One - A Sermon for Sunday January 7 2024

GOSPEL: Mark 1:4-11

The holy gospel according to Mark.

Glory to you, O Lord.

Mark’s gospel reports the story of Jesus’ baptism with some irony: the one on whom the Spirit descends is himself the one who will baptize others with the Holy Spirit.

4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

The gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

We are all one in Christ, we are one body,
all one people out of many.
There is one God, and only one Lord;
there is one faith, one holy love.
There is one baptism; there is one Spirit,
who is God the comforter.

(ELW 643 We Are All One in Christ, Christopher Wordsworth)

This is the gift of the Magi.

This is the proclamation of the apostles.

This is Jesus’ baptism.

This is who we are.

We heard about the gifts the Magi gave to the Christ child.

Gold, and Frankincense, and Myrrh.

The kind of gifts that would be given to royalty.

The Herod wanted to see this newborn King,

because this newborn king was a threat to his power.

We sang the hymn “We Three Kings”

and though traditionally they are called kings,

they weren’t kings.

If they were royalty,

then the Herod would not have been able

to give them instructions.

Herod had power over the Magi,

the Wise Men,

possibly magicians,

possibly Zoroastrian priests,

certainly astronomers who study the stars.

Many religious and scholarly guesses have been made

as to what exactly these gifts might mean.

Most widely accepted is that these gifts

signify that the Magi recognized Jesus as a king,

recognizing his connection with God

and spirituality.

But I have another thought…

They followed the light,

they followed the star

to the place where the Christ-child was:

no longer a babe,

likely a young toddler.

God knows who they are,

God knows they study the stars,

God drew them to the Christ-child

by the star.

The good news of the Messiah

is not just for shepherds

and the owner of the house

and the Magi

and Jewish people

and Christian people

and Zoroastrians,

but for all people.

Jesus is not just King and Lord of Christians,

but King of kings,

Lord of lords.

The Magi are not Jewish,

They are not Christian,

that word didn’t even exist yet.

They came from afar,

and as they welcome Jesus as King,

they too are welcomed by Jesus’ family.

That’s a gift of God,

through the Magi,

through the Holy Family:

welcome, inclusion, hospitality.

The Magi were subservient to the king, Herod,

and were ordered

to tell him about the child’s whereabouts.

Warned in a dream,

the Magi realized that if they did

what Herod told them to do,

Jesus, the young child, would be killed.

So they left,

they returned home by another route,

but not before offering their lavish gifts.

They had the courage to defy authority

and defy culture

and even defy religious boundaries

knowing that what was expected

would bring pain and suffering.

The Magi knew that Good News

is not that which comes from the government -

neither from the Roman Empire of ages past

nor the governments of today.

The Good News is not a new governing authority,

nor a new product in the stores,

nor even a better cup of coffee.

The Good News is that Christ is born -

a poor baby,

to a family of refugees -

the same Christ who shows us that

it is the powerful who are made weak,

that it is the wealthy who are really made poor.

So wouldn’t these lavish, royal gifts be backwards

to the message of the Messiah?

Mary did not keep these gifts for safe keeping.

Although Myrrh was used in royal burials,

Myrrh was not used when Jesus was buried.

This family lived in poverty,

Jesus lived in poverty.

The Magi did not give Jesus a trust fund.

But Mary, Joseph and Jesus had to escape Judea

because of Herod’s violence.

They were refugees,

fleeing to Egypt for safety,

just like many are fleeing the Holy Land today,

finding refuge in Egypt.

I believe Mary and Joseph used these

material gifts of the Magi

to fund their escape.

They could have been sold to help them find a home

in a foreign land,

until they could return home to Nazareth.

Those journeys are arduous,

especially for a young family living in poverty.

They would have needed some help.

The Magi might have been giving gifts

that were fit for a king,

But I believe God was using those gifts

to give hope

to this refugee family of God’s choosing.

The Magi might have been following a star

searching for royalty,

with gifts for royalty,

but they themselves were the gift

to the Saviour of the whole world.

Today we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord.

We might wonder why Jesus was baptized,

after all, Jesus is the one without sin,

and John’s baptism was about repentance

for the forgiveness of sins.

For us today,

I’d say there are three main reasons

why Jesus was baptized.

First reason: Solidarity.

Many were leaving the cities and towns,

and heading out into the wilderness

to be baptized by John;

and Jesus joins the many.

By being baptized, Jesus stands in solidarity

with all of the people who believe

they are unworthy of God’s love.

By being baptized, Jesus stands in solidarity

with all sinners who

hunger and thirst for the living God.

Jesus being baptized, shows us

that God shows no partiality,

that all are invited into these baptismal waters.

Second reason: Beloved.

Jesus is baptized to show us that

we are all beloved children of God.

The words rang out from the heavens,

“You are my child, the beloved,

with you I am well pleased”

This is exactly what happens today

when the water meets the Word of God -

When we are baptized into Jesus Christ,

the One who stands in solidarity with all of us,

we too receive this same promise

echoing through the skies

You are God’s beloved,

With you, God is well pleased.

Baptism is not just for the pious,

nor the religious elite,

Because Jesus stands in solidarity with us -

with all of us -

through baptism,

God’s gifts of love, forgiveness,

and the Holy Spirit really are for all of us.

Third reason: Beginning

Jesus’ baptism marks the beginning of his ministry.

Beginning in baptism,

Jesus’ life and ministry takes off -

and becomes something greater.

Jesus becomes more than

just a poor baby born among animals,

more than a child visited by Magi,

more than a man being killed

for going against the government

and religious authorities.

Jesus’ baptism set him apart for God’s purposes:

it confirmed that Jesus really is God’s Son,

and that his life was going to be something greater.

Jesus’ ministry, beginning with baptism,

is for the crowd,

the many,

the diverse people who follow.

Consider feeding 5000 for a moment,

Jesus doesn’t ask them to sit down

and put their hands up if they’re faithful.

It didn’t matter the background,

gender,

sexuality,

skin colour,

religion,

cultural or economic status,

all are fed by Jesus.

Jesus’ baptism began something greater for Jesus.

In baptism, we are all invited into something greater.

In baptism, we are all set apart to live in Jesus.

Our Ministry in Jesus’ name begins in baptism.

This gift of baptism -

the gift of God’s acceptance of us just as we are,

the gift of forgiveness of sins,

the gift of eternal life with God,

the gift of the Holy Spirit,

the gift of Jesus’ presence in our lives,

the gift of meaning, purpose and identity for us -

Baptism is God’s gift for you, for all,

for life.

You might not have frankincense and myrrh to offer.

You may have gold,

but gold or no gold,

by God’s gracious gifting

we too can be the gift like the Magi.

Because we are all one in Christ,

one people,

Because there is one Lord,

one faith,

one love,

one baptism,

one Spirit,

one God and Father of all,

We can join the Magi

and defy evil,

renounce the ways of this world

that cause pain and suffering

whether it is obvious or requires a little research.

We can show up

and be the present with our presence

for people who need hope.

We can welcome the other into our homes

when they need a place of safety.

We can give of ourselves

trusting that God will use

whatever it is we have to offer.

My friends, we need not be afraid to live our faith,

For: