The story is told that near Rome, Italy, a mechanic started the propeller of a plane and accidentally turned on the fuel. The engines fired. To his amazement the plane ran along the ground, rose smoothly into the air, and went through what appeared to be a series of complicated maneuvers. It looked as if an expert pilot were in the cockpit. Then the wind caught the plane, overturned it, and threw it to the ground where it burst into flames. For many Christians – we are much like that plane – we need guidance and direction in our lives. The gift of the Holy Spirit is that gift of guidance and direction that God gives each of us as His followers. Yet when we talk about the Holy Spirit – many of us – especially us Lutheran Christians have difficulty understanding and talking about the gift of the Holy Spirit. It’s like the story of an elderly Chinese Christian who was attempting to describe his faith in the Holy Trinity. He said – “Honorable Father – very good!” “Honorable Son – also very good!” Then this elderly Chinese man continued: “Honorable Bird – I do not understand!”
And so it often is with us as well – yet nothing in the New Testament happens without the power and gift of the Holy Spirit. In our second reading from the eighth chapter of Acts we are told how the Samaritans received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Remember back in the first chapter of Acts we’re told (Acts 1: 6-9, NRSV): “6So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” As we look at the beginning of chapter 8 here in the book of Acts – we’re told that the death of Stephen began an intensive period of persecutions against the church in Jerusalem and Christians began to flee to the surrounding areas. (Acts 8:1b-8, NRSV):8:1bThat day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. 2Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. 3But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house;
dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.4Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. 5Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. 6The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, 7for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many
others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. 8So there was great joy in that city.”
So Philip, we are told, one of the followers of Jesus Christ – begins preaching in Samaria. Samaria – the land of the gentiles – the land of non Jews – a foreign land. But all this in fulfillment of what Jesus said would happen when he ascended to heaven. God used Philip to do great things – God used Philip to bring others to Jesus. The people of Samaria would have naturally been unfriendly to outsiders – especially Jews – but God through the power and presence of Holy Spirit – is with Philip and Philip has great success. But yet there is one thing that should puzzle us about the record of Philip’s success in Samaria. For all the power and effect of his witnessing – the Spirit is not bestowed upon the folks in Samaria but rather later – the two apostles who have played the leading role in the growth of the church – Peter and John come to Samaria and lay hands on the newly baptized so that they may receive God’s presence in the Holy Spirit. This action on the part of the leaders of the church places the stamp of approval upon the outreach to the Gentiles – to folks beyond Jewish roots.
What we see in this text that rings true for us is that baptism and the laying on of hands are closely associated. In our tradition – in the sacrament of Holy Baptism – we pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit in the person’s life in the laying on of hands with these words: “God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we give you thanks for freeing your sons and daughters from the power of sin and for raising them up to a new life through this holy sacrament. Pour your Holy Spirit upon name: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence.” If the newly baptized is an infant or young child – we come around again at Affirmation of Baptism – confirmation and ask that person to say yes to the God who has said yes to them. Again – we lay hands upon their heads and pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives with these words: “Father in heaven, for Jesus’ sake, stir up in name the gift of the Holy Spirit; confirm his/her faith, guide his/ her life, empower him/ her in his/ her serving, give him/ her patience in suffering, and bring him/ her to everlasting life”. You see it’s clear that we received the presence of God – the gift of the Holy Spirit in baptism and it was stirred up again within us when we affirmed or confirmed our faith – or when we united with the church.
