Claimed by God and Nothing Can Change That - Sermon on Luke 3:15-22 - 01.13.2019

Listen to the gospel lesson and sermon here.

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,¹⁶ John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.¹⁷ His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."²¹ Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened,²² and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

A little show and tell for you this morning.  “This certifies that Daniel Brady Locke, son of John and Susan Locke was received into the Holy Christian Church through The Sacrament of Holy Baptism in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit in St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Claremont, NC on July 19, 1987.  Signed by Pastor Stanely L. Stiver.

This is my Certificate of Baptism.  My show and tell for the day. I also have, believe it or not, a bulletin, a picture, and the baptismal cloth used to dry my head.  I can never remember what hymn we sang that morning, so it’s nice to look back and see we sang “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me.”  

July 19, 1987.  That’s the day God washed over me, cleansed me, made me whole, and made me an heir to the promise of eternal life.  That is the day that God named and claimed me as God’s child. And from that moment on, there was NOTHING, is nothing that I could/can do, thank God, to change that.  Daniel Brady Locke, child of God.

Now, believe it or not, I don’t remember much of anything about that day.  And to be completely honest, I didn’t know many of the specifics of my baptism until my seminary application directly asked questions about my baptism.

But pictures from that day tell me that I was surrounded by my parents and grandmothers, my 5 year old brother, aunts and uncles, and of course a entire congregation of people I didn’t yet know.  

At 6 weeks old, I was introduced to the sacrament of Holy Baptism.   Water was poured over my head. I was cleansed. I was washed clean from the power of sin, death, and the devil.  God intimately and inextricably claimed me forever. 

How many of you can recall your baptism?  Certainly most of us have no actual memory of the event, but rather do you know what day you were baptized?  Who were your sponsors? In what community of faith were you baptized. Do you recall the promises made by God? By your parents and/or sponsors?  By the community of faith.

Or if you haven’t been baptized, have you given any thought into being baptized?  Do you desire to be apart of the body of christ, to die in a death like Christ, and rise into new life like Christ?  

To be washed by the water and claimed by God as a child of God?

Or best yet, how many times have you participate in a baptism?  As a family member, sponsor, or simply a member of the congregation?  How many times have you replied “We Will and we ask God to help and guide us” when the pastor asks, “Do you promise to support and pray for the newly baptised in their new life in Christ?”

I grew up in the church.  The ELCA was born when I was a year old.  The Lutheran church is all I’ve ever known.  And even though as a kid I didn’t know much about my baptism or the significance of being baptised, I distinctly remember the font.  It was made of wood and stood about 4.5 half feet off the ground. It was about a foot and a half wide and was in the shape of an octagon.  It had pretty, decorative wood carvings around the edges. I have seen many like it since then.

But what I remember most is that it had a silver, metal bowl that sat in the top and there was a wooden lid with a cross on the top.  And for my entire childhood, the font sat off to the side of the sanctuary, with no water, and the lid on top. It was only opened and filled when there was a baptism. 

In retrospect, it seems so strange to me that we would keep something so central to our faith, a sacrament none-the-less, something so foundational to our identity, that we would keep it off to the side and out of mind unless needed.  Why not bring it front and center.  Prominent and overflowing.  A constant visual reminder of the grace of God.  A testament to who and whose we are?

Today we celebrate Baptism of Our Lord Sunday.  Following Advent and Christmas, we continue to the season and Spirit of Epiphany...of Christ being made known, and we celebrate Christ being baptized in the river Jordan.

And Today, our gospel text brings baptism front and center.  John the Baptist was busy preaching and teaching. He was on the scene out of the wilderness and he had developed quite the following. 

Our text says that people were filled with expectation, eager with anticipation. They were questioning whether John might be the one.  The messiah they had longed for. 

Then John does what in my opinion is one of the most humblest things in all of scripture.  Rather than play up the crowds and anticipation and soak in their affection and curiosity. John steps out of the way.  He moves to the side. He points to Christ. John redirects their attention. He bows out and lifts up Christ. 

And out of the crowds, out from among them, Jesus comes forth to be baptized.  And what seems like just another baptism, this one has a different result. The heaves split open and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 

Front and center, at the start of Jesus’ public ministry, God declares Jesus as God’s son, a beloved child, in whom God is well pleased.   Jesus is the Messiah, the one hoped for. All of the crowds’ and the world's expectations fulfilled and assured in that moment.

