Sermon – Baptized by Fire
Isaiah 42:1-9; Matthew 3:13-17
Farmville Presbyterian Church
1/11/25
Anne and I have been able to catch up with a few of you since we returned from our Hawaii trip two weeks ago, but for those whom we have not seen, I will say we had a great time overall. Sure, there were hiccups, but the trip exceeded my expectations for the most part. We got to see so many beautiful and wonderful things, a few of which I have posted to our Facebook page, but there are many more still in our memory and on my camera.
One of the more memorable locations was Kilauea, at the heart of the Volcanoes National Park. As I was putting this message together yesterday evening, I turned on the webcam of live footage of the volcano, and it was gushing lava at that very moment. We went there the first full day in Hawaii, even though Eddie said to avoid the volcano. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and the reason that the island of Hawaii is still growing in size. Sadly, we missed the erupting lava, though we did see glow that night. I remember the first time I stayed near a volcano. It was jarring and unnerving knowing that, while unlikely, it was possible that it might erupt with me nearby. That was Mt. Vesuvius which erupted more than 80 years ago. Much more recently on my Guatemala trips, I was amused by the sight of a number of barely smoking volcanoes. Still, I never actually saw any lava, but I was around volcanoes that I believe were technically were more likely to have action, even if that likelihood was still very small. In Hawaii, there was steam coming forth all over the place in the national park, especially in the crater or caldera. I do have pictures. It was reasonably dramatic. The fascination with this natural wonder far outweighed any perceived danger. It was exciting to see what could be and what might happen.
That is the feeling I bring into today’s reading. It is far too easy to consider the baptism of Jesus as a pleasant day on the side of the Jordan River, a nice opportunity for maybe a picnic lunch as people (including Jesus) were baptized that day. Jesus’ cousin John was there helping to wash people in the promise of God’s coming righteousness. He was very intense and had no need to be a people pleaser. He fit the prophet heralding the coming of God’s Messiah. He would have been shocking and exciting. People came out just to see him and hear him. He was popular, not because people thought his words were entertaining but because he was promising radical change to come any day. He was like that volcano about to erupt at any moment. It was exciting and thrilling and a bit scary.
Then, Jesus comes to him for the same baptism – the baptism of getting ready for God’s work. That’s what is going on. The people are preparing to receive the eruption of God’s Kingdom. But how does anyone really prepare? John is stunned that Jesus is coming to HIM for baptism. Even when John agrees to follow Jesus’ instructions, it must have been tough to play that part. He knew he was not worthy. He knew God’s Kingdom was about to shake that part of the world. He knew his entire life’s purpose was being opened right then and there. Shortly after, he would be executed.
The baptism itself was the most shocking. The heavens were suddenly opened. It is hard to understand what that even means. If we saw something like that, we would be terrified. God’s voice is apparently audible. Again, if we heard what was unmistakably God’s voice, we would be shaking and quaking. The Spirit is also there alighting on Jesus as a dove. All of this is enough to cause an uproar. It was the beginning of a world-shaking event. This event is still shaking the world, if we will see it. Just like our oblivion to volcanic activity far, far away, we can become oblivious to the living work of our living Savior right here in this moment, a work that is reworking Farmville into something closer to the Kingdom John was working to help us find.
Jesus is giving us new collaborators to join the mission. We have three new Elders to lend us new hands and hearts, a new vision, and a new voice. We will continue to grow as a church family with our collaboration in ministry. I am deeply grateful to have this co-ministry that God has given us and that God renews each year. Elders, especially Mike, Catherine, and Marilyn, do not expect this year to be same-old-same-old. We are not here to freeze life in place or to accept the world or our community or our church as it is. We are here to grow, to invite the Spirit’s erupting into our shared life and to find God’s hand leading us. We desperately need your help to make that happen. We need your openness to what God wants – not so much what we selfishly wish but what desires from us. It is all of our responsibility to listen and to work together in following.
This is powerful stuff and will build our fellowship in the Spirit of Christ Jesus. Isaiah’s servant is leading God’s people into deep, certain, and intentional change. It is not flashy or explosive. It flows out from the heart of God and creates something new. The former is passed; it is gone. There is no going back. We can cherish God’s faithfulness in our history, and we can keep those important to us in our memories. They reside in our hearts forever and remain a blessing, but God’s unfolding work goes in one direction. Society and culture demand a fresh response in God’s grace and love. God’s children require a fresh taste of Living Water and the Bread of Life. The family of God needs to be renewed in its communion. We are here today to find something powerful, even unsettling, as we receive a new moment that has never existed in the history of humanity. God is calling us to special, life-changing service, and some of us in particular to the holy task of servant leadership. Our Savior is paving the way and showing us the path we will walk together this year. Hand in hand, we walk by faith. To God be the glory. Amen.