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 not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus
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."
"I am haunted by waters." These are the last words of Norman Maclean's novel "A River Runs Through It". Waters haunt or should haunt all of us who profess the Christian faith. The content of our bodies is primarily water. Our thirst for water is a daily reminder of our dependence on water for very survival. If we fail to drink we will expire. Drought means the possibility of death for both land and people. Water is also dangerous, chaotic, devastating. We have witnessed through flood, tsunami, and hurricane. The ancient world portrays disorder in the form of watery chaos and primordial monsters. In Genesis, precreation is portrayed with this sort of dark and foreboding threat. Then God's Spirit, the Holy breath broods or hovers above the void, to fill the non-creation with a face, form, life, floods it with light.
At the baptism of Jesus, God begins again. A second Genesis is at hand in Mark's Gospel. "In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, 'You are my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased". The river running through the scene may be the Jordan, but this is the same creative Spirit, the same God claim 'this is mine', and the same cosmic commentary, 'this is good' . Baptism is a replay of Genesis. This is good to grasp as we spotlight the impact and implications of holy baptism. Today in our series on the stewardship of being the baptized we focus on the financial. Mostly, we operate as if my money is mine. I'll help out as long as the preacher and staff give me my money's worth. Trusting the president and treasurer keep the temple talks infrequent and to the point.
The problem with making money a minority issue in that is that you have been baptized. Whether in the beginning or at Jesus' baptism or adult's or baby's baptism, something has changed; fundamentally, foundationally, primarily, primordially. You have been through a replay of Genesis and the Jordan; same creative Spirit brooding about, same God claim "you are mine", and same cosmic commentary, "you are good and beloved". Baptism is not an experience it is death/resurrection. What happened in those waters ought to haunt you. You are dripping with new life. This is not a new novel experience. Many churches operate as if they are offering competing experiences, spiritual services, staff support to fit your unique lifestyle. A bakery owner commented, "Starbuck's still thinks they are selling an experience instead of coffee". Faith is not an experience or even a lifestyle, it's a life of stewardship. By grace, through Jesus, in baptism, you are saved & named. Stewardship says, "Now what?" We don't want to hear that, even in the church. Mark Alan Powell, an author submitted a book with the word stewardship in the title. The publisher called, "Change the title. No one wants a book on stewardship." We are more willing to talk personal sexuality than personal financial stewardship.
A contemporary of Jesus, born seven years after our Lord's resurrection, Josephus was born in Palestine. You may have heard of him as a high-profile historian of the First Century. Josephus is a fascinating character to parallel with Jesus. Josephus was a very religious Jew growing up who was a practicing Pharisee. Eventually, he became a Zealot/Patriot against the Roman occupation. When the Romans stormed into Palestine to put the kibosh on the uprising, Josephus was caught fleeing. While his compatriots chose to die in battle, Josephus surrendered & predicted Vespasian was destined to be Emperor. Vespasian took an instant liking to his newest lackey. The industrious Josephus said, "Don't kill me. I will be your source, your slave, & your possession." To make this happen, Josephus was required to renounce his former name and to take a new identity. Vespasian adopts him. "Josephus Flavius".
Josephus was out for himself. He changed sides when expedient. He changed his name when it was opportune, changed his allegiance when it was convenient, and even changed his god when it was advantageous to save his own life. Jesus Christ was out for God. Grounded in his baptism, Jesus remembers God-given identity. The Tempter tried to get him to change sides. The world tried to assign various other identities. The disciples asked him for special privileges. On the cross, Christ dies for us, "Forgive them Father." His life was not his own. That is stewardship.
When I asked our Israeli guide what he thought of Josephus he was matter-of-fact and angry, "He's a traitor". Comparable to Judas Iscariot to Christians & Benedict Arnold to Americans because he changed teams for personal gain and survival. And it was quite lucrative for him. Josephus divorced his Jewish bride and married a wealthy woman of the Empire and was employed by Vespasian the Emperor.
He lived a leisurely retirement at an imperial palace in Italy with a Roman pension. One choice is the way Josephus, centered on my convenience. Call the other choice the way of Jesus, centered on the cross. Way is a noun designating the road that leads to a destination. Way also includes the way we get there & how we go there.
For the baptized, the way is also about our stewardship. Meaning the way we talk, the way we use our influence, the way we treat each other and ourselves, the way we prioritize, the way we raise our children, the way we worship, the way we read, the way we spend our time, the way we work, the way we use the internet, & yes, how we spend money. We all wander from the way of Jesus, the claim of baptism, the identity given. We aren't so different from Josephus. We change allegiances, sell out for profit, deny God, forsake our name. We go back and forth between the Way of Josephus and the way of Jesus. By grace, God contends with us until we confess and repent. Repent means change direction, course correction, turn around, face the cross. There we are forgiven, restored, renewed, & remember who we are.
Mark Alan Powell cites a congregational survey asking what would be the signs that you were close to God and felt content. No real unexpected answers; healthy prayer life, consistent bible reading, & regular worship attendance. Except one that is somewhat surprising as a spiritual discipline- generous giving. Who among us does not want to be generous? One guy said, "If your attitude with money is right, then the other aspects of your life will be right, too". Then again, what does Billy Graham know about faith in Christ? The claim of Christ in baptism is total. You are completely wet. Time, talents, church, health, work, family, earth, possessions, relationships, coffee, and money. Belongs to God who has generously given to us. God is Giver and Forgiver. The Lord is Savior and Sovereign. Generous Judge. May we remember who we are & who we are not. Whose voice is ultimately valid.
In the movie "Changeling" there is a scene where the mother of a boy desperately wants to be reunited with her missing son. Police are trying to clear the incident so they try to substitute the mother's son with a boy of the same age. The imposter recites his name, Walter Collins, and home address then hugs her saying, "That is my mommy". The mother, Angelie Jolie, is shocked, "That is not my son". The police captain tells her, "His identity has been confirmed by the best criminal investigative minds Given the trauma, your son has been through, that won't help his self-esteem. You need to take him home on a trial basis." The mother pauses, "Maybe I am not thinking straight". When the mother takes him home, she is now convinced he's not her son. The police send a doctor to corroborate his identity. The doctor states, "I'm sorry. The report is final. Your son cannot speak of what happened until he has faith in the listener. You must stop saying he's not your son. But, the mother knows her own son. She won't be silenced, stopped, or distracted.
In the world we live in; at school, at work, in neighborhoods, in Poulsbo, among our friends, in church, we are daily bombarded with voices that would define us. Usually we are measured by numbers and net worth, scales and surveys, opinions and cholesterol scores. Weare told the best minds or latest surveys have confirmed you are attractive or successful or healthy or popular or productive or Christian or not. While such numbers & indicators do matter, we can't let them define us. This week the German billionaire, Adolph Merkle, stepped in front of a train when his financial empire came apart. How vital his finances were for his very well-being? Some of us try to play the imposter like the fake Walter Collins repeating the lines we've been given and living someone else's life. Your life is meant for more, for freedom through the cross and resurrection. In baptism, God has made you a new creation, handed you new life, claimed you, named you, endowed you for eternity. Christ has graced us our identity. Beloved saints, people of God, priests, God quirky treasures to live the way of Jesus. May the waters of baptism haunt you.
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