And the heavenly Father announced, “This is my beloved Son. This is my beloved daughter, with whom I am pleased.”
Jesus died as a criminal. In baptism our old criminal-law- breaking -self was judged and destroyed. That made a new resurrection life possible. In the act of our baptism Jesus Christ engineered a hostile takeover of our life. It was a hostile takeover with positive results for us. He replaced the management team of sin, and the devil which bankrupted our lives and left us with nothing but ruination, destruction and death. Now, Jesus Christ is the owner and manager of our life.
Witness to our new owner and manager is provided throughout history. The seventeenth century preacher and poet John Donne, “Death be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not soe….One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally, And death shall be no more; death thou shalt die.” In the words of the hymn, “God’s own child, I gladly say it; ‘I am baptized into Christ.’” St. Paul asserts, “Death is swallowed up in victory…O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
Our Baptism is about more than our first funeral. “If we have been united with him in a death like his, we SHALL certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” Baptism is also about resurrection and a new life. However, being united with Christ in his resurrection lies in the future. We SHALL certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. St. Paul says of Christ’s resurrection He, “will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all.” Christ’s resurrection changes and determines our whole existence, now and in eternity. What controls, governs, manages and directs our life now is that we SHALL live. Since we don’t owe sin and death anything, like Christ, we are able to live our life for God and to his glory.
But St. Paul knows something about human nature. Our old self still is able stir up trouble. “If I am saved by God’s grace, shouldn’t I help God give more grace away by sinning more? If God has a super abundance of grace, well, let me give you a hand in taking it off your hands God. God, here’s a whole bushel basket of sins. Look God, here are times this week I put other people down. You’ve got grace enough to cover that, right? Here are some judgments I made against about people even though I didn’t know much about their situation. Your abundant grace can take care of my prejudices, can’t it? Oh look, here is my tendency to over eat, or to see others in the worst light, or to foul my lips with profanity or criticize parents who can’t seem to control their kids. God, this grace of yours is great. I don’t have to change any of my behavior, because you will forgive me all my misbehavior. Isn’t that what Jesus died to do, to forgive me? God, tomorrow I’ll be back with another bushel basket full. God, the hymn is right, it is amazing grace.”
“No, no, no,” replies St. Paul. “You’ve got it all wrong. You have died to sin; Christ is now in control of your life. So how can you keep on living in sin? You’ve been united with Christ in his death and shall be united with him in a resurrection, why would you now want to separate yourself from him? Rather ‘walk in newness of light.’”
Walking denotes action. It means getting up out of our lounge chair and taking action that benefits another person. As we read in Old Testament lesson, the servant of the Lord is one who does not break a bruised reed or put out a burning wick. Who do you know that is bruised by life and left weakened in spirit and body? Who do you that know could use a word of encouragement? It might be as simple of “letting your fingers do the walking,” as you punch in their telephone number or send them a text. Who do you know whose faith is a “faintly burning wick?” Contact them and give them a listen ear, rather than a piece of your mind. We have parents who have to work Sunday morning. Children need a ride to worship and Sunday school, so that they too hear and be grounded in the newness of life. It won’t happen unless we take action.
The last Saturday of this month we have a day in which we will gather to offer ideas for ministry here at Immanuel and in the community in which we are located. We have a vision of “Providing God’s House as a Home.” Walk in the door on January 29th and offer your thoughts and your time and effort. The next evening we have Room at the Inn. Walk in the newness of life and offer to stay overnight.
Pastor Fleming Rutledge writes, “The last word for us is not death, but life. Human life, in and of itself, is of infinite value because eternal life is what God intends for all his children. The honoring of life, therefore, is proper for all Christians at all times…” Therefore, “Yield yourself to God as men and women who have been brought from death to life.”
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