I heard a well known speaker tell about the time his family was traveling with him. His kids started jumping on the bed, and when he caught them they were spring boarding back and forth between the two beds in the room. He scolded them and told them they could not do it, they argued, so in frustration the father said, “You can jump on the beds if the manager of the hotel says you can.” So//they went and got permission from the manager to jump on the beds.
I came up with this theory. Disagree with me if you want, I am pretty confident I am correct. What would Jesus have to say about jumping on beds? You know what I think Jesus would say? “You only live once on this earth, jump on the bed.” I also have this theory that when Jesus was a child, he himself must have jumped on the bed. Enjoy life. Immerse yourself in life. Jump on the bed.
As an adult, the biggest problem I have with children jumping on beds: I’m too tall! I fall off too easy, I don’t get to join them!
I came up with this theory. Disagree with me if you want, I am pretty confident I am correct. What would Jesus have to say about jumping on beds? You know what I think Jesus would say? “You only live once on this earth, jump on the bed.” I also have this theory that when Jesus was a child, he himself must have jumped on the bed. Enjoy life. Immerse yourself in life. Jump on the bed.
As an adult, the biggest problem I have with children jumping on beds: I’m too tall! I fall off too easy, I don’t get to join them!
In today’s scripture Jesus is baptized. This is a turning point not only in Jesus life, but also in the world – Jesus enters public ministry, he becomes more visible on the world stage. When people come to this text, the question is asked over and over, why was Jesus baptized, he was without sin? The bible clearly says John was baptizing people for the purpose of repentance, getting their life in shape. Jesus did not have that same need. Often it is said Jesus was baptized as an example for us, and we, too, should be baptized. I believe that is true, but if that is the only reason then Jesus’ baptism would be a little bit hollow and not really for himself as much as for others, which is contrary to the spirit of what baptism is all about.
I came up with this theory. You are completely free to disagree with me, but I am pretty confident I am correct. Jesus is the kind of person who would have jumped on the bed. Surely he found a joy in life.
This is what I imagine: READ Luke 3:21a. Jesus looked around and saw a commotion in the dessert, the people were excited, they are hearing the good news that their life can be different, it is a good message. What Jesus sees in the dessert: a party! John’s baptism is a reason to celebrate, a reason to have a party ~ “when all the people were being baptized” the Bible says. Jesus wanted to join the party, have a great time, celebrate… if his father had said, “you can jump on the bed if you get permission from the manager,” I have no problems imagining Jesus would have gone down and gotten permission! “Jesus was baptized, too,” the bible says. Don’t leave me out!
Why was Jesus baptized? Because it was exciting. By being baptized, Jesus is immersed into ministry! He starts out his public ministry with a party! He celebrates. He joins the crowd. And he is set apart. The baptism of Jesus is like everyone else in one sense, but in another way it is unique to Jesus, none else like it! There is only one Savior of the World, and that Savior is Jesus Christ, confirmed at his baptism.
We all wonder how much more this old world can take. We see signs of the crumbling of America and the world, shifting values, uncertain futures, demands of the masses, instability, fear, more questions than answers, limited resources, sickness, diseases, unprecedented challenges… confusion is more prevalent than confidence.
The world Jesus entered was crumbling. The people were afraid, uncertain, confused. John comes along and they embrace his message because there is a ring of authenticity, a glimmer of hope – only the message is not about changing the world, it’s about changing you from the inside out. This is why it is important that each person is baptized…. John does not say “let’s vote the right people into office and that will change the world,” He says, you can change, you can receive the Christ for your own and live by new standards, a transformation of the heart. I don’t know how to change the world and transform it into a paradise, but I know how your world can be changed. It’s party time!
Last week the scripture included the repeated question, “What should we do.” John the Baptist announced the Good News that with the coming of the Christ being a new person is within your grasp. The crowds asked “What shall we do?” Tax collectors asked, “what shall we do?” soldiers asked, “what shall we do?” John talked to them about the transformation of their mind and attitudes, not a word about changing their occupation or giving up the responsibilities of life. Follow Christ in whatever niche the Lord has given you… Accepting Christ is not about changing the world, it’s about changing your heart. Live out your faith in your life situation. I ran across the wonderful words to a song that describes so well being a faithful person within your life situation…. It’s an old negro spiritual called “Hoeing Cotton:”
Hoeing Cotton
There's a King and Captain high
Who is coming by and by,
And He'll find me hoeing cotton when He comes!
