Readings
Isaiah 43:1-7
Psalm 29
Acts 8:14-17
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Today we hear again the story of the baptism of Jesus. For most of us this is a very familiar story. We hear in this Gospel a part of the scripture we heard only a few weeks ago – John’s foretelling of the coming of the messiah and the hope that such a coming brings. Then we “see” Jesus come to John and be baptized after all the other people had been baptized. While Jesus and the others are praying afterwards, we “see” the Holy Spirit descend like a dove and hear God say, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
It is easy to take the story at face value and simply think of it as a confirmation of Jesus’ identity as God’s son. Or to take it as a confirmation that Jesus is the Messiah of which John foretold. But if we stop and reflect there is a question beneath the story that begs to be answered. Namely, why did Jesus get baptized?
You see, although we don’t hear it in the passage we have today, earlier in this very Gospel we are told that John came preaching a baptism for the repentance of sin. Now if Jesus is who we believe he is … if he is the son of God and is sinless … then why would he be baptized by John? Why would he participate in a baptism for sin?
Interestingly, in another version of this story found in another Gospel Jesus makes the specific argument that “it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Now, we might be tempted to understand this as being about holiness or simply doing the right thing religiously or spiritually. And, in one sense, we’d be right. But I believe there is more going on here than we might think.
The word righteousness in the Bible doesn’t simply mean holy or spiritual. No, righteousness means being in a right relationship to God. It means that our behavior towards God reflects how God behaves toward us. It is about a relationship of steadfast love and faithfulness. But how do we do that? What does that look like? For Jesus, the answer to that question is not about religious or ritual behavior. For Jesus the question of right relationship with God is directly tied to the question of right relationship to our neighbor. In other words, for Jesus, our relationship with God is about our relationship with others. Let me say that again because it is very important. For Jesus, our relationship with God is about our relationship with others.
This means that when Jesus says that he is being baptized in order to fulfill all righteousness, it has something to do with us as much as with him. So, what is it exactly that he is doing in this baptism? I would argue my friends that Jesus, in being baptized in a baptism for sin, is making a radical act of solidarity with all of humanity.
It makes perfect sense for people to come and seek John’s baptism. They and we all struggle with sin. We miss the mark. We mess up. We all have felt the brokenness of life. We don’t need to look very far in today’s culture to see the brokenness of humanity. And Jesus, in this simple but profound act, is saying “Even in the midst of your sin, your brokenness, your otherness, I am with you. I am a part of you. I put my lot in with you.” And what is God’s response? A gift of the Holy Spirit and a confirmation of Jesus’ identity. In essence, God is affirming that God is one with us.
What a profound gift! This means that no matter how badly we mess up, no matter how far we miss the mark, no matter how broken we may be, nothing can separate us from God. God is committed to us and to our relationship with God. We literally can do nothing to separate ourselves from God. God loves us and forgives us again and again because God, in Jesus, has chosen to be one of us.
Now reflect on that for a moment, because the implication is significant. God has chosen to be one of us and invites us to be one with Him. This means that we are not simply called to accept this love of God. Although doing so is the first step to righteousness. But if we are to be in a right relationship to God then we are called to be like Jesus and make a radical act of solidarity with the rest of humanity. Just as Jesus threw his lot in with us in the midst of our sin, our brokenness, and our otherness, we are called to throw our lot in with one another in the same way.
As a sentiment, that sounds good, doesn’t it? But as an action it’s not so easy. In fact, it’s probably one of the most counter-cultural things we can do.
We live in a society that does not easily forgive those who sin. We do not easily forgive those who make mistakes. We do not trust or forgive others for being outside or different from us. And the more grave the sin or mistake, or the more pronounced the otherness, the more we judge and isolate.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying we shouldn’t hold ourselves and one another accountable for our behavior. But is our goal retribution or restoration? Do we recognize ourselves in those who are most sinful, broken, or different? Are we prepared to be a people of compassion not only to the victims, but also to the perpetrators?
Jesus, by throwing his lot in with us, did just that. He didn’t put conditions on it, he simply became one of us. Now he called those who sinned to go and sin no more. But in the process, he recognized and restored the dignity of those he encountered. His was a life dedicated to the people that the culture said were beyond forgiveness and beyond the pale of righteousness.
What would it look like if we practiced the radical compassion and forgiveness that Jesus practiced? What would it look like if we sought the restoration of those who had sinned or were different rather than their punishment?
How might we do that?
It starts in small ways in the midst of our lives. Are there people you find especially hard to forgive? Are there people you are quick to judge? What would it look like to actively hold them accountable and at the same time recognize yourself in them and seek their restoration?
And that’s not enough. We also must work against the systems of our society that seek retribution over restoration. We must become agents of reconciliation to a sinful and broken world. Our work must extend to the homeless and the desolate, to the justice system, and to our penal system.
This ultimately is what it means to be a Christian. Being a Christian isn’t simply about intellectually assenting to the idea that there is a God or that Jesus is the son of God. We are called to express the steadfast love and faithfulness of God to one another and to everyone we encounter. Or, as we will say in a few minutes, “to strive for justice and peace and respect the dignity of every human being” and “to seek and serve Christ in one another and love our neighbors as ourselves.”
But let me be clear, this is not simply a challenge. There is within it a blessing to be found. Imagine what our lives might be like if we all did this. Imagine what the world might be like if we became agents of reconciliation and transformation. Can you imagine the positive impact it would have on our society, on our economy, on our politics?
This is the hope of our faith. This is the promise of Jesus’ baptism. This is nothing less than the kingdom of God.