Today is a major festival in the life of the church – it is the festival of the baptism of our Lord. When Jesus was baptized – he came to the Jordan to be baptized to identify with us as sinners. In the waters of the Jordan – Jesus was baptized –and in his baptism – Jesus identifies with us by saying – I know what it’s like to be human – to know the joys and pains of life. In Jesus’ baptism – God places his stamp of approval upon His Son and says to him (Luke 3:22, NRSV): “22and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” When we were baptized a similar thing happened for us — God promises to be with us – with His presence – we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and God in Jesus Christ says to us in the waters baptism – you are my son – you are my daughter – I am pleased with you. In other words – when the waters come over our heads – God in Jesus Christ promises that He will be with us no matter what happens in life and he says to us in these waters names — I am pleased with you. You are my son/ daughter. Baptism is our life line to God’s promise of His presence – that He will be with us no matter what. Baptism is a reminder to us of these words from our first reading (Isaiah 43:1, NRSV):1But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.’ In the waters of Baptism – God in Jesus Christ calls us y name and tells us we belong to Him. Christ Jesus claims us in these waters and we know that we belong to Him and that nothing – absolutely NOTHING will keep us from His love – as the Scriptures promise us (Romans 8:38-39, NRSV): :” 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
On this Baptism of our Lord Sunday — this promise of God’s presence becomes real for us in a number of ways. We experience God’s presence in our lives here today as we gather for worship. In word and sacrament we are touched by the presence of God. God in Jesus Christ comes to us in the reading of the Scriptures — the preaching of the sermon — the liturgy — the special music. God in Christ Jesus comes to again in His body and blood — the bread and wine of the Eucharist as Jesus says to us — t his is my body given for you — this is my blood shed for you. Also as we are gathered here today — we come as God’s people — together. In our midst God is here. Listen to the words of medical doctor and missionary, Dr. Eugene Brand writing in the book Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: “Jesus departed, leaving no body on earth to exhibit the Spirit of God to an unbelieving world — except the faltering, bumbling community of followers who had largely forsaken Him at His death. We are what Jesus left on earth. He did not leave a book or a doctrinal statement or a system of thought; He left a visible community to embody Him and represent Him to the world....we are the body of Christ. The Spirit has come and dwelt among us, and the world knows an invisible God mainly by our representation, our enfleshment of Him. ..We form God’s presence in the world through the indwelling of His Spirit.”
Wow — what a gift — what a promise. All of us -- we are the promise of God’s presence to one another. For we are the arms — the feet — the voice of Christ in the world. When someone one is walking a road that is painful or difficult — we as the body of Christ can be there with a touch of assurance — a word of encouragement — a caring ear — that my brothers and sisters in Christ is yet another way that we experience the promise of God’s presence that He is with us always — through each other as the body of Christ.
In a few moments as I like to do on this festival day we will affirm our baptismal promises — we will have the opportunity to say Yes again to the God who has said yes to us. As we do that — I invite all of us to pay attention to the words of the affirmation of baptism liturgy — and hear the words of promise — the promise of God’s presence. For God in Jesus Christ has promised to be with us in the days -- months -- and years ahead. No matter what our journey may be in the year ahead -- we go forward knowing that God in Jesus Christ goes with us. We experience the promise of His presence through word and sacrament — through our prayers — through each other. Yet knowing that God walks alongside of us no matter what lies ahead is a promise that makes it possible for us to journey into the unforseen future ahead of us. We go because we know God goes with us. And so, my brothers and sisters in Christ as we affirm our baptism once again – it’s a time that we can give our lives to Jesus again. Saying yes –affirming our baptism – or recommitting our lives to Christ is something we can do again and again and again. Perhaps –some of us recommitted our lives to Christ at the Christmas Eve service when the opportunity was given to us – perhaps we said yes to following Jesus just a moment ago as we entered worship – it doesn’t matter – we can give ourselves – our lives – our hearts – our wills to Jesus once again through the affirmation of baptism. This Baptism of our Lord Sunday is a time for us to celebrated God’s love and promise that He will be with us always and to give thanks for the gift of His presence in the Holy Spirit. This Baptism of our Lord Sunday is also a time for us to once again – let go and let God.
In closing – I share a story that has become important to my walk with Christ through the years. It’s the story of man walking along the edge of a cliff – he slips off the edge – and just as he’s ready to plunge to valley below – he grabs a branch of a shrub sticking out the edge of the cliff and hangs on for dear life. In that moment he looks up to heaven and prays to God saying – God help me. In a flash he hears a voice –I’ll help you my child – just let go! As he holds on to that branch tighter and tighter – the branch begins to give away ever so slightly – and again – he cries out – God help me! – Again the voice – I’ll help you my child – just let go! Again the struggle – again the branch giving way slightly – again the cry – God help me — again the voice – I’ll help you my child – just let go – finally in desperation the man looks up to heaven again and shouts – is there anybody else there??
Baptism of our Lord Sunday becomes a time for you and for me to let and let God take charge – won’t you join me this day in giving your life once again to Jesus? I hope and pray you do. Amen
