Luke 3:15-22

Today it is traditional for the church to reflect upon the baptism of Jesus. Before Jesus' earthly ministry began he went to the Jordan to be baptized by John. And at his baptism the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove. And God spoke out of heaven and said, "You are my beloved son with you I am well pleased."

Matthew Mark and Luke all tell us the same basic story. But they tell it in different ways. Mark the shortest of the Gospels gives us the basic facts of the event. Matthew includes the fact that John at first did not feel worthy to baptize Jesus but Jesus said that "all righteousness" must be fulfilled. The distinctive thing about Luke is that he emphasizes that the after Jesus was baptized the Holy Spirit descended while he was praying.

Prayer is a very important theme in Luke. Luke emphasizes that at important junctures in Jesus' life he prayed. At his baptism, before choosing the 12, on the mount of transfiguration, in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed. Luke, who also wrote the book of Acts, continues this theme of the importance of prayer in the early church. In Acts the disciples are praying when the Holy Spirit descends at Pentecost, the church is praying when Peter is freed from Prison by an angel, Paul is praying when an angel appears to him on the sinking ship to give hope and direction. Put simply things happen when God's people pray. And Jesus is a prime example of that truth!

So what might Jesus have been praying about? There are any number of things. After his baptism Jesus would go into the desert to have a showdown with the Devil. He might have been praying about that. There were many other people being baptized. He may have been praying for them. Jesus would leave his mother and family behind to preach and heal and then die. He might have been praying for them. He may have been preparing himself to spend three years on a road that would lead to the cross.

But I think Luke gives us a hint of one thing Jesus was probably praying about. Luke tells us in the verses just before that John was arrested. Of course John was not arrested until after Jesus was baptized. But at the time of Jesus' baptism the political wheels that would lead to John's arrest and death were already turning. Luke wants us to see that Jesus' baptism happened in the context of John's immanent arrest.

Among all the other things Jesus may have been praying about this was certainly near the top of the list. Jesus' cousin and friend, coworker, herald: John the Baptist was about to be thrown in prison and beheaded. And Jesus was praying. Don't miss the importance of this. Jesus prayed in the face of life's trials.

But also don't miss what happened as a result! Jesus prayed and the heavens were opened. Jesus prayed and the Holy Spirit descended in a tangible form. Jesus prayed and God spoke, "You are my Son, with you I am well pleased."

When God's people pray things happen! As followers of Christ we should follow the example of our Lord and pray in the face of trials and things will happen. What will happen? The heavens will open! "Of course when the preacher says that heaven will open he is speaking entirely metaphorically and figuratively."

No, I am not! I believe that the heavens are really opened when God's people pray. When we open our hearts to God in prayer we are in the very presence of God. Through Jesus we have direct access to God. This is why at Jesus death on the cross the veil that separated the people from the presence of God in the holy of holies was torn allowing us access to God. Through Christ our great high priest we can address our needs to God directly.

Do you know how significant this is? I can pick up the phone and call the White House and I might get to leave a message on some voice mail or maybe I will speak to a switchboard operator if I am lucky, but I will never get to talk to the president. I seriously doubt that any message I leave will ever make it to the president. But I can bow my head in prayer and God will hear my prayer directly! I am not talking about the elected leader of a third of a continent. I am talking about the creator of the cosmos! And because of Jesus the heavens are opened and God hears my prayer!

So when God's people pray the heavens are opened. What else happens? The Spirit descends in a tangible form? First of all what is the Holy Spirit. Some people get confused about this. I actually heard a life long member of the United Methodist Church say, "We're Methodists we don't believe in the Holy Spirit."

Let me assure you Methodists most certainly do believe in the Holy Spirit. Jesus in the Gospel of John describes the Holy Spirit as a counselor or someone who stands by us. Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will give us the abilities we need to serve God and to persevere in this world. The Holy Spirit is the source of things like love and hope and joy and peace and knowledge and wisdom.

The best definition of the Holy Spirit is "God with us." When God's people pray the Holy Spirit descends. And if comes in tangible ways. You can feel the peace and the assurance of the Holy Spirit.

