SIGNS AND SYMBOLS
Isaiah 42:1-9
Matthew 3:13-17
Within our daily life, each of us encounters a wide variety of signs and symbols. Signs usually serve to provide some sort of direction or guidance or information. Each day, we encounter various road signs, signs outside of a business informing of a sale, and a whole host of other signs. We also encounter a variety of symbols. Symbols often serve to represent something. For example, when we see the cross and flame symbol, we are made aware of a United Methodist presence. Some symbols, however, mean different things to different people. My Chicago Cubs banner is a symbol of, for me,
devotion and loyalty to my team; others might think less highly of my banner!
The church is full of symbols. From the moment we walk in, we are greeted with numerous things that represent something else. That is especially true in the sanctuary. The candles on the altar are not for the purpose of providing more light in the sanctuary; instead, they represent for us the presence of the Holy Spirit in our worship. We have the cross in front of us, symbolizing the sacrifice of Jesus and reminding us of what it means to be Christ’s followers in this world. The Baptismal Font serves as a symbol of the act of Baptism and all that God does in this act.
It is this symbol that commands our attention today.
Within the wider Church, there are all sorts of debates and dialogues about baptism. There are numerous understandings of who should or can be baptized, when baptism should occur in a person’s life, and how the Sacrament should be administered. I’m not here this morning to engage in those debates. Instead, I want us to look at Matthew’s account of Jesus’ baptism and what happened at that moment. I want to look at the signs that were given by God when Jesus was baptized
and how those are symbolized for us in the font and water of baptism.
Matthew records for us three events that happened at the moment of Jesus’ baptism.
We are going to be looking at each of these individually. The first sign or event is recorded in the middle of v. 16. Immediately after Jesus was baptized, Matthew records that “the heavens were opened”. At that moment, there was absolutely nothing between the human, earthly Jesus and heaven. Why were the heavens opened? Because submitting to baptism was Jesus’ way of acknowledging that he belonged to God and submitted his life to God’s purpose for him. In that submission, there was no separation between God and Jesus. The same is true for us. As we come to the water of baptism, or as we were brought as children to the water, there was the acknowledgment that we belonged to God. We become joined to God and incorporated into God’s purpose in the world, namely the transformation of all of God’s creation. Said another way, the water of baptism is a symbol of God’s presence in us and,
as we are in the world, a symbol of God’s presence in the world.
The second sign occurred immediately after the heavens had been opened. The Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, descends from heaven and rests upon Jesus. This was a powerful declaration of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus. At our baptism, we too receive the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Often, those in the church tend to think that because they are a lay person that they don’t have the power or authority to do anything in the name of God. The water of baptism says differently! It is a symbol of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit upon all who receive it; it is a symbol of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit upon
YOU!!
By virtue of baptism, you have received the empowerment of God’s Holy Spirit to have an active role in God’s work in the world. Not only do you have the power, but you have the authority to use the power you have been given, for the glory of God! You have the authority to use this power in your homes, in your neighborhood, in your church, and in the world.
It is God’s gift to you and to the world through you!
The third sign at Jesus’ baptism is found in v. 17. After heaven has been opened and the Holy Spirit has rested upon Jesus, there is a voice from heaven that declares “This is my Son…”. What we hear is God acknowledging a relationship with Jesus; God accepting Jesus. There is something powerful about acknowledging a relationship, whether it be within a family or friend to friend or any other way. It is a way of saying, “this one belongs to me” or “I accept this one”.
I have to share this—I was having lunch with my son at school on Friday for his birthday. One of the cafeteria workers asked, “Evan, is this your dad?” His response—“Yeah, I claim him every now and then”. It might be the only time he ever claims me as his father! He acknowledged the relationship between us, however humorous, and it made my day! In the water of baptism, God acknowledges a relationship between us and God. In the water of baptism, God says about us, “I accept this one. I claim them. They belong to me.” And not only does God accept and claim us, but also takes pleasure in us. God takes pleasure in us, not because we always do what God desires
or expects of us, but because we exist and we are a part of God’s family.
Baptism—it is a gift that we have been given from God. It is a symbol of God’s acceptance of us, our submission to God, and the power of God’s Holy Spirit upon each one who has received the gift of water.
Thanks be to God!
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