About the time I was in late elementary school, Pastor Stanley Stiver retired from St. Mark’s, and we welcomed a wonderful man, named Jim Stephenson.   Within his first week, he made two major changes to the worship space. 

First, he pulled the altar away from the wall.   I’ve since learned that they were called Walltars.  Anyways, he moved it forward so that he could stand behind it during communion. 

The second thing he moved was the font.  He placed the baptismal font in the front of the sanctuary, just in front of the steps.  He removed the lid and filled it with water.  And every single sermon, after reading the gospel from the pulpit, he would make his way to the font and preach from the water.  He had a small index card for his notes, and no matter what the topic of his sermon, no matter the text he would always always find some way to play in the water.

He was notorious for splashing around in the water, reminding us of our baptism.  His affection for the font and the water gave deeper meaning and and appreciation for who and whose we are.   He was known for dipping his hands in the water and saying, “in the name of the father, the name of the son and the name of Holy surprises.”

On his last day as our interim, after reading the gospel from the pulpit, he made his way to the font.  Looked down and Smiled as three goldfish swam around in the font. He said, “I wondered how long it would take for this to happen.” 

Pastor Jim brought baptism front and center.  I couldn’t tell you much detail about my baptism, but to this day I can tell you with confidence that Pastor Stephenson's commitment to keeping the sacrament front and center has stuck with me.  I credit him for my love and affection for the sacrament. 

Jesus, God made flesh, born among us took on death and was victorious.  Jesus conquered the grave and the abiding promise of God was fulfilled. God overpowered sin, death, and the devil, making way for new and life eternal.

And it is in the waters of baptism that God claims us as God’s children.  Marked with the cross of Christ, Sealed by the holy spirit. The heavens torn a part, the Spirit descends.  God makes us heirs of God’s promised salvation. God’s victory over death. 

God folds us into the story of compassion, love, grace, peace, and forgiveness.  God clothes us in mercy. And NOTHING, absolutely nothing, thank God, can change the life we have in God.  

Baptism is God’s action.  God’s claiming of us. God’s choosing and naming.  God welcomes us into the body of Christ and makes us heirs to the most incredible promise.  God does this purely out of God’s own goodness. God’s love is that powerful.

On this second Sunday of Epiphany, we celebrate baptism, we bring it front and center intentionally, lest we ever forget who and whose we are.  In the waters we die to our old selves, we are made new. We belong to God. Our identity, in the most holistic sense is inextricably connected to God.

And out of the waters, everything else in our lives is to be a expression of that grace.  A testament to that gift. That child of God and the body of Christ is our one and only true affiliation.  

In the waters God washes away the divisions of world.  Race, ethnicity, sex, gender..all the marks of human-made division fail in the grace of God to offer salvation in this holy sacrament.

Make no mistake that every group, organization, party, club, or other affiliation is a choice we make in our lives.  Some may have dues or regulations, rules and commitments, but in the end, they’re all choices and they all have the ability to fade away.  But baptism, God’s grace-filled claim on God’s people never, never fades away. Never expires. 

This is why baptism and remembrance of baptism is so important.   I love love love our font. I admit I wish it was deeper, but I’ll save that fight for another day.  I love that we literally have to walk around it in order to enter and exit the worship space. And if it weren’t cemented in the back of the church, there’s a good chance I’d be splashing in the water right now.

A few weeks ago, during the birthday for Christ service, I was standing in the back with Tracy Williams and her two daughters.  Cassidy and I were looking at the font and whispering to one another about the font and what it means. So I dipped my fingers in the water and sprinkled a bit at her and said “remember your baptism.”  Cassidy, without missing a beat took her hands in the water like you would in a pool and shoved a big ol wave back at me. Tracy turned around immediately and I confessed that I instigated.

Martin Luther said that we should rise every morning, splash water in our face, make the sign of the cross, and remember that we belong to God.  

The waters are a foundational, integral part of who and whose we are.  If you don’t already, I encourage you to acknowledge the gift of God’s grace each day.  Make the sign of the cross when you wash your face. Open the ELW to page 228 and remember the promises made.  Run your fingers through the water when enter and exit this space. And thank God, who is well pleased, that there is absolutely nothing in all of creation that can change that truth.  

