On Sunday, we read and reflected on the Baptism of Jesus. The reading and my sermon demanded that we answer the question: “Who is in charge here?” We came to the only right and faithful conclusion: Jesus. That is the greatest upset to our personal sensibilities and the most wonderful promise that will shape our entire lives. As in Jesus’ own baptism, God is in charge of your life! You are not choosing God; God is choosing you (John 15:16). God is the one who is making the decision to have you has his beloved son or daughter. Likewise, he is making the choice to be your Lord and God, now and for eternity. We know and confess this, but what does that mean for us. Here is and excerpt from Luther’s sermon on this text from 1540, where gets right down to it:
“[In his baptism, Christ] was entering into our stead, indeed, our person, that is, becoming a sinner for us, taking upon himself the sins which he had not committed, and wiping them out and drowning them in his holy baptism. And he did this in accord with the will of God, the Heavenly Father, who cast all our sins upon him that he might bear them and not only cleanse us from them through his baptism and make satisfaction for them on the cross, but also clothe us in his holiness and adorn us with his innocence. . . And when you are baptized in this faith you are putting on Christ, who washes away your sins in baptism and gives you the Holy Spirit.” (LW 51: 315, 317),
Baptized and Set Free with you,
Pastor Culynn
To prepare for worship on Sunday
(January 15), you are invited to read:
Matthew 4:1-17