When God's people pray things happen. The heavens are opened, the Holy Spirit descends in a tangible way, and God speaks. The problem is that most people are not listening. Some people assume that God isn't going to talk to little old me. But we are talking about the Almighty infinite God of the Universe. God is capable of carrying on a personal conversation with every living person at the same moment without breaking a sweat.

So what is God saying? The answer to that will be different for every person. But at the heart of any message is the same thing that God said to Jesus. At his baptism God said to Jesus, "You are my beloved son, in you I am well pleased."

In the same way God is saying to each and every one of us: "You are my beloved child, you make me happy." God is basically saying to all of us, "I love you and I am here for you." But we don't hear it because we don't expect God to actually speak to us individually. But when God's people open their hearts to pray thing like that happen!

When God's people pray things happen: The heavens are opened, the Spirit descends, and God says, "You are my beloved child." So pray. Take time to bow your hearts and heads and pray. Speak your mind to God and listed for God to speak back.

Pray and expect things to happen. Expect to experience the presence of God. Expect the Holy Spirit to touch your heart and life and stand by you. Expect God to speak to your heart and mind.

Jesus prayed in the face of the trials of life. You should pray in the face of your trials. And expect things to happen!

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

"Remember your baptism." The first time I encountered this statement it was in an Episcopal church and they were going through a service of reaffirming their baptism. It seems a rather curious statement to me. I don't remember my baptism. I was baptized as an infant. My wife on the other hand was baptized as a young person and she remembers going to the altar to tell the preacher she wanted to be baptized and then being baptized later on.

But this was not a Baptist preacher telling the congregation to remember their baptisms. It was an Episcopalian priest. I am sure that the majority of his congregation were also baptized as infants as I was. What's more, the words he was reading were from a service that probably dated back to a time in England when being baptized as an infant was an almost automatic thing.

How can I and all those other people who were infants when we were baptized "remember" our baptisms. Certainly this means more than just recalling an event in my personal history. Something bigger is involved here. And I think the key to it is found in the baptism of Jesus himself. His baptism is a model for our understanding of baptism.

The Bible tells us that for the first 30 years of his life Jesus lived the life of an ordinary person. He worked every day of the week and then went to the synagogue on the Sabbath and the temple for special holy days. Then as his cousin John was preaching, he knew the time had come to begin to fulfill the mission for which he came to Earth. So he went down to be baptized by John. Remember John's baptism was a baptism for repentance. And many sinners and tax collectors responded to John's preaching by being baptized that turning from their lives of sin.

But Jesus had no sin to repent of. You see, the real meaning of the word "repent" is to turn from; to change direction. We all need to change direction from sinning to doing God's will. Jesus didn't need to do that because he had been doing God's will. But he was turning from his life as an ordinary carpenter to his life as a teacher, example and then redeemer.

So Jesus came to John to be baptized and then something interesting happened. First the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus. Then God the Father put in his two cents. He said "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.

Now of course Jesus had been Gods' Son since before his birth. But in that moment God was stating this important fact because this is the fact which defined Jesus' actions from that point forward. Jesus came to John because he was the Son of God. He would teach and heal and work wonders because he was the Son of God. Then he would die and rise again because he was the Son of God!

Baptism is primarily about what God does! That's where most people misunderstand baptism. They think baptism is about what we do. An actual baptism involved our actions, but only as a response to what God has already done. Our action is to come to be baptized or to bring our children to be baptized and then to affirm our faith in Jesus Christ. But ultimately that is all in response to what God has already done.

And what is it that God has done? God has called you to be his child. He has claimed you. We were all orphaned by sin and God has said "You are my beloved child." The Almighty has declared it for all who care to listen: you are a child of God and you make God happy!

That is why it is so important that we baptize small children. Because baptism is something that is done for them. And it symbolizes the fact that God has claimed us before we were able to say yea or nay. Since God has claimed each of us and our children to be His, we respond to that by symbolizing his actions. The way Christians have traditionally symbolized this is through baptism. And just as the Holy Spirit was poured out on Jesus so the waters of baptism are poured out. In the act of baptizing the church recognizes and affirms that God has called us as his children.

