baptism of the lord
I wonder (Matthew 3:13-17)
Do baptizer and baptized constitute a hierarchy? How was Jesus’ baptism fulfilling all righteousness?
In the waters: Genesis 1:1-5, Mark 1:4-11
Will the water bring death or life?
Signs and sounds: Psalm 29; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Have you not known? Have you not heard? asks Isaiah. Those with ears to hear, let them hear, says Jesus. Day to day pours forth speech, says the psalmist, but God’s speech is pitched in such a register that many cannot distinguish it from silence.
Power and delight: Psalm 29; Mark 1:4-11
As Mark begins, it might seem a little early for Jesus to be commended as one with whom God is well pleased.
God on the loose: Psalm 29; Matthew 3:13-17
Inevitably, in the course of a pastoral career, one encounters that person—the spouse of an active member, or an avid golfer—who claims not to need to attend weekly services because “I can worship God in nature.” Possible comebacks range from mild to sarcastic, but they rarely make any impression. A better question is whether the assertion is correct.
Naming names: Isaiah 43:1-7; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Names are sacred words by which we are individualized. Jesus, in baptism, received a new name. So do his followers. Baptism also sets each of us apart as a particular kind of person—one owned by God. Those who have been baptized are called to live out the meaning of this remarkable reality.
The waters of solidarity: Genesis 1:1-5; Mark 1:4-11
The baptism of Jesus is Mark's Christmas story.