You can hear His legions charging,
In the regions of the sky,
And He'll find me hoeing cotton when He comes!
When He comes! When He comes!
All the dead shall rise in answer to His drums;
And the fires of His encampment star
The firmament on high,
And the heavens shall roll asunder when He comes!
There's the Man they thrust aside,
Who was tortured till He died,
And He'll find me hoeing cotton when He comes!
He was hated and rejected,
He was scorned and crucified,
And He'll find me hoeing cotton when He comes!
When He comes! When He comes!
He'll be crowned by saints and angels when He comes;
They'll be shouting out "Hosannah!"
To the Man that men denied,
And I'll kneel among my cotton when He comes!
The vision is that of excitement, a vision of joy and expectation. The slave in the cotton field is thrilled because of who Christ is and what he is coming to do. Whatever your life’s calling, whatever your life’s situation, look to Christ for the salvation of your soul, join the party. When Jesus was baptized I know he was excited, but there is something else about baptism: it is an act of humility. Be excited about Christ, but never take for granted your salvation: always be amazed at what Christ does for you. The last verse/last line of the Hoeing Cotton song captures the two attitudes….a party with humility!
In the act of baptism, there is an incredible sense of humility. “Jesus was baptized, too.” Jesus does not make a huge show of it… John tried to make a big deal out of Jesus baptism: READ Luke 3:16. Baptism is not about worthiness, it is an act of humility. I like to think Jesus was immersed when he was baptized because we know it was in the river; baptism is described in Rom. 6 as immersion ~ burial at death, then raised to new life. Baptism by immersion is awkward, a common question is about keeping control, but how often when we baptize people even the feet sometime go up into the air. There is something about giving up control. When Jesus is baptized, it is an act of submission, letting go that human control, humility.
Jesus is baptized because it is exciting, it is fun, yet the act of baptism is in itself an act of humility, giving up control and being obedient to God. Be excited about the salvation of God, the transformation of your heart, and walk in humility. May any arrogance be stripped away…
Jesus baptism is unique, like none other. We, too, should be excited, we, too, need to walk with humility, yet God spoke to Jesus at his baptism and affirmed his unique calling as the Savior of the World: Luke 3:21b-22.
While he was praying, the heavens opened… God is in the room. All rise, the judge is entering. The heavens opened. Pay attention, you are now in the presence of greatness, something amazing is about to happen.
The Holy Spirit descended…like a dove… this is a momentous change in the life of Christ, a hinge event when nothing is ever the same. Like a wedding. Somehow the world is never quite the same from this moment on… Jesus is literally immersed into ministry, and as he rises he is anointed by the Holy Spirit. Power.
Jesus, the Spirit and God: And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son; Whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Authority. Commissioned. Set apart. “You are my son” is affirming what was already true from the beginning. At times we need an affirmation. You’ve heard the joke about the wife that was complaining that her husband never said, “I love you.” Finally he blurted out, “I said ‘I Love You’ at our wedding. If I ever change my mind I’ll let you know.” We can laugh, but that’s not good enough, we need affirmation. We need God to keep telling us he loves us and we have a purpose in his kingdom. The baptism of Jesus is a time for God the father to affirm his love for Jesus.
[I’m not going to read the genealogy of Jesus, but the essence of this genealogy is to affirm the same thing. Luke takes a time out from the story because he wants to affirm in a different way that Jesus is set apart, to the Jews in those days your genealogy is your credentials. Luke gets out the fact that Jesus is about 30 years old, and he lets us in on the insight that his greater credential is that he is a son of God, but he does have a human line through Joseph. Jesus line is traced back to Adam, “the son of God.”]
“…with you I am well pleased.” A father, a parent, needs to affirm their pleasure of the children. Teachers/students. Anyone in authority. I am pleased. A lot of people are told over and over and over how much they mess up, everything that is wrong. When Jesus is baptized it is as if he is saying, OK, God, I’m listening. In humility, may we do the same thing: “speak God, I’m listening.” And does God ever speak. God is waiting to affirm you, he loves you and takes pleasure in you. Baptism, while important in itself, represents a changed life, a saved life of one who now chooses to live for God. God wants to affirm you.