Remember your baptism. God has said of each of you "You are my beloved child." Jayne, you are my beloved daughter. Tom, you are my beloved son. Susan, you are my beloved daughter. Alex, you are my beloved son.

God has called you to be his child. And through Jesus he has signed the adoption papers in his own blood. Jesus Christ the only begotten Son or God, who lived a perfect sinless life, died for you. All we need to do is accept that gift of God's grace.

God has graciously called you are His son or daughter. What will you do? Believe in Jesus Christ! Give your life to him. He didn't ask you if you wanted him to die for your sins. He did it for you before you were able to say yae or nay.

So what will you say now? Now that God has claimed you as His child? Say, "I give my life to Christ." Ask Him into your heart. Respond to His call on your life. Remember your baptism!

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Luke�s account of the baptism of Jesus begins "The people were filled with expectation." The New English Bible says, "the people were on tiptoe." Have you ever tried to stand on your tiptoes? You can't do it for long unless you are a ballerina. Sooner or later you will fall in one direction or another. You can't just stand there on tiptoe; something will happen. That is how the people were. They were on their tiptoes. They were on the edge of their seats. Something was about to happen and they knew it.

And "What were they expecting?" you may well ask. Why, the Messiah of course. God had promised to send them one. Things had gotten so bad for God's children. Unrighteousness was at an all time high. They needed a Messiah now more than ever. It seemed that the time was right for God to send one. On top of that, John came out of the desert where he lived a pious life of self-denial and looking like the great prophet Elijah. And he started telling people to get ready because the kingdom was coming.

It was natural for the people to wonder, "Is John the Messiah?" He certainly was religious and many people followed him. John set them straight, but he also heightened their expectations. He said, "I am not the king, but the king is coming." The one coming after me is much greater than I am. I am baptizing with mere water, but the Messiah will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

The people were right to expect the Messiah, because God was preparing Christ and the way for Christ. It was while the people were expecting him that John was telling them to get ready for him. And during this time Jesus was living and growing. And God the Father was waiting for the right time to call his Son into action. The people were ready too, they were on the edge of their seats, attentive, watching and waiting to see what God would do.

So God responded. God called Jesus to begin his earthly ministry of teaching. Many believe that Jesus' Baptism was his calling into ministry. John the Baptist was calling the people to repent and prepare for the Messiah. Jesus set an example for the people by responding to that call through a sign of repentance. The Jewish ritual of Baptism was a symbolic washing. Jesus was showing the people that they should respond to God's call to repentance as he did.

After Jesus' baptism a voice came from heaven. God's voice from heaven was a sign to Jesus that he should begin his earthly ministry. God was saying, "Jesus you are my son, now do what the Son of God was sent to do: Save the world." God was pleased with the example that Jesus gave the people. Like a proud father God said, "Jesus, you are my son and I love you." And the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove.

Times haven't changed much, people still stand on tiptoe, expecting and waiting to see what God will do. Isn't that why so many people get excited about predictions of the end. They think, if there is a God he must do something. Sin is at an all time high. Even religious leaders are often found to be unrighteous. Jesus had promised to come again. And so people expect it soon.

People are standing on tiptoe, waiting to see what will happen. They are unsteady. The slightest movement could push them in either direction. Something is about to happen.

What will God do? People look at the unrighteousness in the world and they wonder how long will God wait to do something. They look in the streets and see the homeless. In a world of plenty people die of starvation and exposure. And they wonder when will God do something about this. They look in the AIDS wards. They see people isolated and cast off. And they wonder when will God do something about this. They look into the fields and they see the crosses of anger and hatred burning. In country after country people hate one another for little or no visible reason. And their hatreds and prejudices are instilled in young people's hearts and in their social structures. And they wonder, when will God do something about this? They look into homes and they see broken lives. They very place where people should find refuge they find pain. Spouse abuse, child abuse, elder abuse, families abusing one another. And they wonder when will God do something about this? Discouraged some even wonder if God will do something.

