A matter of perspective

 

Naaman learned that when it comes to God's work, seeing God's mercy and love is a matter of perspective.  You remember Naaman, don't you?  2 Kings, chapter 5, Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Syria.  Syria, as you may know was one of the super powers of the day.  We are told that Naaman was a mighty man of valor... but he had leprosy, that debilitating skin disease that rotted a person on the inside and out.  Naaman's wife had a servant girl who was an Israelite.  This little girl spoke of a prophet in the land of Israel, this prophet was Elisha.  When Naaman went to see Elisha, he was told to wash in the Jordan river 7 times and his leprosy would be healed.


Naaman took one look at the Jordan and said no way.  This dirty river is no place to wash and become clean.  He was right, the Jordan was dirty, think Mississippi river dirty, think waste water, runnoff and you get the picture of what kind of river we are talking about.  This river was so dirty it flowed to a place that we call the Dead Sea.  Naaman knew if you want nice clean and clear waters, there was no place like Syria, his home.  And so he went away angry. 


Naaman only looked at what Elisha said from a worldly perspective, and from this perspective Elisha offered nothing extraordinary.  Naaman wanted a show from Elisha, something extravegent.  But his servants encouraged him to do what the prophet had told him to do.  Sure enough that menial task of washing in that dirty river cured Naaman's leprosy.  Now Naaman saw things from a heavenly perspective.  He recognized that Elisha's God was the only true God and from that point on Naaman only worshiped the Lord.


Now the account of Naaman brings to mind baptism.  But isn't if often the case that we loose sight of the heavenly perspective of baptism and focus on just the earthly aspect?  When we have a Baptism, what do you see?  Do you, even if for a moment, think to yourself, "well, this will make church longer."  Maybe if you are less cynical and more sentimental, you see this cute little baby along with the whole family assembled.  Don't get me wrong, that is a wonderful scene.  But when if comes down to it, if our perspective remains only earthly, we have an infant who gets brought up and handed over to a guy that is wearing some strange outfit who says some things and then splashes water on the child and then hands him or her back to their parents.  No awe inspiring experience, just plain old water, the same kind that goes to the kitchen and bathrooms throughout the church.  So what makes Baptism so special?


Today, our Gospel reading provides us with the answer.  So let us look at the Baptism of Jesus Christ so that we may see it not just from an earthly perspective but from a heavenly one and in doing so, we will find the comfort and blessing that Baptism gives and daily return to this life giving font.


Just as with the Baptisms we witness here at the font, from an earthly perspective, the beginning of Christ's baptism doesn't look like anything special.  Ritual washing was a normal part of Jewish life.  So while John's baptism of repentance had a new twist on things, it was not an unusual event to see.  We also know that Jesus himself didn't look all that extrordinary.  In fact if you had come to the Jordan that day... you would probably be hard pressed if someone asked you to point out Jesus on sight alone. 


And this is why we have such a hard time understanding Jesus' baptism isn't it?  We know Jesus wasn't just "some guy" just like the rest of the people that John baptized that day, and John knew this as well.  John's right, Jesus didn't have a single sin to repent of.  And this is where we begin to see that an earthly perspective will lead us no where.  John's response to Jesus request wasn't because of something he could see just by looking at him, but rather, it was because John knew that Jesus was the promised Messiah, and proclaimed him to be the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world.


John himself didn't even pick up on the significance of that statement.  You see the whole point of the sacrificial lamb was that it was meant to be a substitute.  The sins of the people were transferred to the lamb.  And so it was in fact fitting for Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, to stand amongst the sinners.  Picture it this way.  That Jordan river, which had been used for washing, had the sins of all the people in it.  And as Jesus came to the river that day he did so as the Lamb, a pure, spotless, unblemished Lamb.  When John relented and Baptized Jesus it was as if all those sins were placed on the shoulders of Jesus.  He was now the one who would bear the sins of the people, and the water was now clean.  Oh sure if you looked at the Jordan it was just as dirty... but now from a heavenly perspective, this water (along with all water in all places) would be made clean and consecrated for the salvation of God's people.


As Jesus rose from the water that day, heaven broke through, the voice of God could be heard, the Holy Spirit could be seen descending on Jesus like a dove.  With Christ the tables were now turned.  God had reached through into the lives of his people and showed them His heavenly perspective.  God the Father declared that day, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."  With these words, God the Father identifies Jesus Christ as the Suffering servant of Isaiah 42, "Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations."  But not only that Jesus is also identified as the anointed King of Psalm 2, "As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill." I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession."


At Jesus's baptism, all the promises of God to His chosen people were placed on His shoulders.  Jesus was now the whole nation of Israel in one man, and through Him God's people would be identified.


And so it is with our own baptisms.  An earthly perspective does not see what is really going on, however from a heavenly perspective, we can now see God's work in action.  No matter how sweet that child may seem, the reality is that from birth each and every one of us were born enemies of God and children of the devil.  This condition in which we all were born, our original sin, some have called a Spiritual Leprosy.  It makes us outcasts before God, dirty, tainted sinners.


Yet when that simple water is joined to the Word of God it does wonderful things.  Sure the heavens don't open up, but when you hear pastor say, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," God makes that same proclamation, "This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased."


But Satan doesn't want you to believe it.  He wants you to just focus on things from an earthly perspective.  He wants you to regard this baptism as just a nice ritual and nothing else... but dear Christians, the one who Baptized you is stronger than the devil.  Because it is God's Word that makes baptism, it is God who baptizes, it is God who declares you to be His child.  He has given you the Holy Spirit.  Through the Word, the Holy Spirit points you to your baptism because there you were united with Christ.


But let's be clear about this, Baptism is no light matter.  You must realize realize that it is no joke at all to take action against the devil and not only to drive him away from the little child but also to hang around the child’s neck such a mighty lifelong enemy.  And so in Baptism we are thrown into battle.  This is why we are called the Church Militant.  This battle is one that has been fought already.  Paul says this in our Epistle reading, in Baptism we were baptized into Christ's death.  In baptism we have been crucified with Christ.  He has taken our sin upon himself and at the cross our old sinful Adam died.

You know that old Adam quite well.  Even though he was drowned in baptism... he sure likes to swim.  He rears his ugly head all the time.  And so our whole Christian life is one of returning to those waters of our Baptism.  When that old Adam emerges,  Repent!  For repentance is nothing more than turning away from our sin and back to the promise God made to us in our baptism.

Just as in Baptism, we have been crucified and buried with Christ, we are also raised to a new life with him.  The new life freed from sin, lived out in good works towards our neighbor. 




Baptism from an earthly perspective

 

Baptism of Christ from an earthly perspective:

 

Baptism of Christ from a heavenly perspective

 

Your Baptism from a heavenly perspective