As a bit of a preamble to this week's sermon notes, I have sometimes amused myself by imagining what it would be like for Jesus to get baptized today in one of our typical Anglican parishes. In my mind's eye I see John the Baptist as the rector, who sees Jesus walking toward him in the distance. "Oh, look. It's him. I bet he's going to inquire about baptism. Should I make him take the classes, or just do it because his mother is in town? And I'm sure that after I baptize him I won't see him again for months, or years... hmmm... And how am I going to fill out the baptism registry? Oh hello Jesus. Yes, yes, I can do a baptism today, though I'm awfully busy with my repentance preaching. Just need to fill out a couple of forms for the registry and certificate..."
Eh? What's that? Moses and Elijah – representing the Law and the Prophets – bear witness to you?"
"Father name and mother's maiden name? (oh never mind)... God the Father, but conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary."
"Given names? Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel God with Us, Word of God, Light of the Nations, Messiah, Only Begotten Son, Lord of Lord and King of Kings, Man of Sorrows, Lamb of God."
Enough of that; sorry, I digress from my purpose.
I find that there are at least a few things about Jesus' baptism which strike me as, well, odd. Not odd in a bad sense, just odd in the sense that I can't quite fully figure out what they all about. The Baptism of the Lord is often seen as Jesus' entry in his public ministry. And yet it is not an active beginning, it is a passive beginning. Baptism is not something which Jesus does, but rather something which is done to him. At the very outset of his own ministry, Jesus is the recipient of someone else's ministry. Jesus allows something to be done to him. I wonder if this is part of the pattern of his ministry, and ultimately his passion.
Second is the great declaration from the heavens: You are my beloved, etc, etc. God's declaration occurs before Jesus has really done anything. It is a declaration about identity, not about activity. Too often we reserve such declarations until after some notable action has taken place, or after some activity has been accomplished. But the declaration of love comes before Jesus has done any healings, cast out any demons, preached any sermons, welcomed any strangers. He hasn't walked on water, suffered on the cross, fed any crowds. He has simply been Jesus. I think about the priority of identity over action. Who Jesus is precedes what Jesus does, at least temporally.
Third is the "torn apart heavens". It is a wonderful image. Like the veil of the temple being torn in two, or the beard of the Christ being torn by the soldiers. It seems nothing in the Christian life advances without there being something "torn apart". This is something I want to think on more. The gospels are really full of things being torn apart: bread is broken, families are divided, garments are rent. It seems to be a submerged theme - things torn apart, and it starts right here at his baptism.
Mark 1:4-11
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
Josephus, in the Antiquities of the Jews (XVIII Chapter 5), writes that John was a "good man", and had his run in with Herod. Here's a sample, which I include for interest sake:
[John] commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to baptism; for that the washing [with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away [or the remission] of some sins [only], but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness. Now when [many] others came in crowds about him, for they were very greatly moved [or pleased] by hearing his words, Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion, (for they seemed ready to do any thing he should advise,) thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties, by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late.
The long and the short is that we have the forerunner of Christ appearing, taking the garb and posture of a holy man or prophet, proclaiming repentance, and offering a baptism to signify that change of heart. John is "proclaiming", and proclamation will be a big part of the ministry of Jesus and his followers, as it continues to be a vocation of the church today. We are called to "proclaim". It is interesting that John's message seems to appeal to both urban and rural: we have folks from the countryside and folks from Jerusalem. His message seems to cut across many lines.
Now a question I have is this: does John only have the power to proclaim repentance, or does he also have power to proclaim forgiveness? As Mark writes: "proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins". Did the baptism of John accomplish this forgiveness? Well, answering from this side of the gospel events, no, sort of... John himself points people toward Jesus, and speaks of the difference between the baptism he offers and the baptism that will be offered by Jesus:
He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
John's preaching of repentance, without the assurance of forgiveness in Christ, would lead, I think, only to despair. To be made conscious of my faults, without the assurance of forgiveness and the healing of God's Spirit, would, in the end, simply cause me misery without relief. That is why a call to repentance must always lead into an assurance of forgiveness. When Jesus came to be baptized by John, Jesus transformed this baptism of repentance into something greater. He transformed it into a baptism of forgiveness, and then into a baptism of grace.
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
Good thoughts. Interesting angles. As always. Happy New Year, Joe.
Posted by: Gene | January 09, 2009 at 06:05 PM
Joe, thank you for a great read. Where were you back '93 when I was ducking and dodging the believer's baptism militants in anabaptist Bible school, huh???
:)
Posted by: Leslie | January 09, 2009 at 07:21 PM
In '93?... Hmmm, got to think for a moment. I think I was playing pool at Rowers Pub on Harbord Ave in Toronto, while pretending to be reading at the Centre for Near Eastern Studies, or Wycliffe College at the U of T. Sounds like I picked the better option :^)
Posted by: joseph | January 10, 2009 at 08:56 PM