08 Jan SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2023
In short, the book of Acts, chapter 10, verses 38-43 tells Christians all they need to know. To start with, the verses explain why Baptism is considered one of only two sacraments recognized by the church. By definition, a sacrament is something ordained or instituted by Christ. Sacraments function as divine means of grace.
The phrase “means of grace” might be familiar or not. Because the concept is central to Lutheran theology, please allow me to explain further. A means of grace is much like any other means to an end. It’s a necessary step that always involves action that delivers results. Think of the means involved with raising animals, growing plants, getting an education, or performing any job well.
In the same way, every action performed during church has intended results. Think about it, at the start of every service, you are encouraged to make the sign of the cross in remembrance of your Baptism. Going through the motion does something. It performs a function in sync with Scripture and joins us together through our identity in Christ.
Following that sign, we join our voices together and recite words of communal confession before God and each other. Our action is accompanied by God and joins the action of every person created in God’s likeness. The sound of a hymn prelude played by Greta is enhanced by the visual image of an acolyte who bows before lighting candles on the altar. Such actions are not performed without meaning.
They serve a higher purpose: to soften and prepare our hearts and minds to receive God’s grace: the unconditional, unearned gift of forgiveness and acceptance. In the same moment, we become empowered by God’s Holy Spirit to feel better, be better and do better so that forgiveness and acceptance rise to the top of our consciousness. Forgiveness and acceptance are temporarily more prevalent than the reality of sin and all the pain it causes.
A means of grace is also an outward sign or symbol of spiritual reality. Baptism and Holy Eucharist pair spiritual reality with physical elements. They combine God’s word with our words. They combine action on our part with God’s purpose: reenacting rituals in which God proves to be both initiator and participant.
When it comes to Baptism and Holy Eucharist, God could easily fulfill all the roles, but doesn’t. God welcomes our involvement while claiming the title of playwright, creative director, and owner of all intellectual property.
God invites people to become actors, to hold props and say lines in an effort to engage us in a process and build our confidence. Through a combination of words and water or bread and wine we join Jesus of Nazareth in the flesh. We are there with him on the day of his Baptism and at the Last Supper. Because we are with him, we too, receive God’s divine grace as a gift. We too, are given the Holy Spirit and we too, are empowered to fulfill God’s will, confident God is with us.
It’s no wonder, the baptism of Jesus became a festival day. Much good came from that moment when God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power, then remained with him. Think of it this way, before then, Jesus was like an unlit Yankee Candle.
All the contents and all his potential were self-contained and fully present. The essence of who he was could be easily detected and appreciated by anyone close at hand. When I think of Jesus as a fragrant unlit candle, I imagine his mother Mary noticing a warm pleasant scent as she threw back his sheets to wake him each morning. I wonder if even as she washed his dirty laundry, she breathed deeply and thought, “Ahh, my wonderful sweet godly child.”
You think I’m kidding, but I’ll bet it was true. Any warmth could release what was pleasant about him, but truly, Jesus couldn’t reach his potential until baptized or lit, you might say, by God’s Holy Spirit. Then he could begin to accomplish what he was created for and do all he could, which was as Luke describes in the Book of Acts: going about doing good.
Doing good meant healing all who were oppressed by the devil. Jesus freed everyone whose life was being destroyed by evil forces. Think about it. What evil forces destroy people’s lives in our time?
Let’s start with things most families experience to one degree or another: living with addiction to things that release a flow of chemicals within our bodies: food, drugs, alcohol, gambling or something else, dealing with obsession to achieve, work or be entertained, suffering from worry over insecurity regarding health, wealth, or longevity.
Jesus was created to heal every person whose lives were (or are still) being ruined or destroyed by evil forces of the devil. Jesus burns with desire to overcome damage already done, damage being done or damage that might be done in the future.
Think about the role that we, as disciples, are asked to play in the healing process, this going about doing good. Think about what Jesus told John, “It is proper for us to fulfill righteousness in the way God chooses for us to serve.”
Often we’re like John before he hears and follows what Jesus had to say. We protest and repeat our own idea of who should do what when and who should approach whom. We fuss over who should be the principal actor and who should receive. We get caught up by human agenda and forget our purpose: to serve God, fulfill righteousness, heal lives destroyed by evil forces, and go about doing good.
Conjure up a visual image you’ve probably seen of Baptism in the river Jordan. One person, the baptizer, stands upright. The other falls backward beneath the water and requires help in order to be raised up. Right?
What we fail to see is that Baptism the old fashioned way required both actors to immerse themselves. In order for each to fulfill their role, doing good meant getting involved and doing your part. Only when all parties commit to getting wet will every person ultimately be healed from oppression, the work of the devil and all evil forces.
The ministry of Jesus comes about through the ministry of John. Both John and Jesus fulfill righteousness by obedience to what God wants. And what God wants is to affirm them both. But not only them, everyone who agrees to play their part, to take on the role of actor, to follow the lead of the one whose name will appear in every list of credits after the movie ends.
What each actor will discover while making the film is this: God is owner of the production studio and all rights to creative licensing. God holds all titles and initials that can follow a name. God is author of the book and screenplay, director, animator, film artist and boom operator, stunt double, and extra.
Did you miss the opening still frame, the scene of Jesus’ Baptism, that came on the screen right before the main movie began? At first, there was a disclaimer saying, “The following film has been adjusted to fit your current format.”
Next it said, “This film is dedicated to all who are willing to watch, learn and participate.” That means you. You are beloved. You are deemed well pleasing. God has opened up the heavens, sent his Son and the Holy Spirit to descend and light upon you, an ordinary human being.
But some folks never make it to the theater. They never are able to purchase a ticket or find a seat inside where movies are shown to audiences with means. They’re too oppressed and fail to see or hear God’s message.
In that case, we are to be the audible voice or means that tells them, “You, son or daughter, are most definitely a child of God and much loved by your heavenly father.” That way they not only feel included, but are included in the dedication of the movie to those willing to watch, learn and participate.
I see how well this message is communicated through action and works its magic every time I volu
nteer at the Youth Center. Every week, I witness the effect of love poured into the teens who come.
In the places you spend time, do you see the difference Jesus makes, how he still heals people from the oppression of evil forces like poverty, addiction, and obsession? Do you experience the grace of God which can empower you to show up and witness Jesus’ ongoing work, God’s constant presence and ultimate healing power?
We, like John and Jesus, are chosen servants upheld by God’s own Spirit. In ordinary people, God’s soul delights. Hear key points from Isaiah 42:5-9. Thus says the Lord who created the heavens, spread out the earth and all that comes from it, who gives breath to people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it. Listen… I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness. I have taken you by the hand and kept you. I gave you as a covenant, a light to the nations, to open eyes that are blind, to bring out prisoners who sit in darkness. I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. Former things have come to pass and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
We began worship today with a declaration, “Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who makes all things new, whose mercy endures forever and who makes us new. We discovered that we’re entirely forgiven of all our sins in Jesus’ name. Baptism offers access to the Holy Spirit and we are accompanied by God. What more do we need to fulfill our call to righteousness?
Perhaps like Jesus, we need a reminder of who we are, why we were born, what holds meaning or purpose, and what is ultimately God’s desire for all people: that each be healed from oppression of the devil and every evil force.
How? By the force of doing good as demonstrated through Jesus, God’s beloved son with whom he is well pleased. Let us pray. Lord, you remind us and tell us all the time that we’re forgiven, loved, and cherished as your children. Help us heal and affirm others so they too will be free from whatever darkens or destroys their lives. Make us eager servants who don’t argue your plan to fulfill righteousness and who willingly act upon your creative direction. In your holy name we pray. Amen.