1 Matthew 3: 13-17 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? 15 But Jesus answered him, Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness. Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased. Come on In! The Water s Fine! 1 I don t remember the day I was actually baptized. Makes sense as I was probably between 7 and 8 months old at the time it took place. I do remember seeing pictures of that day, my parents lovingly holding me as they and the congregation took the vows to raise me in the faith and teach me all about Jesus Christ, the moment I was placed in the pastor s arms and he scooped the water onto my head and then processed down the aisle of our church so the rest of the 1 A Sermon for Baptism of Lord Sunday, January 8th, 2017
2 congregation could see and welcome me into their midst. I knew when I saw those photos that that day was an important occasion, something incredibly special that I wouldn't truly come to understand until I was older. Many of you know that I m a pop culture person. I not only have a profound interest in all things pop culture, but I also love thinking about faith in such contexts and how beliefs are portrayed. When I was a teenager, there were two movies that helped me begin to think about the ritual and practice of baptism. The first of these was the 1973 movie adaptation of the Broadway production, Godspell 2. Yes, the one where Jesus is portrayed as wearing brightly colored trousers, with red suspenders, clown shoes, a Superman t-shirt, and one of the most amazing afros that I ve ever seen in my life. Within the first song, we see citizens of New York City, where the movie is set, all gather in Central Park where John the Baptist awaits and baptizes them all in that most famous of water fountains. We don't know much about this random assortment of people other than that they ve all been trying to make a living in the big city, 2 Godspell: A Musical Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew, 1973. Directed by David Greene.
3 and that likewise of the many millions who live there, they are the ones who hear and respond to John s summons. All come to the water joyous, excited, knowing for them that this means new beginnings and a fresh start. As they all rejoice, John sees another man, Jesus, standing in the distance. It takes some time, but finally Jesus approaches John saying I want to get washed up! John s response is just as we hear from our Matthew 3 passage this morning, he is hesitant, almost astonished that Jesus would be coming to him at such a time. I need to be baptized by you, yet, you come to me? After some convincing, John baptizes Jesus officially signaling the beginning of Jesus ministry and in the movie, they and the newly baptized go into the city to minister in that place. From this movie, this particular scene, it is the joy that surrounds the practice of baptism that speaks so mightily to my heart. While my family, loved ones, and home congregation remember the joy on the day I was baptized, there was a part of teenage me when I first watched Godspell that wished that I could remember that joy for myself. The second movie that still has me thinking about baptism is certainly one of my all time favorites, The
4 3 Coen Brother s O Brother, Where Art thou?. Although the film itself is adapted from Homer s Odyssey and takes place in Depression Era Mississippi, this movie always reminds me of home and my Southern roots. I still have the memories of my entire family buying tickets to go see the concert that toured to promote the largely bluegrass soundtrack, and how among a number of us, we could sing and still can on occasion the 3 and 4 part harmonies of the gospel classics that graced the album. For those of you who might not know about the movie, it follows the stories of three men who have broken off of a chain gang and are in search of a treasure that s about to be lost at the bottom of a lake due to the state building a dam. These three fugitives have only a matter of days remaining, and as they sit in the woods, pondering their next move and cooking up a small meal, they are suddenly surrounding by an entire congregation of men and women, dressed all in white and singing Down to the River to pray. Intrigued and in an almost trance-like manner, our three characters are caught up and follow the procession down to the riverside. After some quick observation and just as the main character 3 O Brother, Where Art Thou?, 2000. Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen.
5 begins to quip that in such hard times, everyone is looking for something, especially from a higher power, Delmar, one of the remaining group sprints head first into the water, tripping, gasping, doing anything he can to get to the pastor. Without a single thought, the pastor takes Delmar in his arms, dunks him in the water, and the gasp that Delmar makes as he emerges from the water is truly the gasp of a person that has been given a second chance at life. As Delmar wades through the water making his way back to his compatriots, he spouts that all of his sins have been washed away. He s been forgiven of his crimes and trespasses from the past and is fully dedicating himself to a life on the straight and narrow. He shouts Neither God nor man s got nothing on me now! Come on in boys, the water is fine!. For Christians, the sacrament of baptism is amazingly, or perhaps not so amazingly, the one action that is considered a sacrament across denominations. Whether baptized as a child or as an adult, it is the sign that one has entered into the family of holy believers. Likewise, it is meant to show that believers will seek to live a life as holy and sinless as possible. Now, you and I both know that we don't always live up to those
6 expectations. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God regularly which is why in our tradition we also value the practice of communal and personal confession in our liturgy. Yet, when we celebrate the sacrament of baptism or engage in the practice of remembering our baptisms, we are reminded that through the refreshing waters God loves and claims each of us as God s own beloved child. Looking at our Gospel scripture this morning, we encounter a Christ, who willingly enters into those same baptismal waters as we remember this day, though as we are taught he was in all ways blameless and needed no cleansing of sin. Christ willingly chooses to be baptized by John, and though John is reluctant, Jesus persuades him by stating that it is only in this way that all righteousness will be fulfilled. And just as in O Brother, Where Art Thou, Delmar gasps that air that gives him new life as he comes up out of the water, as Jesus emerges from the waters of his baptism an amazing thing happens, with the heavens opening, a dove descending, and then what I can only imagine to be the most marvelous voice stating This is my son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased. Talk about an amazing and unforgettable baptism. No one could ever top that.
7 But guess what, even though our own baptismal celebrations may not have included the heavens opening, doves descending, and a voice speaking, it might as well have. Each time we baptize a new person, each time we approach these waters in remembrance of our baptisms is an extraordinary, joyous occasion. For when we approach these waters, not only do we remember that momentous day when Jesus himself was baptized and humbled himself in the cleansing waters, though he had no need, we also remember the healing, cleansing that these waters have brought to millions throughout the centuries. The promises of second chances, of try agains, of move forward and preach and teach the way Christ would want you to. Each time we approach these waters there is need for celebration, for renewal, and for a remembrance of God s grace which surpasses all of our understanding. So come. Come young, come old. Come sick, come healthy. Come rich, come poor. Come Republican, come Democrat. Come black, white, Native, or immigrant. Come baptized, come those who have not been baptized. Come one. Come all. Come to the healing, renewing, and cleansing waters this day, and know that regardless of
8 what people might say, that day Jesus entered those waters and God proclaimed This is my son, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased, you were also claimed as a most beloved and holy child of God. So come on in y all, the water is fine.