I made the decision a long time ago that my calling as a preacher is not to constantly condemn people, not to go on and on and on about how bad we are and if you would only get your act together that life would be transformed. What I see is too many people already wallowing in the results of sin. I know how to make people feel guilty. There is certainly a place for that sort of preaching, but I honestly don’t believe it is my calling. The broken people I know already know they are broken… In this day, in this place, the message of God’s pleasure for his children is like the first rays of the sun after a cool night. God loves you. God takes pleasure in you. In other words, as God looks at you, God takes great joy. In other words, God is having fun.
Jesus is excited when he joins the crowd. In humility, he is baptized. Jesus is given power and authority through the Holy Spirit. Jesus listens and God speaks. God affirms Jesus is his son, and he expresses his love and pleasure. God is excited.
Be excited, jump on the bed, in humility receive Christ. You, too, will receive power and authority. And the party is complete because when you join the party, God is excited too. God loves you, and God takes pleasure in you. Jump on the bed, it’s the only way to live the Christian life. Amen.
I came up with this theory. You are completely free to disagree with me, but I am pretty confident I am correct. Jesus is the kind of person who would have jumped on the bed. Surely he found a joy in life.
This is what I imagine: READ Luke 3:21a. Jesus looked around and saw a commotion in the dessert, the people were excited, they are hearing the good news that their life can be different, it is a good message. What Jesus sees in the dessert: a party! John’s baptism is a reason to celebrate, a reason to have a party ~ “when all the people were being baptized” the Bible says. Jesus wanted to join the party, have a great time, celebrate… if his father had said, “you can jump on the bed if you get permission from the manager,” I have no problems imagining Jesus would have gone down and gotten permission! “Jesus was baptized, too,” the bible says. Don’t leave me out!
Why was Jesus baptized? Because it was exciting. By being baptized, Jesus is immersed into ministry! He starts out his public ministry with a party! He celebrates. He joins the crowd. And he is set apart. The baptism of Jesus is like everyone else in one sense, but in another way it is unique to Jesus, none else like it! There is only one Savior of the World, and that Savior is Jesus Christ, confirmed at his baptism.
We all wonder how much more this old world can take. We see signs of the crumbling of America and the world, shifting values, uncertain futures, demands of the masses, instability, fear, more questions than answers, limited resources, sickness, diseases, unprecedented challenges… confusion is more prevalent than confidence.
The world Jesus entered was crumbling. The people were afraid, uncertain, confused. John comes along and they embrace his message because there is a ring of authenticity, a glimmer of hope – only the message is not about changing the world, it’s about changing you from the inside out. This is why it is important that each person is baptized…. John does not say “let’s vote the right people into office and that will change the world,” He says, you can change, you can receive the Christ for your own and live by new standards, a transformation of the heart. I don’t know how to change the world and transform it into a paradise, but I know how your world can be changed. It’s party time!
Last week the scripture included the repeated question, “What should we do.” John the Baptist announced the Good News that with the coming of the Christ being a new person is within your grasp. The crowds asked “What shall we do?” Tax collectors asked, “what shall we do?” soldiers asked, “what shall we do?” John talked to them about the transformation of their mind and attitudes, not a word about changing their occupation or giving up the responsibilities of life. Follow Christ in whatever niche the Lord has given you… Accepting Christ is not about changing the world, it’s about changing your heart. Live out your faith in your life situation. I ran across the wonderful words to a song that describes so well being a faithful person within your life situation…. It’s an old negro spiritual called “Hoeing Cotton:”
Hoeing Cotton
There's a King and Captain high
Who is coming by and by,
And He'll find me hoeing cotton when He comes!
You can hear His legions charging,
In the regions of the sky,
And He'll find me hoeing cotton when He comes!
When He comes! When He comes!
All the dead shall rise in answer to His drums;
And the fires of His encampment star
The firmament on high,
And the heavens shall roll asunder when He comes!
There's the Man they thrust aside,
Who was tortured till He died,
And He'll find me hoeing cotton when He comes!
He was hated and rejected,
He was scorned and crucified,
And He'll find me hoeing cotton when He comes!
When He comes! When He comes!
He'll be crowned by saints and angels when He comes;
They'll be shouting out "Hosannah!"
To the Man that men denied,
And I'll kneel among my cotton when He comes!
