Reflections...

A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on Sunday 9 January 2011 by Roy Njuabe. The scripture readings that day were Isaiah 42:1–9, Act 10:34–43 and Matthew 3:13–17.


John the Baptist or John the baptizer, whatever name you call him, was a great prophet. He feed on locust and wild honey, he dressed in clothe made of camel`s hair and had a leather belt round his waist. If we see such a person today around us dress like John, are we not going to call him a mad man? But in the scripture it says people went to him confessing their sins and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan. Well I don`t know if this river was cold or hot, but as the scripture says it was at the desert of Jordan, definitely it should be warm. He stood in the water while baptizing people; he could identify who was good person and who was bad person. He said to the people he claimed were bad people; who asked you to run away from your sins repent and be baptized or else you will see what God will do to you. Who warn you to flee from the coming wrath of God? John identified these group of people as not worthy to received baptism unless they repent from their sins. John pointed his finger directly to them and said you are bad people so I can`t baptize you unless you repent.

I know if today a pastor point a finger to a person that he is like “a viper”, the pastor will not just be send out of the church, but he or she will not be allowed to enter the church again.

But in John`s time, people seek to be baptized though John used hatch words to them. Sometime I wondered if they really knew what John was saying. John said; don`t feel that because you are the children of Abraham implies you are save from your sins. To be saved is not a matter of inheritance, but to repent and be baptized. Then you can be identified as a child of God. He told them that God can rise up children for Abraham from stones. This means that they have no identity at all unless they repent and be baptized.

While John baptized those who repented, a man who had no sin came to him. This man is faithful and righteous. He is Jesus. Here John is caught in a situation that is above his level. He has to baptize Jesus: a man whom he described as someone whose sandals he is not fit to carry. Jesus all the way from Galilee seeks baptism from John who is far lower than Him. He humbles himself before John for water baptism.

In our society today, some of the high level Christians or pastors who claim the power of baptism are in the hands of so call spiritually able or pastors will not dare to receive Holy Communion from a church member who is not ordained. However Christ proves to us from this text that even the lowest amongst you can do great things in His authority and name.

The biggest question in this text is not even why Jesus did allow himself to be baptized by John but “Why did he receive baptism at all” He is a righteous man. But His answer to this question was pretty clear in verse 15 where He said “let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness”. Jesus wants to identify with us in baptism, that when we are baptized, it not only to wash away our sin but it gives us a new identity in Christ Jesus, that together we belong to one baptism. “Your baptism is your identity”. You belong to a family, you have a brother, and you have a sister. You have a seal in your life and this seal can never be taken away from you. Your baptism is only to you alone, it doesn`t extend to any member in your family. That is why John said to the Pharisees and Sadducees, don`t think that because Abraham is your father means that you will be saved. He went further to say from these stones God can raise children for Abraham. John made it clear that the kingdom of God does not belong only to the Jews, but to those who believe in Him and do what is right in His sight.

You may feel rejected in the community, you may feel like you have no identity. But in Christ you have an identity.

I recalled of a story about my friend. His parent had divorced. His mother was married to another man and his father to another woman. Whenever this boy visited his mother, she rejected him that he does not belong to this family; he should go and live with his father. When he went to his father, his step mother did not want him to live with them and she will influence her husband to send the boy back to his mother. This friend of mine often share with me what he went through and at each time he shared he will asked me: “where do I belong” “where is my identity? Who will call me his or her child?”

In our lives, we all battle with this problem of identity, where do I belong? Are we accepted in this community? Or in this church, do we belong to God though we are sinners?

I once told my friend that you may feel rejected; you may feel that you have no identity within your family but in Christ, you have an identity that which no one can take it away.

When Jesus came up from the water after His baptism, the bible says in verse 16 that “At that moment the havens opened, and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and lighten on Him”. In verse 17 it says “And a voice from Heaven said: This is My son whom I love, with Him I am well pleased” In Greek version it say, outos estin ho huios mou ho agapetos, the phrase outos estin(this is) show that this statement was recorded as a third person. In this text, God did not say “you are my son” but he said “this is my son” God make it public that Jesus is his son.

In baptism we make public our faith to God. That we are God`s sons and daughters.

Have you ever imagine that during your baptism God actually spoke to the world about you? Have you ever imagine that during the day of your baptism God opens the door of the heaven and welcome you? God gives you an identity, a seal that you belong to him. It is a sign that you are saved from your sins.

Do you know why that baptismal stand is in eight corners shape? Theologically it represents the eight people saved in Noah ark. Baptism is a sign of your salvation.

The mighty voice of God from the heaven saying “this is my child, whom I love” was not limited to Jesus only, it was extended to you. You are not just His child but he loves you as well. He loves you for whom you are, he loves you even if everybody around you hates you.

God did not just end his statement with his love for his child. He went on to say “with him I am well pleased”. Who doesn`t like to hear his father or mother says he or she is pleased with what he or she did? Asked yourself -- is God pleased with your work, with your ministry, with your love, with your fight for justice and character?

Can you find any area in your life where God can say He is pleased with you?

At home whenever my daughter does something right I will often say to her “very good”, means I was pleased with what she did. One day my daughter asked me to bring down her toys from an upper shelf and when I did so she said to me “Daddy good”. I was happy because my daughter acknowledged my service to her. The question I then asked myself was - did God acknowledge my services to Him? Did God say he is pleased with me? Am I doing what God wants me to do? I hope so.

In Christ baptism, we can identify three persons; Jesus received baptism, the Holy Spirit descended on Him and God the Father spoke from the heavens. These three persons are all represented in one God, the Holy Trinity. Today we baptized in the name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Look at the back of the altar, do you know what those three pillars represent, look up the roof, do you know what those three small windows represent --- the triune God.

Our baptism is a seal from God that our sins are wash away, that He loves us and He is pleased with our decision to follow Him. It is a seal that Jesus identifies with us and a seal that the Holy Spirit who descended upon Jesus had descended onto us, lives in us and guide us in our lives and ministries. AMEN