This Sunday the church calendar recalls the Baptism of Jesus, by John, in the Jordan River. In the waters of baptism, Jesus is filled with the Spirit and affirmed by the Father. Baptism links Jesus to his heritage, his genealogy, his roots. His baptism marks the beginning of his earthly public ministry, framed by grief, disappointment, and temptation. 

Today’s story sets the stage for the rest of Jesus’ ministry, teaching, death, and resurrection. The story brought hope to an early church community racked by grief, loss, and uncertainty. And I believe today’s word can help us see more clearly who Jesus is, who we are, and who we were created to be. We will start with a reading from the gospel of Luke, chapter 3, beginning at verse 15. Let me make a few comments about this passage, why it might have been important to Luke’s first readers, and finally, why it matters to us today. I’ll share a very personal and pivotal story about Brenda and me early on in our ministry, and then I will leave you with at least one very important job to do.

Luke 3:15-22 (23-38)

We start with Luke 3:15-22. John the Baptist is at the Jordan River, “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” He had made a name for himself, and the people recognized that something very powerful was going on. Luke 3:15 says that:

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 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. 17 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.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

And then we are given a piece of the story that changes everything. John’s ministry is to be short lived, Luke tells us:

19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

Only after Luke tells us what is going to happen to John the Baptist does he then tell us about the Baptism of Jesus. Do you supposed that Herod had already dispatched his troops to the wilderness to arrest John? Was Jesus part of the last group to be baptized by John that day—maybe ever? Did John see the men coming to arrest him? Was Jesus aware that he would never see his cousin again?

21When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 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.”