God has done something already and God will do something yet. Our Heavenly Father called Jesus. Jesus, God's Son, came to preach good news to the poor; to bring sight to the blind and liberty to the oppressed. God called Jesus to overcome sin and death. And Jesus will come again to establish eternal justice and peace.

In the mean time, until Jesus comes again, he has called us. He has called us to follow him into repentance and into cleansing and into prayer. Then he calls us to follow him into the world to live righteously. He calls us into the streets to clothe and house the needy. He calls us into the hospital wards filled with the unwanted to show God's mercy. He calls us into the fields to put out the fires of hatred. He calls us into the homes to bind the broken lives. He calls us into the darkness of human life to bring the light to Christ.

But how can we do all that; minister to the brokenness of the world. We are often broken ourselves. How can we overcome the power of sin, when we are often powerless? Jesus could do it because he was God, but how can I follow him? It was easy for Jesus. He was born to be the savior of the world, but how can we who need saving ourselves, play a part in delivering others?

The answer is in a little detail in Jesus' baptism. After Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove. When we respond to God's call, as Jesus did, the spirit descends on us. When we repent and ask God to cleanse our lives, God empowers us to minister as Christ did. Jesus didn't need any more power than he already had, but we do. We need the Holy Spirit's power.

Baptism is a symbol of God's action of adopting us as his children. And as his children God assigns us certain chores. I don't want to call them chores. Because God's calling is a joy. Just as God called his only begotten son to minister so he calls his adopted sons and daughters. The task that God calls us too is too big for us alone. But God does not abandon his children. God is with us through the Holy Spirit's presence.

When you give yourself to God, the Father will anoint you with the Holy Spirit and make you a spirit-breathing child of God. John said, "The one who comes after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." That is a promise from God. Believe it! Expect it! Wait for it! Stand on the tip of your toes looking for God to be at work in your life. And as surely as the spirit descended on Jesus, it will empower you to perform the acts of God's children.

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

We have all been where the children of Israel were. Perhaps not physically but we have all been in a similar situation. Someone you know and love but have not seen in a long time is arriving on a plane. As you watch the people debark the plane and walk across the tarmac. You think you see your loved one only to discover as they come closer that it is in fact someone else. And so you keep looking.

The people of Israel had been looking for a long time for a Messiah. One whom the prophets had said would save the children of God. One who would life up the down trodden. One who would vindicate the righteous and punish the unjust. One who would be Emmanuel - "God with us."

When they saw John the baptizer they though they had seen their Messiah. He spoke fiery words of judgment against the unjust. He inspired the people, even publicans and prostitutes, to repent. He spoke of the reign of God coming upon the people. God was with him in a powerful and real way.

But the people were mistaken. Sure John resembled the Messiah. After all they were cousins. But there was one difference - a big difference. John baptized with water, but the Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire! What John did represented the coming of God into people's lives. Jesus would bring the real thing!

So the people kept looking and Jesus came. In the midst of John's ministry Jesus heard the call of his Father. A call to leave his life as the carpenter of Nazareth and begin the earthly ministry which would lead to his death. And so Jesus joined the crowd of people coming to be baptized. Not to repent of his sins of course, for Jesus was sinless. He came to turn from his old life and begin a new one.

It was then that it happened! Luke tells us that after Jesus had been baptized he was praying. And the heaven's opened and the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus. Luke says that the Spirit was like a dove. It wasn't a dove that landed on Jesus. It was the Spirit, but the only way that Luke could describe it was that it appeared like a dove. And Luke also says it was in bodily form. It wasn't just some ghostly image or vague impression. It was real and had substance to it.

And a voice came from heaven. God said, "You are my Son, the beloved; with you I am well pleased." God was addressing Jesus. Affirming in him who he was and confirming his call to ministry.

I think we need to stop, take a step back and look at these events. The people are looking for a Messiah and wondered if John might be the one. John tells them that the Messiah will baptize them with the Holy Spirit. When the Messiah does come God sends the Holy Spirit upon him as he calls him into service.

