Lights - Camera - Action: God as Director

"Yes, we'll gather at the river, the beautiful, the beautiful river; Gather with the saints at the river; That flows by the throne of God." (Robert Lowry, 1864)  Baptisms - a sacrament in the Presbyterian church - are times when the invisible grace of God is made visible through the holy symbols of water, laying on of hands, marking foreheads with the sign of the cross, and God's Word spoken in blessing those precious ones whom God names and claims for God's own.

So Jesus' baptism in the River Jordan by his cousin, John the Baptist, should be extra special, shouldn't it?  As portrayed in Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22, Jesus appears on the banks of the river among the stream of people waiting for John's words of forgiveness: "I baptize you with water."  Jesus' baptism seems unremarkable - no special ritual - in Luke's gospel account:  "Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized..." (v 21a).  It's not until AFTER the baptism, when Jesus is praying that people's attention is drawn to Jesus.  For the heavens are split open and the Holy Spirit descends on Jesus in the form of a dove.  As if this weren't startling enough, there comes from the heavens a voice (think Charlton Heston):  "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." (v 22b)

Jesus is affirmed, named, and claimed by God - and he hasn't even begun his public ministry yet! The transition from John the Baptist's ministry of repentance is coming to an end (a horrific end) and Jesus is preparing to launch his ministry.  His leadership as preacher/teacher/healer/rabbi/Savior/Lord begins with God's affirmation of a special relationship with God's Son.

Is God well pleased with us because we love and serve and do pleasing things - or - does God love and affirm us who are baptized into God's family?  With such affirmation, how do we respond to God?  On this week prior to President Obama's inauguration and Martin Luther King Day, Trinity also prepares to ordain and install new leadership.  While doves may or may not descend from the heavens, the words "With you I am well pleased" should ring in our Elders and Deacons ears.  May the Holy Spirit rest on their shoulders as they too prepare for the more public nature of their call to leadership and a ministry of presence.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Shelley