Loving God, you make us members of your family and call us to work for justice and peace in all the earth.  Teach us to listen to your Holy Spirit, and strengthen us in your love, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

            One of the things that happens with the Narrative Lectionary is that we hear the story in chronological order.  Thus, today, we hear the preaching of John the Baptist, as well as the baptism of Jesus – which both occur once Jesus is an adult.  Last week, as you might recall, Jesus was still an infant, and then a twelve-year-old.  Given that a number of years have now passed since the end of chapter 2, Luke is careful to place these events in their historical context, just as he did with the birth of Jesus.  This is the reason that we get a list of who is in charge at the beginning of today’s gospel.

         Another thing that happens in the gospel of Luke is that we hear much more of John’s preaching than in the other gospels.  Luke doesn’t tell us anything about how John is dressed or what he eats, but focuses on what he has to say.  John’s message has to do with repentance, and the forgiveness of sins, and we discover that people from many different walks of life came out to listen to him.

         Some of them are obviously in need of hellfire and brimstone – the ones who are called a brood of vipers, right to their faces!  These are the ones who are more than likely among the religious elite, and who feel that they do not need to repent and be cleansed from sin.  However, there are obviously others in the crowd who sincerely want to know what God requires of them.  When John talks about bearing fruits that are worthy of repentance, they ask him, one after another, “what should we do?”

         John’s answers, it seems, are quite political in nature.  Those who have more than they need should share with those who do not have enough.  Those who collect taxes for the government should not be greedy and should refrain from collecting more than they should.  Violence and lies should not be used in order to preserve the system or in order to extort money.  John advocates for “justice and the well-ordering of society” (workingpreacher.org), and it is no wonder he ends up getting imprisoned and beheaded by a corrupt and immoral ruler.  (And isn’t it interesting how many still need to hear John’s message today?)

         These bits of practical advice that John gives are part of the social implications of baptism – living in God’s way.  In fact, the same things are part of our own baptism into Christ.  In baptism, we renounce the ways of sin and all the forces of evil in this world that defy God.  In baptism, we commit ourselves to caring for others and for creation, and to working for justice and peace.  In baptism, we commit ourselves to learning how to trust God and how to love one another as Jesus has first loved us.

         Of course, if we were too young to commit to these things when we were baptized, our parents and sponsors made those commitments for us – and then we made those commitments for ourselves at confirmation.  However, at least in a Lutheran understanding of baptism, the sacrament is not primarily about what we are doing and the commitments weare making.  Rather, baptism is primarily about what God is doing – which is why many are baptized before they are able to answer for themselves.

         When we think about Jesus’ baptism, the emphasis also seems to be on what God is doing.  As far as we know, Jesus is not surrounded by family and friends.  In fact, he is far from home at the time.  The focus is also not on who is doing the baptizing, as Luke leaves it a little ambiguous as to whether John was even there or not.  Instead, we hear about Jesus praying after he had been baptized, and while he is praying, the Holy Spirit descends like a dove and a voice from heaven reveals that he is God’s Beloved Son.

         When Jesus is baptized, it is not about repentance and forgiveness, which he did not need as the only one who has ever been sinless.  Certainly, it is about revealing who Jesus is – not only God’s Beloved Son, but also God’s servant and God’s Messiah and king.  At the same time, the presence of the Trinity is revealed, as we see Father, Son and Holy Spirit all in the same frame – each one distinct and yet in perfect unity.  However, another thing that Jesus reveals by being baptized is his affirmation and support of John’s message.

         Jesus will also advocate sharing with those who are in need, upholding justice and peace, and doing away with greed and violence and corruption.  This makes it all the more amazing that anyone would think that Jesus would lend his support to a violent mob.

         As for us, however, we are pointed today to the implications of our own baptism, which also plays a role in revealing who we are as precious children of God.  We, too, have been given the Holy Spirit, and are thus empowered to share the love of Christ, just as it was first shared with us.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Baptism of Our Lord (NL 3)                        Luke 3:1-22

January 10, 2021

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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