Amen

© Pastor Daniel Locke, preached Jan. 13, 2019 @ St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, Florida

Business (not) as Usual - Sermon Easter 7B - 5.13.2018

Listen to the gospel and the sermon here.

John 17:6-19

⁶”I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; ⁸for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. ⁹I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. ¹⁰All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. ¹¹And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. ¹²While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.¹⁴I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. ¹⁵I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. ¹⁷Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.

On Thursday this past week we celebrated the Ascension of Jesus Christ.  Our friends from All Saints Episcopal Church across the street joined us in worship and celebration.  And on Thursday, the 40th day of Easter we not only celebrated Jesus’ joyful ascension, but we recalled Jesus’ commission to the disciples.  To be witnesses to all the ends of the earth.  From Jerusalem to Samaria and beyond.  Jesus lifted his hands to bless the disciples and while he was blessing them he left them and was taken up into heaven.  The disciples were left looking to the sky

The disciples have had a rough few weeks haven’t they?  For starters they dedicated their lives to following a rabbi, trusting and hoping for him to be the Messiah.   And in a matter of weeks everything seems to come unhinged. First they paraded into Jerusalem knowing good and well that they’ll face opposition.  They share an intimate meal with Jesus not knowing it’d be his last.  Jesus speaks a bit prophetically about things to come.  While praying Jesus is taken into custody.  He is tried, beaten, crucified and murdered.  Their hoped-for Messiah is dead.  But wait, three days later he’s alive, appearing to them behind closed doors and on a dusty road to Emmaus. They rejoice for he is alive and once again among them.  And then there is the Ascension, where Jesus blesses them one last time and then ascends to heaven.  And just like that he’s gone again.  

What a emotional and spiritual whiplash their relationship with Jesus is. They’ve crossed the highest mountains and the lowest lows….through fear, joy, death, betrayal, denial, and hiding, and now after all of that the text says they returned to Jerusalem with great joy...praising God.  

The disciples return to Jerusalem, and it’s back to business as usual. The disciples regroup with a crowd of about 120 people, let’s call it a congregation.  And Peter steps forward to remind them that they down one member, they’re a council member short.  If you recall, Judas who betrayed Jesus chose money and greed over his relationship with Christ and he then took his own life.  So Peter, council president, reminds the congregation that Scripture foretold this moment, and therefore the time has come to fill Judas’ place among the disciples.  So they hold an election.

Maybe I am biased, but does this whole scenario not seem a bit weird?  Hear me out.  We’re only weeks from the shock and awe of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Days after Jesus commissions them and Ascends to heaven.  And this is their priority?  Jesus said go and tell and they said, “yah ok, in a minute…”

Sure replacing Judas fulfills scripture and therefore must take place, but the timing of the whole situation seems odd.  Call me crazy, but your best friend, your rabbi, mentor, teach, messiah was brutally murdered.  He was dead and buried. You were in mourning. Then he rose from the grave. He came to you in your hiding on multiple occasions telling you to hit the streets and spread the word.  

Finally, the once dead now alive Messiah blesses you and tells you to go to all the world and spread the good news…and the first thing they do is check the constitution and its bylaws?

Nevertheless, the nominating committee identifies two among them suited to serve ...Joseph and Matthias.   They cast lots to avoid human influence on the election and the lots fell the Matthias.   So Matthias joined the other 11 disciples in order to fulfill scripture.  Business as normal. Easy enough.

Last Sunday was a Spirit-filled morning. We celebrated the resurrection together over word and wine.   Then I hung out with 4 of our St. Mark’s kids to talk about first communion.  We made bread.  We talked about the sacrament of communion.  We talked about God’s promise of love and grace in the meal.  We talked about Jesus being present through the bread and wine.  We talked about welcoming everyone to God’s table to be fed and nourished.  We even broke bread together over lunch.   I was on fire with the joy of the Spirit when I left this church home! I mean every Sunday those 4 kids reach out their hands to me at the rail, begging to taste and see.  Obviously the Spirit was moving and I was excited.  But the moment I walked in my house, set my stuff down, and let my dog out, I nap.  Apparently my fervor for the Spirit was no match for the couch.

