[Propertalk] Sermon ideas, Baptism of Jesus - Jan. 9 - Part 4

Sat Jan 8 22:35:31 EST 2011

It is unclear whether the voice from Heaven would have been heard by all those present, but such an affirmation of status and honour would make no sense unless it were heard publicly. Indeed, in some ways, it is possible to read the rest of the account of Jesus' life as being public confirmation of what is announced at Jesus' baptism.

http://www.holytextures.com/2010/12/matthew-3-13-17-year-a-epiphany-1-baptism-of-the-lord-jesus-sermon.html

David Ewart
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The baptism of Jesus was a important feast in the early church, more important than Christmas.  

http://www.georgehermanson.com/2008/01/being-bathed-in.html

George Hermanson
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I think that John's "temptation" of Jesus presents a struggle for us and our churches -- especially concerning "meeting needs" vs. "doing all that God requires". There are churches whose motto is: "Find a need and fill it." I don't think that Jesus came simply to "meet needs." I don't think that God created churches simply to "meet needs," but "to do all that God requires." 

http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/matt3x13.htm

Brian Stoffregen
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Matthew's account depicts a Jesus who explicitly consents to baptism with saying "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" (3:15b)-which are Jesus' first words in Gospel of Matthew. 

http://www.goodpreacher.com/shareit/readreviews.php?cat=28

Francisco Lozada, Jr.
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In his version of the Lord's Prayer, Luke has "debts," and he means money.
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Matthew uses idou to announce something important.  "Behold!  The heavens were opened."  This is a moment of special revelation.  The abyss between heaven and earth is traversed.  "And the spirit of God descended like a dove on him." 
Said the prophet Isaiah, "Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down" (64:1)  In continuity with the vision of Isaiah, God does come down, all the way down into the muck and mire of human existence.  Moreover, God comes down not with John's fire, but as a dove, with peace.

http://www.progressiveinvolvement.com/progressive_involvement/2011/01/l.html

John Petty, 2011
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Let it be so now. John's sense of propriety, of the way things should be or would be has been turned upside down-he is perplexed and grasping for the order he had hoped to impose.  But Jesus' response is, Let it Be So Now.  For it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness. Righteousness is fulfilled when the order is turned upside down and one does not move to right it, but breathes in, breathes out and prays, Let it Be So Now.

http://thehardestquestion.org/yeara/baptismgospel/

Russell Rathbun
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Coming onto the scene and asking for baptism, Jesus is announcing himself as the one promised by God through the prophet long ago. And John's response clearly indicates his awareness of himself not as the One promised but as the one who prepares the way for that One. Jesus "announces himself," F. Dean Lueking writes, "as the fulfiller of the grace which gives sinners who have no standing before God a place to stand in a new relationship to God. 

http://www.ucc.org/worship/samuel/january-09-2011-i-the.html

Kate Huey, 2011
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So imagine for a moment, Working Preacher, if during your sermon you took a moment to invite people to remember some of the more difficult names they have been called during their lives, the names that no matter how long ago they were uttered endure in their memories, dogging them through the day and haunting them at night. Names like "Stupid" or "Egghead," "Fatso" or "Ugly." Names like "Loser" or "Priss," "Know-it-all" or "Victim". Ask them to call to mind these names for one painful moment so that they can then hear God say to each of them, "No! That is not your name. For you are my beloved child, and with you I am well pleased."

http://www.workingpreacher.org/dear_wp.aspx?article_id=443

David J. Lose, 2011 
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In all the gospels the baptism has a mythical quality as portraying a point where the heavenly world and earthly reality meet. It is a kind of Chalcedonian confession set in narrative. Like the story of the star, the opening of the heavens is a symbolic narrative making a statement about the breakthrough which is to come. 

http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/MtBaptismJesus.htm

William Loader
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Dean McIntyre tells a story about the greatest Christmas gift he received this year. It was a card from the singer and songwriter Ken Medema that contained a $10 bill in it along with the instructions to use the money as Dean saw fit. He writes, "I had Ken's $10 bill in my wallet when I stopped at the grocery store on my way to work one morning. In the checkout lane next to mine was an older couple who spoke in a thick east European accent of some kind. They did not have enough money to pay for their purchases, which appeared to me to be all staples-no frills or extras. They were having to decide which of their purchases to send back to the shelves. I gave Ken's $10 to my own checker and asked her to give it anonymously to the young woman checking out the older couple. It covered their deficit and allowed them to keep a few dollars in their pocket. They were gratefully confused as I watched them head for the door." 
Isn't that the way our baptism works? It is a gift that contains within it the generosity of God, a gift that through us keeps on giving. 

http://christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2008-01/baptized-submission

Erin Martin, 2008
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Verse 16: "the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him": Has not Jesus possessed the Spirit before? 

http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/apr01l.shtml

Chris Haslam 
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In submitting himself to John, Jesus combines great power and acquiescence. Jesus is not a king who won't deign to tread the humble paths of his servants. Jesus' hold on his power is not so tenuous that he must zealously hold on to it at all times. For Jesus, power and humility, authority and submission, power and relationship are not at odds.

http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=1/9/2011

Eric Barreto, 2011
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