Baptism of Christ

Readings: Isaiah 43v1-7; Psalm 29; Acts 8v14-17; Luke 3v15-17 & 21-22.

Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.

A Word : The readings tell us not only about God’s plans and purposes and our call to be a people of worship but also about baptism and the laying on of hands that is part of the rite of confirmation.

In Luke’s gospel, we hear what took place after John had baptised Jesus. This baptism was a baptism of repentance – the saying of sorry for human sinfulness, the turning away from lives of sin and the turning towards lives lived for God. As Christians we believe that Jesus was baptised for the sins of the whole world, past , present and yet to come. Now in our day and age, as Christians we believe in Baptism as a sign that we are cleansed from our sins and brought into a community headed by Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah.

In the psalm we hear that all people are called to worship and honour the Lord who is enthroned as King forever in his temple because he is mighty and powerful, the one who gives strength and peace to his people. For as we hear through Isaiah, we have a God who makes a number of promises to us. First that all those who are his people are a people that belong to him and are called by name by him. Next that his people do not need to worry or be afraid even at the times of terror and bad things in life because God promises to be there alongside his people. Finally, God promises to gather in all of his people, the people he formed and made, a people from all over the world, a people created for God’s glory. As Christians we believe that we are called to be a people of worship and prayer because we have: a one true God who calls us to him; a one true God who can be trusted in the ups and downs of life; a one true God who gathers in all those who belong to him. In Luke’s gospel, we hear about this gathering in that is led by the Messiah that John said would baptise his people with the holy spirit - before sorting all people into one of two groups: either those who would be gathered in; or those who would be destroyed. As Christians we believe that Jesus is the Messiah because when he was baptised, the veil between earth and heaven opened, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the fluttering of that like a dove and a voice told Jesus, and those who were there, that Jesus is God’s beloved son, the one that God was well pleased with. As Christians we believe that the Holy Spirit that descended on Jesus that day is the same Holy Spirit that John said the Messiah would Baptise God’s people with.

As Christians we also believe that this is the same Holy Spirit that Peter and John prayed the Samarians would receive in the reading from the Book of Acts. For as we hear, after the people of Samaria had accepted the word of God and been baptised, Peter and John were sent to them to pray for them and lay their hands upon them and their prayer was answered and fulfilled as the apostles laid their hands upon them. In our day and age, this is the same action that takes place during the Christian rite of confirmation when the Bishop prayers for each confirmation candidate, lays hands on them and asks for them to be filled with the Holy Spirit. As Christians we believe that in confirmation we are affirming our baptismal promises and taking up the place that God has for us in the body of Christ, the Church, under the leadership of Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah.

Today, let each one of us give thanks for God’s provision for his people through worship and prayer, as well as the sacraments of Baptism and confirmation, and pray for all who guide, lead and teach them.

Let us Pray: Lord of all time and eternity, who opened heaven and revealed yourself as Father at the baptism of your Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit; anoint us that we may be born again, made faithful to our calling and in so doing complete the heavenly work of our re-birth as your adopted children – for the love of Jesus who came and died so we can be saved. Amen

Thanks for joining us today.