1. John the Baptist

In this new year of 2009, we continue to trace the life and times of Jesus. We have already turned our attention to Luke and reflected upon Mary’s conception at Christmas. Mary accepted the annunciation hesitatingly, by saying to the angel: “May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38). Last week, we looked at Matthew and followed the episode of Herod’s plot to kill the new born Jesus, who was saved by the divine power of God.

Then Luke revealed how Jesus changed direction in his life: “Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph” (Luke 3:23). But before commencing his ministry he was baptised by John the Baptist. So today we will contemplate that very event. A most important occurrence for us because we also commenced our Christian life by being baptised.

Mark describes the scene, “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan” (Mark 1:9). “At that time” signifies the period when John the Baptist began his ministry. He was a compelling preacher: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 3:2). After hearing rumours of John’s ministry, Jesus set out from his hometown of Nazareth, where he was working as a carpenter, and came to the desert region of Judea to be baptized by John the Baptist. Commentators believe that John started his preaching in about 28 C.E., which corresponds to the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar (Luke 3:1).

In that era, Judea was under control of the Roman Empire, and many bloody rebellious movements involving the Jewish people occurred there. They zealously sought independence. It was embarrassing for the Jewish people to be dominated by Gentiles, like Romans, because they considered themselves to be God’s people. They were aspiring to the arrival of the Messiah, who would emancipate them from their current shameful situation.

At that very time they heard about John. They thought perhaps that John might be the long expected messiah: “The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River” (Mark 1:5).

Jesus too was among those who sought to be baptised by John. And when it was accomplished we read, “As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’” (Mark 1:10-11).

2. Baptism with Water

Today we examine the meaning of Jesus’ Baptism by focusing on two points. The first point is there are two types of baptism. For instance, John the Baptist says: ” I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8).

We too are baptized by entering into the water after confessing our sins and repenting. However, some of us lose the faith and drift away from our earlier decisions. There are also those who remain faithful, but are unmoved after the event. It is true, that those decisions and symbolic actions like a baptism with water cannot necessarily bring about regeneration or new life.

Jesus’ ministry commenced with baptism from John, and his life ends with another baptism through death on the Cross, as it was written by Mark: “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” (Mark 10:38).

Cup and baptism are metaphors for the suffering and death Jesus faced. My personal understanding of the meaning of baptism recorded by the Gospel is this: Baptism with water is a symbolic act which opens the door to Jesus. Then, as we mature in the faith we arrive at a time when we feel empowered by the Holy Spirit, and ready to bear witness to the cross ourselves. At that time we should feel refreshed, regenerated, with visions of a new life.

I personally believe that the real significance of baptism is the sharing of Jesus’ suffering and death on the Cross. However, frankly speaking, I could not understand that for long time. In fact my first baptism was at the age of 20. Since then I regularly attended Sunday services at the church, but my life-style was not changed at all. One day of Sunday worship, followed by 6 days in business, made me to feel like a righteous man.

But at the age of 45, I experienced an incident, which broke the illusion and forced me to acknowledge my sinful condition. In more detail, I hurt my son, mentally and physically, during an aggressive dispute. In consequence our lines of communication was broken. Moreover the entire family relationship became dark and repugnant. So much so I attended an evening school of theology to seek a way of forgiveness. As time passed by, through biblical studies, I gained some insight into the nature of my sin. Remorsefully, I prayed to God. Then suddenly I felt as if I received the second baptism, not with water but with the spirit. The conviction was so strong, that I decided to quit the company I worked for after 30 years of service.

Some feel empowered by the spirit when they are baptised with water. In addition to the baptismal water, Jesus also received the Spirit of God in the form of a dove (Mark 1:10). Others may never feel the movement of the spirit in their life. Great Christians throughout history have often experienced dramatic encounters with God after salvation. It is also true that equally devout, effective Christians have gone through life without such a ’second work,’ of grace. In any case the first step to becoming a Christian member of the Baptist Church, is to be baptised with water. Therefore, I earnestly invite those here today who are not yet baptized to make a decision. And to those who have already been baptized with water, please pray for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

3. Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Mark describes the scene of Jesus’ baptism with the words, “heaven being torn,” an apocalyptic image of a heavenly response. On the second point of the lecture, we will reflect on the meaning and significance of “heaven being torn” (Mark 1:10). But, first I will read today’s invocation verses: Isaiah 63:18 - 64:1 “For a little while your people possessed your holy place, but now our enemies have trampled down your sanctuary. We are yours from of old; but you have not ruled over them, they have not been called by your name. Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! ”

Mark’s verse 10, draws on the Old Testament book of Isaiah. And the background to the Isaiah verses is the event which happened in 587 B.C. The Babylonian invasion and occupation of Jerusalem. Conquering soldiers burned the city. They killed Jewish men and raped women. Inhabitants were starving.

The author of Lamentations portrays these terrifying scenes: “Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of famine; racked with hunger, they waste away for lack of food from the field. With their own hands compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food when my people were destroyed” (Lamentations 4:9-10).

The described scene is the embodiment of Hell itself. And those terrible acts were committed not only in the ancient world, but also in modern times, after the second world war for example. At that time the Japanese who had gone into China or Manchu came back to the home country by traveling through former enemy territories.

Normally these journeys were very dangerous, endured under harsh conditions. A large number of Japanese women were raped and became pregnant. Furthermore, after coming back to their homeland, they were segregated and stigmatised with the label of “illegal pregnancy,” and forced to undergo abortions. Many of them died due to poor medication, malnutrition, and other surgical procedures. Such miseries were caused by wars which were generated by sinful humans.

Recognising such degradation and sin in Old Testament times, the Jewish people prayed, “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down . . .” (Isaiah 64:1). To such lamentations God later responded by sending his Son. As long as wars occur tragedies will continue. Therefore we must pray, “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down.” Mark again uses a similar expression, “torn”, later in his Gospel, “The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (15:38). That was the very moment when Jesus died on the Cross. That means God responded once again after a period of silence. The torn curtain symbolizes the achievement of Jesus’ mission through His own death, which made all previous animal-sacrifices useless.

We accept that truth when we receive baptism with water and are waiting the receiving of the Holy Spirit. Because Jesus said ” your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"(Luke 11:13) So now, let us pray, as we wait for the promised Holy Spirit.