sermon - Baptism of our Lord "something in the water"

Sermon – Baptism of our Lord
Mark 1:4-11
January 8, 2012
“something in the water”

There must be something in the water. Have you heard this expression? What’s in the water? I think this a good question for today. What is in this water that we marked our neighbors foreheads with during the Thanksgiving for Baptism?

Let’s revisit the rite for Thanksgiving for Baptism: “We give you thanks, O God,
for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters.”
(Genesis 1) “In the beginning when the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep…the wind, the breath, the Spirit of God swept over the face of the waters.” In creation God was breathing over the waters.
(Psalm 29) “God’s voice is over the waters, God thunders over the mighty waters.”
Our passages today describe the breath and voice of God moving over the waters.

The rite for Thanksgiving for Baptism continues: “Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family.” These turbulent waters carrying the boat of Noah and his family, and after forty days taking them safely to shore. Then came the rainbow over the clouds with a promise to never flood again.

“Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom.”
After years of slavery in Egypt, God pushed back the waters of the sea so the people could pass, and be delivered to freedom.

“At the river your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit.”
(Today’s gospel from Mark 1) “people were coming from all over the Judean countryside to be baptized by John in the river Jordan.” John then baptized Jesus, and then as Jesus emerged from the water, the heavens were torn apart and the Spirit descended on him like a dove, and the voice from heaven said: You are my son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased
Jesus went on to wash away sins, to calm the waters, to walk on the water...

There’s something in the water.
It’s the water that God’s Spirit moved over in creation.
It’s the water that God moved so that the people could walk through and be delivered.
It’s the water in the river Jordan that Jesus was baptized.
And it is the water which washed over us in our baptism.

I remember being at the river Jordan - We were able to walk in the water...And it’s a very powerful experience, as I looked and saw baptisms being performed, to see them submerged in the water, to come up, the water dripping down their face -- there is a profound connection there.
That water Jesus was baptized in, it is this water that we are baptized in. And there’s something in this water.
What’s in the water? The Spirit of God

This is why mark our foreheads with water, so we can feel the water. So we can “wade in the water” as the song goes. “God’s gonna trouble the water.”
(John 5) As the people had various infermities entered the water, and they would wade in the water, and an angel of the Lord would come and trouble the waters, would stir up the waters, and they would get out of the water healed from whatever they were suffering from.
What’s in the water? Healing and salvation

Again, as we said in the Thanksgiving for Baptism:
“Shower us with your Spirit, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love.”
This is what is happening in baptism, God’s Spirit showers over us, it saturates us, it drenches us - Renewing our lives with forgiveness, grace and love
What’s in the water? Forgiveness, grace and love

We may be suffering from illness, heart break, maybe we’re just tired and worn out from the world. This world can have us pretty weary, pretty worn out.
It’s easy to forget our baptismal identity. That in our baptism God claims us as daughters and sons.
We hear the words: “You are God’s beloved child”
We especially need to hear that in a world where people often don’t know how to treat each other. There’s a lot of negativity, and name calling: just look at the elections, reality TV shows, or walk down the street. The other day a man was screaming and cursing at a man right outside the church on the steps, saying very hateful things.

There is a lot of negativity and name calling. So we need to wade in the water.
To be cleansed by the water from all the scars we have from this world.
We need to remember who we are and who’s we are.
What’s in the water? It’s our identity

We are God’s beloved children. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, beautiful and special in God’s sight. And God has made us with a purpose, and given us unique gifts so we can be a part of God’s work in the world.
As I reflected in my newsletter article: I’m not sure we are as in tune as we could be with what are gifts are. We sell ourselves short or underestimate what we are really capable of. Or perhaps we know we are gifted in a certain way, but we just sit on it and don’t use it.
So I invite you to think about what gifts God has given you and how you feel called to use them. Is there a gift that you have that you feel called to utilize in the church? Let me know, we’ll put you to work.

This church would not function if it wasn’t for each and every person sharing their unique gifts and utilizing their God given potential. And every person comes to the table with a unique gift to share, and the gifts compliment each other
Whether it be finance, music, cooking, translation, or unclogging a toilet, all of these diverse gifts work together to keep this ministry going.

So it is appropriate that on this day when we are reflecting on our baptism that we install people during the service today to use their gifts on the church council.
And it is appropriate that we celebrate Appreciation Sunday and recognize all the various ways that people are using their gifts. And even as we move into the fellowship hour and enjoy a potluck, keep appreciating one another for the ways they use their gifts.

So this community of faith coming together, sharing our gifts, loving one another, offering hospitality, encouraging and uplifting one another, setting a positive example… What is going on here? Well… there must be something in the water. Amen.