St. Luke Ev. Lutheran Church of Watertown

Sermon by Pastor Anthony E. Schultz

January 8, 2006 Baptism of our Lord.

Mark 1:4-11

And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am nor worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

People of God—rescued from the flaming lake of fire in hell by the innocent blood of the very Lamb of God:

Are you tired—mentally and emotionally worn out—drained? They are advertising vacations where you can be a monk for a week! You can go to a place where the view is spectacular—hillsides of wild flowers, forests, rivers, waterfalls, mountains. You can follow 2,500 year old traditions. Wake up at 3:50 a.m. to the ringing of bells. Spend your day in a succession of mostly silent meals—fresh fruits and vegetables that you grow yourself. Work through liturgies, temple cleaning, rest periods and work time—workshops—thematic speakers--lights out at 10. You can spend time with a spiritual guide and mentor—do creative writing, meditate, enjoy mindful eating—savoring different flavors in different combinations. Imagine a week with no TV, no radio, no cell phone, no Internet and no e-mail. Oh, they say you will find this new lifestyle calming and uplifting—but don’t expect miracles. Change—they say--must come from within! The fact is—change—ultimate change of heart and mind and soul comes from outside. It comes from God’s Word! Change that will change you through and through comes from the Scriptures—the power of the Holy Spirit—alive in the means of Grace. This first Sunday after Epiphany God’s Word says:

The Good News Is For Everyone Everywhere!

1. Repent!

2. Live by Jesus!

We are beginning the season of Epiphany. This time from now until March 1^st—Ash Wednesday—will be a time to remember how Jesus would shine forth. Jesus who is the Son of Man—also and always had the power and authority of eternal God! Jesus will show that power and authority by the truth he speaks and the miracles he works. We will see this power and authority again and again—before we walk beside Jesus to betrayal, denial, abandonment, suffering and tortured death to save us.

If you were to make a New Year’s resolution—or if you prefer—to set some goals for the New Year—to grow in your understanding of the Scriptures would be a powerful and practical goal. The part of God’s Word we are concentrating on is from the Gospel of St. Mark. There are of course—four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Jesus certainly could have given us just one—but because he loves us so much—he gave us four—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Do you know the difference? Matthew has very much the flavor of fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Again and again Matthew says—thus was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet! People blessed to have the blood of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and Jesus would have appreciated Matthew. Luke wrote his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles to a friend named Theophilus. Theophilus was new to the faith. Luke and Acts assured him that Jesus is his Savior. Luke did his homework—interviewed eye-witnesses and did research. He goes into great detail—concerning Jesus’ early years. Luke the physician also goes into great detail concerning Jesus’ miracle of healing—using the technical names for the diseases and disabilities—painting pictures of symptoms and recovery! The Gospel of John was the last to be written—almost 100 years after baby Jesus was born. It fills in information the other three do not contain. There is meat and potatoes—prime rib in the Gospel of John—concerning Jesus’ power and authority as true God—Jesus’ relationship with his Heavenly Father. Over half of the Gospel of John records Jesus’ words and actions--his final days saving us.

The Gospel of Mark is the shortest. It has only one Old Testament quote—in the very beginning. Mark explains Aramaic expressions and Hebrew customs. Therefore it would seem Mark wrote especially for non-Jewish readers. That might be many of you. Mark very much gives you the flavor that Jesus’ life and ministry were active! Read the Gospel of Mark and you will say of Jesus—“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” Stand at the foot of Jesus’ cross and you will say with the Centurion—“Surely this man was the Son of God!” Believe the Gospel of Mark and it will be true of us, “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them.” Jesus will work through us to spread the Gospel everywhere! Begin by spreading the Gospel in your house! Jesus will make your house a home!