The vision is that of excitement, a vision of joy and expectation. The slave in the cotton field is thrilled because of who Christ is and what he is coming to do. Whatever your life’s calling, whatever your life’s situation, look to Christ for the salvation of your soul, join the party. When Jesus was baptized I know he was excited, but there is something else about baptism: it is an act of humility. Be excited about Christ, but never take for granted your salvation: always be amazed at what Christ does for you. The last verse/last line of the Hoeing Cotton song captures the two attitudes….a party with humility!
In the act of baptism, there is an incredible sense of humility. “Jesus was baptized, too.” Jesus does not make a huge show of it… John tried to make a big deal out of Jesus baptism: READ Luke 3:16. Baptism is not about worthiness, it is an act of humility. I like to think Jesus was immersed when he was baptized because we know it was in the river; baptism is described in Rom. 6 as immersion ~ burial at death, then raised to new life. Baptism by immersion is awkward, a common question is about keeping control, but how often when we baptize people even the feet sometime go up into the air. There is something about giving up control. When Jesus is baptized, it is an act of submission, letting go that human control, humility.
Jesus is baptized because it is exciting, it is fun, yet the act of baptism is in itself an act of humility, giving up control and being obedient to God. Be excited about the salvation of God, the transformation of your heart, and walk in humility. May any arrogance be stripped away…
Jesus baptism is unique, like none other. We, too, should be excited, we, too, need to walk with humility, yet God spoke to Jesus at his baptism and affirmed his unique calling as the Savior of the World: Luke 3:21b-22.
While he was praying, the heavens opened… God is in the room. All rise, the judge is entering. The heavens opened. Pay attention, you are now in the presence of greatness, something amazing is about to happen.
The Holy Spirit descended…like a dove… this is a momentous change in the life of Christ, a hinge event when nothing is ever the same. Like a wedding. Somehow the world is never quite the same from this moment on… Jesus is literally immersed into ministry, and as he rises he is anointed by the Holy Spirit. Power.
Jesus, the Spirit and God: And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son; Whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Authority. Commissioned. Set apart. “You are my son” is affirming what was already true from the beginning. At times we need an affirmation. You’ve heard the joke about the wife that was complaining that her husband never said, “I love you.” Finally he blurted out, “I said ‘I Love You’ at our wedding. If I ever change my mind I’ll let you know.” We can laugh, but that’s not good enough, we need affirmation. We need God to keep telling us he loves us and we have a purpose in his kingdom. The baptism of Jesus is a time for God the father to affirm his love for Jesus.
[I’m not going to read the genealogy of Jesus, but the essence of this genealogy is to affirm the same thing. Luke takes a time out from the story because he wants to affirm in a different way that Jesus is set apart, to the Jews in those days your genealogy is your credentials. Luke gets out the fact that Jesus is about 30 years old, and he lets us in on the insight that his greater credential is that he is a son of God, but he does have a human line through Joseph. Jesus line is traced back to Adam, “the son of God.”]
“…with you I am well pleased.” A father, a parent, needs to affirm their pleasure of the children. Teachers/students. Anyone in authority. I am pleased. A lot of people are told over and over and over how much they mess up, everything that is wrong. When Jesus is baptized it is as if he is saying, OK, God, I’m listening. In humility, may we do the same thing: “speak God, I’m listening.” And does God ever speak. God is waiting to affirm you, he loves you and takes pleasure in you. Baptism, while important in itself, represents a changed life, a saved life of one who now chooses to live for God. God wants to affirm you.
I made the decision a long time ago that my calling as a preacher is not to constantly condemn people, not to go on and on and on about how bad we are and if you would only get your act together that life would be transformed. What I see is too many people already wallowing in the results of sin. I know how to make people feel guilty. There is certainly a place for that sort of preaching, but I honestly don’t believe it is my calling. The broken people I know already know they are broken… In this day, in this place, the message of God’s pleasure for his children is like the first rays of the sun after a cool night. God loves you. God takes pleasure in you. In other words, as God looks at you, God takes great joy. In other words, God is having fun.
Jesus is excited when he joins the crowd. In humility, he is baptized. Jesus is given power and authority through the Holy Spirit. Jesus listens and God speaks. God affirms Jesus is his son, and he expresses his love and pleasure. God is excited.
Be excited, jump on the bed, in humility receive Christ. You, too, will receive power and authority. And the party is complete because when you join the party, God is excited too. God loves you, and God takes pleasure in you. Jump on the bed, it’s the only way to live the Christian life. Amen.
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