The Heavens Were Torn Apart
Listen.January 11th, 2009
Rev. Dr. Craig A. Wagner
Introduction
For your information I want it to be known that I am not a huge fan of clowns or of any costume that hides a person’s face. Although I am not necessarily afraid, it does make me a little uneasy whenever I see a person dressed as a clown. I wonder to myself, “Who are you?” What are you trying to hide? Sometimes even when I know the person, it feels a little spooky to see them made up or hiding behind a mask. I like to know a person’s identity.
Just as I like to know a person’s identity so others want to know I am who I claim to be. When I applied for a library card in Palatine, the woman at the desk asked for some identification from me. In fact, she asked for two forms of identification. She wanted to make sure I am who I said I am.
At the airport or at border control areas we need identification whether it be a drivers license or a passport, we need to be identified. I don’t imagine it would work very well to go to the airport wearing a mask or a clown face!
Today we commemorate the day when Jesus was baptized by John in the River Jordan and the confirmation and identification of Jesus as God’s beloved Son; a most important identification as we all know.
The heavens were torn apart
Our passage begins with a description of John the Baptist and his stunning announcement concerning a baptism for the repentance of sins. This announcement was the type of announcement that would signal the arrival of the Messiah. People were called to get their life in order through repentance. People would observe the dress and the habits of John and would readily associate him with a prophet. He knew he was not the Messiah, but he came to bear witness to the imminent arrival of the world’s Christ.
It was in those days, when John was issuing the call and performing the baptisms that Jesus arrives and is baptized by John. Following the establishing that Jesus was God’s beloved Son, we begin to wonder why Jesus actually was baptized. Was he sinful? No! He was baptized not in preparation for the arrival of the Messiah, but out of God’s loving concern that the Son identify with the people. We understand that this baptism was according to the Old Testament some which was to be done in preparation for the arrival. Jesus fulfilled the law in every aspect of his life.
When Jesus was baptized the heavens were torn apart. Just imagine what this would have been like. How awesome and fearsome this would have been; the power of God at work cutting into the world in an unfathomable manner! What this event does tell us is that this baptism and identification of Jesus by God was a cosmic event. It has ramifications for the world then and today and tomorrow. This was also the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Following his baptism he would immediately be tempted by the evil one and then he would move into a time of calling his group of disciples to gather around him and join him on an adventurous, live changing mission to bring God’s love, forgiveness and salvation into the hearts and lives of people. He taught in the synagogues and healed people from their diseases. He was actively involved in ministry from his baptism onward.
An interesting fact is that this account of the heavens being torn apart is the beginning of his ministry and as he was dying on the cross, the curtain in the temple was torn apart. Almost like bookends to the story of Jesus’ ministry and mission on earth.
When the heavens opened the identification and confirmation of Jesus happened. The Spirit descended like a dove on him and then the voice from heaven “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” The Father was pleased that Jesus was fulfilling the law and identifying with the people as he went through the baptism. Now the spirit and the voice confirm Jesus as the ONE. He is the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior of the world. And we are allowed in on that miraculous event.
Our baptism
Of course our baptism is different than Jesus’ baptism. In Jesus baptism the heavens were torn apart, the spirit came upon him and the voice confirmed him. In the waters of baptism we are called children of God. The spirit comes to us through the water and the word and unlike Jesus our sins are washed away. Symbolically, we understand our baptism as a death, or drowning, and a resurrection to life in Christ. However, for this morning I suggest that one thing that is similar beyond the arrival of the spirit in our lives and being claimed by God as his sons and daughters, is the fact that Jesus’ baptism signaled his ministry in the world.
We have a problem today. There are many people who view baptism as some sort of mystical magical act. They almost view it as a good luck charm so that there is a need to have a child baptized as an insurance policy so that upon death they will inherit the kingdom. If you think this is not so, simply consider how many children are baptized and how many continue in church through confirmation. Then think about the fact that upon completion of confirmation the young people are not to be seen in church or in congregational activities or ministries until they are married and want their children baptized because it is a good insurance policy!