400 years before baby Jesus was born the prophet Malachi wrote, “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.” Malachi 4:5,6 Malachi was talking about John the Baptist—coming with the spirit and attitude of Elijah! John the Baptist would turn the hearts of the fathers to their children. The power of the Gospel would turn father’s hearts to their children. Taking care of little children is not easy. Little newborn babies are exceedingly breakable. When newborn babies cry they can really cry hard. Their little arms and legs wave frantically. Their little faces can get bright red—little tears can literally pop from their eyes. Little newborn babies cry when they are hungry—cry when they need to be changed—cry when their tummy hurts—cry when they are having a bad day—when nothing you do makes them happy. It is tempting for daddies—when confronted with a very sad little baby to think—what you need desperately is your mommy! Imagine what this world would be like—if like penguins—fathers were the primary care giver—especially when they are at home? When a father’s heart turns to his children—it changes everything. Sometimes we act like what fathers do is get a really good job—so you can bring home lots of money—so you can buy your children lots of things and stuff. So your kid can have Nike sneakers—lap top computers—big screen TVs, all the video games and all the sports equipment in the world. Then your children will be happy and love you! What children need is to see Jesus in their fathers. They need to see the gentle strength of Jesus in their father—a strength that will never ever hurt—but always protect their mom and their brothers and sisters and them. They need to see their father love and forgive their mom. They need to see a reflection of Jesus’ love—that means firm consistent discipline—because their father loves Jesus more than life itself! What children need from their father is the powerful example of coming to Church, reading their Bible, saying their prayers—depending on Jesus to make them strong enough one day at a time. Children need to see their father forgiving anyone and everyone who sins against them. To see their father admitting mistakes and asking for forgiveness. Children need to see Jesus in their father.

And so John came, baptizing in the desert region…and again…John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. John was a sight to see—out in the wilderness. Not a desert like sand everywhere—but a wilderness made of creamy rock and stone—with some brush and some scraggly olive trees. Creamy rock and stone—with plants growing lush, thick and green right beside the Jordan River. This was not a place of ease and comfort. This was a place apart from creature comforts. This was a place of self denial and self discipline. John didn’t wear clothes that were comfortable or fashionable. They were clothes that were durable and functional. Out in a place better suited for camels than for people—John wore camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. John ate locusts—perhaps pods from a tree—but most likely and most simply understood bugs—grass hoppers and honey. Again—not gourmet food—but food to give him strength and energy to do the important work he had to do—to call people to repentance. John had a passion for his work—that pushed creature comforts and personal ease so far in the background. All that mattered—all that really counted—was pointing people to Jesus!

“After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Hearts full of the Holy Spirit is not a Pentecostal or Assemble of God or a Baptist concept. It’s a Bible concept—a Scriptural concept—to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit—the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control come from the Holy Spirit filling your heart and coloring your life. I don’t know if you make New Year’s resolutions. Sometimes resolutions fall by the wayside within the first few days or weeks or January. Maybe it’s better to have goals—goals for this New Year. Goals you want to accomplish in the next 50 weeks of 2006! People forever plan to lose weight—pounds of water and grease. Instead of worrying so much about how we look on the outside—we need to be concerned about the inside! When—through the power of the Gospel—Jesus changes hearts—Jesus will change lives. When we hear God’s Word on Sundays and read God’s Word day after day—then our marriages will grow stronger. Father’s heart will be turned to their children and children will respect and obey their parents. People will get along with their in-laws. Young people will not have sex before they are married. People will not live in sin. They won’t move in with each other and live like they are married—when they are not! We will bring our Thankofferings with joyful hearts. We will forgive each other the hurtful things we say and the painful things we do. We will begin each day with a child like confidence that Jesus will walk beside us every step of the way—until we are home together in heaven!

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” As Jesus came up out of the water he was the Anointed One—the Messiah—Prophet, Priest and King! Jesus came to save us from all our sins. Coal mine disasters are nothing new. September 2001 in Brookwood AL a rock fell on a battery charger—causing sparks to fly—setting off an explosion. Instinct would say scramble for the entrance to the mine—to save your self—to save your life—to survive. It is the greatest love a human being is capable of—to stop—and then scramble and dig and claw your way deeper into the mine—to risk and even sacrifice your life to save your friend. Who would dig for an hour—digging deeper and deeper into the mine—only to perish in a second explosion? Only someone who loved his brother—his neighbor! Only a powerful, determined, unconditional love could move Jesus to come into this sin spoiled in infected world to save us. How great is Jesus’ love—that he should forgive all our sins and adopt us as children of God. As Jesus continued to work to save us—his Father called out from heaven—“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased!” Let us live to serve him. Amen!