“The Joy of God”

Scripture: Luke 3:15-18; 21-22

Many people only see the teachings of Jesus in a negative light. They think that they are arrogant, and abrasive, and demeaning ... and hateful. Of course, Jesus is none of these – It’s just that his way is difficult to follow. And what most folks forget is that Jesus has experienced everything that we have, and will, and even more, and that the words and concepts that he brings to us are only meant to help us through this life, and to bridge us into the next.

Today, we consider one of those events in the Lord’s life that might be considered as extraneous, but actually was truly important for both him and us. Today we take a look at Jesus’ baptism.

Read Luke 3:15-18

John’s preaching was so powerful and so poignant that many came to him, thinking that this just might be their long awaited Messiah. But the Baptist makes it very clear that his words, his efforts, his baptism, is only meant to lead the world to repentance, and that the message that he carries shows the way to One who will also baptize, but in a far more powerful and important way. Jesus was coming to baptize with salvation. John says that his only purpose is to point the way to the true Man of God, and that he (John) isn’t worthy to even be the lowest servant of this One.

John describes this coming baptism as being by the Holy Spirit and fire – two very strange and foreign concepts to say the least! There are only a couple of references to a “holy spirit” in the Old Testament, and they refer more to the sense of God’s presence that resides within us, than it does to the Third Person of the Triune God. And fire? They knew about fire, but what did that have to do with baptism?

Pastor Ed Searcy offers this take on Jesus’ baptism:

You’ve heard of a “baptism by fire”? That’s a Jesus baptism. No sprinkling of water. In fact, no water at all. When Jesus baptizes, it’s with the rush of gale force wind that’s the power of God’s energy coming to stir up everything. Jesus baptizes with a fire that burns away the chaff of life. The unnecessary parts are incinerated. Gone are the addictions that devour. Greed and pride and arrogance and violence become a pile of ash.

No one looks forward to a baptism by fire. It’s human nature to run the other way, to delay, to hope it will pass by. Finally, it becomes clear that the only way home, the only way to wholeness, the only way to life is through the fire. It takes all the courage one can muster to walk into the fire, trusting that it will not destroy everything. That is when Israel remembers — that is when we hear — the promise of the Lord: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. ... Do not fear, for I am with you.” (Isaiah 42:1-5)

—Ed Searcy, “When you pass through the waters,” January 14, 2007, University Hill United Church Congregation, http://sermon.uhill.swift-web.com

Whether the people remembered this passage from the prophet Isaiah or not, baptism by fire was not a comforting concept! And it isn’t all that pleasant for the folks of the 21st century, either! But as Pastor Searcy writes, it’s only the unnecessary things of this life that will be destroyed, and all of the goodness that comes from the Lord will not only be kept safe, but they will be enhanced. That is what John is referring to when he speaks of the chaff being consumed with unquenchable fire – chaff is the useless stuff that is left over when the husk is thrashed from the grain. Spiritual chaff is the sin that hovers around and within our being, trying to look like the Lord’s goodness.
The holy fire and Holy Spirit are one - this fire is the purifying work of the Spirit, and the Spirit comes to the repentant to complete the work of faith.

Read Luke 3:21-22

So why would Jesus even need a “baptism of repentance”? What did he need to repent of? He was sinless; he was walking totally in the way of the Father; there was nothing that he needed to turn away from! But in Matthew 3:13-15, Jesus tells John that his baptism is necessary, and the reason was “to fulfill all righteousness”! This “fulfillment” is Jesus’ way of simply saying that it is required as part of his call to carry out the revealed will of God. It would seem, therefore, that Jesus’ baptism was actually more of an anointing and strengthening for the work that he was about to begin than it was as repentance.
And when does the Spirit come upon Jesus? During prayer. And how often do we discover Jesus in conversation with his Father? Over and over again. And at this pivotal moment- the beginning of Jesus’ ministry – prayer is absolutely crucial. He confirms his dedication to gaining salvation for the world, and he affirms the will of God for his life.
And this has significance for our baptism, too – it is the beginning of our new walk with the Lord. It’s about turning away from the world’s evil, and it’s about making a commitment to serve Almighty God in his way. And it must always be approached through prayer and meditation and commitment.

The heavens open, and God speaks of the love and joy that he has for his Son. The opening of heaven is a sign of God’s blessing, just as the closing of heaven is sign of his displeasure. And the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus in bodily form. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the Spirit had a body or that it even looked like a bird, but simply that it had a gentle, physical appearance – it could be seen.
When we approach our baptism in an honest and truthful way, the heavens open for us, just as they did for Christ. Even though we may never actually see the physical form of God’s Spirit, it will be there, none the less.

From Homiletics Online;
There's a story from many years ago about a missionary who was evangelizing an African tribe. After months of hard work, 14 men were ready to be baptized. Then, the chief stood up and announced: "I forbid these men to come forward for baptism. If they do, by this time tomorrow they will be dead."
The men stepped aside to speak with one another. Upon their return, one of them addressed the chief: "We have decided to be baptized. If we die, then we will be with Jesus."
After the baptismal service, the chief came to the missionary secretly and said: "Tell me about this Jesus. His power is greater than mine."

It seems that the joy, and the power of the Lord was upon them, and is upon all who will bind themselves to the way of the Lord. After all, why would the fishermen immediately leave all that they had ever known behind when Jesus called them to become “fishers of men”? How could it be if it hadn’t been for the Spirit? (Mark 1:16-20) Why would Stephen so joyfully accept death if he hadn’t seen the heavens open for him? (Acts 7:54-60) Why would Saul / Paul leave his prosecutory efforts behind to open himself up to persecution and prosecution, if Jesus hadn’t first prepared a better way for him? (Acts 9:1-9)

The joy of the Lord has nothing to do with the pleasures and victories of earth. They are as distinct and separate as the sea is from the land. The joy of the Lord, as evidenced in the coming of the Spirt, commissions and empowers us for ministry in the name of Jesus Christ. And whether the Voice of heaven calls out “well done, good and faithful servant”, or simply “come to me, my cherished child”, it is the Lord’s will and his marvelous plan that is about to unfold in our lives. And we must never fear that call, for when the Lord calls, he also enables and supplies our every need. The joy of the Lord provides it all.

Next week, we begin a series on the gifts that come to us through the Holy Spirit every time we say “yes” to the call that is placed on our lives. Praise the Lord, for he makes everything possible by faith in the One who baptizes by both Spirit and fire.