If we consider Jesus’ baptism and reflect upon his life, we understand that baptism is a beginning point. It is almost like a commissioning act into the service of the kingdom.
Once in a while people ask me the question, “What happens to a baby if the baby dies and is not baptized?” My answer has always been that we rely upon God’s grace and love and pray that the child experiences the fullness of that love through all eternity. I continue by reminding folks that it is not the absence of baptism that condemns a person rather it is the rejection of that baptism by living a life outside the kingdom and the community of faith.
The response to baptism is faith producing works of ministry in the community and a participation in the mission of the church of Jesus Christ. The question remains this morning: How are you actively involved in kingdom work? What sort of ministry have you taken up? There is no excuse. All baptized persons are called to use their abilities for the work of the kingdom. Not all of us have the same resources, talents or abilities, but what God has given us and blessed us with, we are to use. The Spirit of God did not come into our lives through baptism for nothing!
Courage to be
Baptism is a gracious act by God. In the waters of baptism, solely by God’s grace we are made members of the community of Christ. We are gifted with wonderful gifts talents and abilities. From baptism we are nourished through the word, Sunday school, communion, and by other Christian people. We are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and then we are called to commitment and involvement in the work of Jesus in the world today. The awesome power of the Spirit is within us. When we forget or when we reject that power, baptism becomes nothing more than a magical stunt that ignores the power of God and pushes him away.
We are called this morning to consider Jesus’ baptism in the River Jordan by John and then to recall that this commissioning service pushed Jesus into his ministry in the world. Just so, being baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection, we too walk in newness of life; a life lived in service, in praise, in prayer and in the mission of doing our very best for Christ and his kingdom and his glory. In baptism we are called to be children of God so that, just like John the Baptist, we use our lives and our gifts to point beyond ourselves to the glory of the one who is the Messiah of God.
We are reminded of Martin Luther who admonished Christ’s people to remember their baptism each day by making the sign of the cross on their forehead in remembrance of that time when they were baptized. This morning I encourage each one of us to remember our baptism but to also remember that our baptism is also a commissioning service where we are given the tools, and the abilities that we need to pick up our ministry today.
Perhaps some of you as you took a shower this morning remembered your baptism. As the water cascades over us, we make the sign of the cross and remember the waters of baptism and that we are claimed by God.
Don’t let today go by without giving God thanks for the blessing of baptism and don’t let today go by without giving God thanks for the opportunities that we have to live a life glorifying God through our particular ministry and finally give God thanks for including us in the greatest life changing and life renewing mission of sharing Christ with others.
Conclusion
Well it’s hard to believe, but I became confused again last week. This time it was over what cereal I should eat. I noticed that on one package of cereal fiber was highlighted. On another box the encouragement to eat it was made because it was guaranteed to lower cholesterol. Yet another brought to me 12 essential vitamins while another was good for weight loss. Finally, I just gave up and ate what I wanted and enjoyed it immensely. It’s difficult to take seriously the packages of cereal, all detailing that if eaten they will fortify the body. Of course, if I eat any cereal, I know that by noon I will need to be refortified.
In Christ our baptism is complete; by God’s gracious action we are forgiven, renewed, and brought into the kingdom of all eternity. It is complete. Yet in its completeness God’s glory is reflected in our lives of ministry for the sake of the kingdom. We have a great opportunity to live fully for the God who loved us so much that Jesus came into the world, was baptized, picked up his ministry, died for us, and now rules forever. Baptized into Christ, we put on Christ. Gal. 3.26-27. This is our real and eternal fortification. In Christ we are forgiven, renewed and brought into the kingdom of the heavens.
The heavens were ripped apart, the infinite entered human history in Christ and now as God’s children through our baptism, we are called to pick up a ministry and to walk with Jesus forever. God be praised! Amen.