Our Sunday morning youth class here at 43rd is about to begin a study through the gospel of Mark. The unique way Mark begins his (along with Peter, possibly) story concerning Jesus is remarkable. No birth narratives of John the Baptizer or Jesus, no "In the beginning", simply "the beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah." Mark then moves into a desription of John's appearance and diet and a short version of his mission and message...and then we get to the part I want to write about today. Baptism.
Baptism is a beautiful and life altering act and experience. Baptism is a beautiful and life altering act and experience. I wrote it twice on purpose...no reduncancy problems here. The way in which Jesus' baptism is described is quite beautiful. The heavens were being torn open as he assended out of the water (foreshadow to resurrection and resurrection life? Paul though so in Romans 6), the Spirit descending on him like a dove at his baptism (Isaiah 11 and 42 language), and the announcement of Sonship from above, "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased" (2 Samuel 7, Psalm 2, Isaiah 42 language). Jesus' baptism is a beautiful event with powerful experiences taking place, and life changing announcements being made.
Should it not be the same today? Baptism is a dangerous act. It is an announcement and act that is in complete rebellion to the ways of this world. It is an announcement and act of complete dependency towards God. It is an announcement and act of honesty that I (we) are messed up humans who cannot be fixed on our own. Jesus needed no baptism, he needed no grace, in fact he is grace, but what is remarakable to me is his baptism shows us what baptism is all about.
Announcement of sonship/daughtership...In our baptism did we hear the announcement of sonship and daughtership? The heavens were torn open, the Spirit came down, and the announcement that this is my son, this is my daughter whom I love and whom I am well pleased was made. Jesus' baptism has helped my understanding of baptism as a whole. It is a beautiful event filled with life changing/resurrected life announcements.
Good thoughts here. There is a book I am reading for a class where the author speaks of God's actions as ex nihilo or out of nothing. He gets this language from the creation account in Genesis, where it speaks of God creating out of nothing. I tend to see our baptism in the same light. From the nothingness that describes our life apart from God, God redeems one of his creation to be his child, to join him in redeeming all creation.
ReplyDeleteGO RANGERS!
Thats good stuff. Thanks man. I only hope the Yanks play the Rangers, there are a lot of Rays fans here chomping at the bits wanting to play NY. You know what it is said about wishing for something...
ReplyDeletegreat thoughts on baptism, I think most of us have ignored the powerful symbolism and meaning found in baptism. thanks.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone ever shgow up at Rays games?
They do when they give away thousands of tickets. They had a sold out game last night and unfortunately they lost that game. I hope things are going well in White House. Your Texans look awful scary this year.
ReplyDelete