I think it is important to notice the role of the Holy Spirit in all of this. John says that the Holy Spirit is the real thing. What he does is symbolic of what is to come. He is going around pouring water on the people who are turning to God. That represents what God will do later when the Messiah comes. The Messiah will pour out the Holy Spirit upon them.

Then when Jesus has been baptized John's prophesy begins to be fulfilled. God pours out the Holy Spirit on Jesus. And Luke emphasizes it is real! And at that point God claims Jesus as his Son.

You know, the church has a reason to set aside a special day to focus on Jesus' Baptism. We focus on it because it is an example for us. Now some think it is merely an example how one should be baptized. But frankly we can't tell from the Bible if John poured the water on Jesus or if Jesus was immersed. Jesus' baptism is however an example of how God calls us to ministry and how we should respond.

When Jesus heard his Father's call to ministry he responded. He turned to the way that God was calling. And he turned from his old life.

It is only slightly different for us. When we realize that God is calling us we have to turn from our old lives. The only difference is that our old lives include sin.

When Jesus turned to God, his Heavenly Father poured out the Holy Spirit on him. In the same way when we turn to God he pours the Holy Spirit upon us. Now, I know that some Christians feel uncomfortable with talk about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We have all seen people who like talking about the Holy Spirit, but whose lives do not demonstrate the presence of God. We have all seen the hypocrites who act, and I do mean act, in extreme ways to appear holy and then end up serving only themselves. We have also run into those people who define the outpouring of the Holy Spirit only in terms of certain gifts. They argue that if you do not speak in tongues you are not a Christian. They say if you are uncomfortable with their forms of worship, you must not have the Holy Spirit like they do.

But the baptism of the Holy Spirit is an important part of Christian faith. Jesus came, as John told us, to baptize us with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Jesus came to pour into our hearts and souls the real living presence of God. That is what the Holy Spirit is. It is God's living presence in the midst of our lives and it is what enables us to be real for God and the world.

Now about some of those fears and concerns people have when we start talking about the Holy Spirit. If you gave your life to Christ, then you have the Holy Spirit. It is as simple as that. If you have experienced that peace that passeth understanding, faith and hope in times of trouble, the ability to love where you couldn't before, then that is the Holy Spirit at work in you. The Holy Spirit does not necessarily cause us to engage in extreme behavior. Just because God comes into you life does not mean you will jump and shout; although some people do. Sometimes the Spirit leads people to silent contemplation. Sometimes, however, the Holy Spirit does lead us to extreme behavior. Extreme behavior like risking ones life for others. Extreme behavior like worshipping in the catacombs or in people's houses when your religion is outlawed. Extreme behavior like loving the unloved and forgotten of our society. That is the work of the Holy Spirit.

Finally when Jesus had been baptized and the Spirit was poured upon him, God claimed him as his own. In the same way God claimed you as his own. At the moment you surrendered to God and God's Spirit entered your heart he said, "You are my beloved daughter," "You are my beloved son." And that means something.

For Jesus it was a verification of his ministry. He was indeed the Son of God. And he could go forth with that authority and strength. He could face the evil forces knowing that he was stronger than any of them. He could proclaim God's word knowing that it was true because it lived in him.

In the same way our membership in the Family of God is a verification and confirmation of our ministry. You know that is why we call it confirmation when a person publicly proclaims Jesus as their Lord. Because through the church, at that moment, God declares "This is my child." And having heard that Divine proclamation we can go forth in faith. We can go forth knowing that the Holy Spirit of God who dwells in us is greater than all the powers of evil in this world.

John said "I baptize with water but the one who comes after me will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire." In other words the Messiah would bring the real thing. And when Jesus came, God sent the spirit on him. And Luke tells us it was real and substantial. It looked like a dove and was in bodily form. And God claimed Jesus as his Son so that he could pour out the Holy Spirit and Fire on us.

Is God real in your life? It God substantial in your existence? Do you know the fire of the Holy Spirit burning in you? Does Jesus live in your heart and does that give you peace and strength and hope and love? And are you real and genuine for God and the world?

Consider Jesus' baptism and follow his example. Turn from your life and turn to God. Allow him to flood your soul with his Spirit. Then go forth and live like the child of God you are!

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