SERMON 88 - 7 JANUARY 2017

Sermon at All Saints’ Church, Whiteparish -  BCP Evensong  – Sunday 8th January  2017

Joshua 3:1-8; 14-24; Luke 3:15-22

May I speak in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.

Today’s two reading have many things in common and the obvious one is the role which the River Jordan has played in both the Old and the New Testament – a link which provides a continuity in the story of our Faith as Christians.

In our first reading from Joshua, we are presented with an account of the crossing of the River Jordan by the Israelites into the promised land.  They have with them the Ark of the Covenant in which were deposited the tablets given to Moses and jars containing Manna collected when they were in the wilderness.  It was the belief that within the Ark God resided until such time as the Ark was placed in a permanent Temple setting.  Therefore it was with great reverence and ceremony that the Ark was transported and escorted by the priests. We are told that the River Jordan was brimming over at this time and that in order to cross the river it was necessary for the priests to dip their feet into the river and bear the Ark across to the centre and a dry pathway made for the people to cross.

This of course, is an allusion to the parting of the Red Sea when Moses and the Israelites crossed that stretch of water with Pharaoh and his troops pursuing them during the great Exodus.  Once again the power of God is displayed before the people reminding them that Joshua is the rightful successor to Moses in leading the people onwards and it is also a further reminder that it is only with the presence of God that such miracles are possible.  For the Jewish people, therefore, this crossing of the Jordan became symbolic with healing and goodness and the river a sacred place.

In our New Testament reading from Luke’s gospel, we receive one of four different and separate accounts of the baptism of Jesus in that same river, the Jordan.  It is interesting and important to note that this event is one of only a few which are recorded in all four gospels and, indeed, Mark begins his account of the life of Jesus with his baptism.  We can therefore be certain that this event is a very significant one for our Faith as Christians and baptism itself remains one of only two sacraments which the Anglican Protestant Church acknowledged after the Reformation.

A question which is often asked is “why did the Son of God, need to be baptised?  Surely it should be the Son of God who is doing the baptising?”  Indeed, in Matthew’s Gospel (3:14-15) John the Baptist says to Jesus – “Surely you should be the one baptising me” but Jesus insists saying “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness”. 

We further read that John the Baptist had already predicted the coming of Jesus and that whilst he, John, baptised with water from the sacred River Jordan, Jesus would baptise with the Holy Spirit.  However, it must be remembered that Jesus was born in human form and as a human being must set an example to all humans who want to follow a good and righteous life.  By becoming baptised he demonstrated the new life, the born again existence, which was necessary for his ministry on Earth to be righteously fulfilled as he told John. We are told that as Jesus re-emerges from the waters of the Jordan so the Holy Spirit is seen descending upon him like a dove from Heaven.

I think this piece of theology is beautifully portrayed in the famous painting by Piero della Francesca which was painted about 1450 and which can be seen in the National Gallery in London. I have brought a couple of copies of this wonderful piece of art with me this evening and I invite you to spend a few minutes looking at it and reflecting upon your own baptism and confirmation.

The painting clearly portrays Jesus being baptised by John, his head surmounted by the dove representing the Holy Spirit.  John’s hand, the bird and the bowl form an axis which divides the painting into two symmetrical parts.
Behind John we see a man in white briefs struggling to get out of his undershirt and the three angels on the left wear different clothes and not, as tradition would have had it at the time, holding Jesus’ garments but each other’s hands.

With the man in the background preparing for his own baptism we see here not a special event just for Jesus; but his baptism being in the course of a communal event signifying that Jesus has come for all and we are reminded of Paul’s statement in his letter to the Philippians (2:6 onwards) – “Christ Jesus … though he was in the form of God did not regard himself [with equality] with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself taking the form of a slave being born in human likeness and being found in human form humbling himself and becoming obedient …”

I think that this also emphasises the need for baptisms today to be communal events within the body of the Church rather than private affairs.  After all we are welcoming into the Body of Christ new members and this is a time of great rejoicing for all.  We read in the Acts of the Apostles how many came to Christ and were baptised at the same time – whole households.

Jesus by being baptised himself set a great example.  He received the Holy Spirit so that in due course it might be available to all.  During the times of the Old Testament we read of the Holy Spirit being bestowed upon individuals at specific times for specific purposes – for example Saul and David and Elijah and Elisha.  Jesus came for all and by being publicly baptised with both water and with the Holy Spirit descending upon him, he was able to give it to all – that we ourselves may be baptised in both water and spirit.

Let us pray

Lord Jesus we thank you for having come upon us and been baptised in the River Jordan

We give praises that the Holy Spirit descended upon you and that we in turn may now receive its blessings

We acknowledge you to be the Son of God, our Saviour and Mediator and we look forward to your return again when the world will be made new and all sufferings cease.

 

Amen

88/06012017