Perhaps it is that I take the Spirit for granted.  I know that Spirit is at work and I know that the Spirit will continue to be at work...so in the meantime I’ll focus on me and the pressures of the world...and I’ll catch the Spirit next week.  

When I woke up from my nap, I made my to-do list.  From washing dishes and vacuuming...answering emails and scheduling appointments.  I was back to business as usual.

What about you?  When you come to this nave, to be among friends and community, siblings in Christ.  When you worship God, receive forgiveness, sing alleluia, and pray for the world.  When you come to the table to be fed and nourished…when you hear the word of God proclaimed, the love and grace of God who loved the world so much that Jesus came to walk among us and experience the depths of life…After all of that, and the Spirit alive within you...what do you do next?  Do you take to the ends of the earth, or do you settle back into business as usual? 

Maybe the disciples had thought they had seen it all.  Death and resurrection. The story of Easter, what could the Spirit possibly do next that they hadn’t seen already. Between resurrection and ascension, was it really possible for the Spirit to catch them off guard...there will be plenty of time for proclaiming the gospel and living out Jesus’ commission later…“yah ok Jesus, in a minute…”

Have you ever experienced this “setting-aside” of the Spirit.  Almost as though we compartmentalize God and the call?  Maybe we feel an immense presence of the Spirit in worship, and like the disciples we’re looking to the ascended Christ in awe,  Yet some time between 11:00 and noon today we might set that aside.  Check it off the list.  Put the lid back on the box until next week?  It’s back to business.

It seems easy to put faith aside.  To prioritize the busy-ness of life over the Spirit.  Give me just a minute God and I’ll be right there.  Hang on for a few days and let me finish these other tasks and then I promise I’ll make some time for the Spirit to lead. It’s easy to move from one thing to the next, carrying on our lives business as usual, unaccepting or unaware that just maybe the power of God in Christ might have actually changed us. 

It is precisely those moments when the Spirit intercedes.  We think we have a handle on things and then the Spirit wakes us up and shakes the priorities of our lives.  Just as we get comfortable the Spirit will be up to something.

I give the disciples a hard time.  And it’s easier looking from the outside in.  At first glance it seems like they haven’t been changed at all by the events that just took place.  But in the midst of their logistical business we glimpse or sign of what’s to come.  The text tells us that they selected two among them as candidates for this apostleship ministry.  And before they cast lots….they prayed.  They prayed “Lord you know everyone’s heart.  Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship.”  Before they cast lots the disciples prayed, “Lord, thy will be done.”  Just as Jesus had taught them.  Lord, thy will be done.

It’s a minor detail in the overall story, but I think it’s a testament to their lives in Christ.  Maybe it’s a tiny change, but it is a powerful change. Even in the midst of their mundane logistical business, they seek God’s guidance and the Spirit’s presence. And if they truly have been changed by God in the death and resurrection of Jesus as well as the commission to proclaim the gospel, then business will never be as usual. That small moment of prayer is a symbol of their new lives in Christ. From here on, everything they do and say, every action they take...Thy will be done. 

Friends, the same is true for us. The Spirit is alive and well within us.  And the Spirit is up to something.  Even in the nuances of our lives...the busyness of work and family...even in the trivial check-list items of our everyday living, the Spirit is working. Make no mistake, we can not separate ourselves from the Spirit.  No matter what we do, we do not go without the presence of the Holy Spirit.  

This is what Jesus promised the disciples at the Ascension.  Jesus promised they we will never walk this journey of life along.  Though he may no longer be physically present, the Spirit accompanies us in our life of faith.   We can not and will not be detached from that truth.  In the resurrection of Jesus we are forever changed.  And perhaps, just maybe...the disciples returned to Jerusalem with great joy...praising God because they finally knew this to be true.  

They may have no idea what the Spirit will do next, and nor do we, but in the meantime, even in the logistical tasks of the early Christian church, the disciples give witness that God’s will be done. I think we would do well to follow their example.  After all the Spirit is not something we can dismiss or defer our attention.  The Spirit is always present.  So rather than delay faith or set the Spirit aside, God would have us embrace her.  It is God’s promise to us..even during tests or projects, exams or deadlines, from reports to elections, to-do lists and beyond...The Spirit abides in us.  It is God’s gift for us. Amen 

© Preached by Pastor Daniel Locke on May 13, 2018 @ St. Mark's Lutheran Church