Calvary Lutheran Church

Journey to Jordan

Grace and peace are yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our blessed Lord and Savior. Amen.

Mark 1:4-11

Dear Christian Friends:

          If you know anything about church history, you have probably heard of the “Great Awakening.” Actually, several “Great Awakenings” have been identified in the last 300 years the latest in the late 20^th century. But Wikipedia describes the “First Great Awakening” in the early 18^th century with George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards this way:

          “A revival of sharp increase in interest in religion, characterized by powerful preaching and a profound sense of conviction on the part of those affected and their need of salvation by Jesus Christ."

         If you want to get technical about it, however, the very first great awakening that was similar to this description occurred in the first century A.D. with John the Baptist.  

         Mark begins his Gospel with the account of John the Baptist’s ministry. His, too, was powerful preaching, a profound sense of conviction of sin, and an emphasis on the need for salvation by Christ Jesus. John’s God-given role was to prepare people for the coming Savior, Christ Jesus. And the way he did it was to preach and baptize in a desert region of the Jordan River, as Isaiah prophesized 700 years earlier, “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’” (Mark 1:3).

         Now we are talking 20 miles from Jerusalem to the Jordan River through a hot and dry desert. When I was in Israel we travelled by bus through that desert. When you go from Jerusalem to the Jordan it is 20 miles downhill, but going back, of course, it is 20 miles up hill. We went by bus, they had to walk. We have to ask ourselves, “Who in the world would want to make that long, tiring journey just to have a little water poured on their heads?” Well, Mark tells us who, “The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him” (Mark 1:5). Everyone was making the journey to the Jordan.

          And why? Probably several reasons. First, John was considered a great prophet from God, and the people of Israel had not had a true prophet for 400 years since the prophet Malachi in the Old Testament. But also, John had a strong message. He pointed out sin, and he didn’t care whose sin. Religious leaders, Pharisees, Sadducees, tax-collectors, soldiers, rich, poor, they all got the same message, “Your sin is an offense to God and his judgment will be swift and severe. Confess your sins, change you lives, repent, and be saved.” But also, he had a strong message of hope. “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:7,8).

          In other words, “A Savior is coming, God’s long-promised Messiah. He is the Lord, and he directs the very power of the Holy Spirit—that Holy Spirit who creates and strengthens saving faith, who works the sorrow needed in true repentance, who empowers to overcome sin and to live lives pleasing to God. He is the only source of a true, great, spiritual awakening, and he is available in the waters of baptism. I can only baptize with water, he will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” That is why they journeyed to the Jordan in throngs—to hear a prophet tell them how it is and to be renewed in the power of the Holy Spirit to make changes in their lives in keeping with their faith.

          If we had lived in the days of John the Baptist we probably would have journeyed out to the Jordan, too, After all, life is better when you live by the power of the Holy Spirit. You get along better with spouse, children, fellow workers, and church members. Without the Spirit you are left with just your sinful nature, and the acts of the sinful nature, Paul wrote, are obvious: “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like” (Galatians 5:19-21). But with the Holy Spirit come the fruits of the Spirit which include “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22). Who doesn’t want these qualities in their lives?

            So how can the Holy Spirit’s power be obtained? Remember when you came to the waters of baptism? Maybe not. Maybe you were just a baby, or maybe you were older, but the effects were the same. Baptism, first of all, gives forgiveness of sins. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word” (Ephesians 5:25, 26). But that’s not all. Baptism works faith and salvation. Peter wrote, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (1 Peter 3:20, 21). But that’s not all. Baptism brings all the Holy Spirit’s power and gifts. Paul wrote to Titus, “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3:5,6). The Spirit was poured out on you at the time of your baptism. You don’t need a revival. You don’t need to be rebaptized. I don’t care how long ago it was or how old you might have been, in baptism you have been clothed in Christ, Paul wrote to the Galatians, “All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27). You have Christ draped all over you. Martin Luther’s answer to the question “What does baptizing with water mean?” is this:

            Baptism means that the old Adam in us should be drowned by daily contrition and repentance, and that all its evil deeds and desires be put to death. It also means that a new person should daily arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Where is this written in the Bible?

            Saint Paul says in Romans, chapter 6, “We were . . . buried with (Christ) through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Your baptism was your great spiritual awakening.

            So what did those Jews find when they arrived at the Jordan? They found someone who didn’t look or act anything like them, “John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey” (Mark 1:6). Was this just John’s quirky personality coming through? Was he just a wild, hippy-type, non-conformist? No, his appearance was a reflection of his close relationship with God, and it actually enhance his message? His appearance was saying, “I’m not preaching this message of repentance and renewal for my own sake. I’m not looking for personal gain or fame or anyone’s approval. This is God’s message. Either you have a change of heart now or face judgment.” And many took John’s words seriously, and they stepped into the water, and they waited their turn, and they were baptized, and the Spirit worked his power.

            But there was one person who made the journey to the Jordan who had come as far away as Nazareth, an even longer walk. He no doubt had heard that John was baptizing, and he wanted to get in on the action, but not for the same reasons as the others. For Jesus, there was no need for repentance, for he had no sin. Peter wrote in his epistle, “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22). Notice, Peter especially points to Jesus’ words as proof of his sinlessness. You see, a sinful heart is mostly exposed by what a person says, even more than what he does. What a person says can especially be hurtful to others. What a person says can cause divisions and dissension? What a person says can be full of malice and hate and lies? That is why the devil is called the “father of liars.” But no deceit was found in Jesus’ mouth. He had no sin, so he needed no forgiveness that baptism offers.   

            But remember, baptism is also the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and Jesus as true man needed the Spirit’s power. He was just starting his ministry, a ministry that would involve a journey to the cross. It would be a long and difficult journey. There would be many pitfalls along the way. In fact, shortly after his baptism he would be thrust into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit where he would fast for 40 days and face the temptations of Satan first-hand. He would experience the opposition of enemies, the doubts of friends, the ridicule of so-called pious people, and finally, he would face the torture of the cross. He would die as the worst sinner, the only sinner of all mankind, and be forsaken by his own Father. But in the process, he would become the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. And he was willing to do it. It was the very reason he came to earth from heaven—to take man’s place. And now, to show his willingness to take the sinners’ place, he wanted to participate in the sinners’ baptism.

          John recognized him immediately and tried to dissuade him, “I need to be baptized by you and do you come to me?” (Matthew 3:14). But Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). If Jesus was to take man’s place, then it was proper for him to  participate even in man’s baptism.

          So John consented, he baptized Jesus. We don’t know what words he spoke, maybe he didn’t speak any, he just applied water as was customary with the Old Testament ceremonial washings. But “as Jesus was coming up out of the water he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.” (Mark 1:10). Jesus’ baptism wasn’t just a symbolic gesture on Jesus’ part, but it had real blessings. The Holy Spirit now empowered Jesus to live the role as Christ. The word “Christ” literally means “the anointed one.” In the Old Testament people were anointed with oil poured on their heads to signify that they were taking on a new important position. All prophets, priests, and kings were anointed. That anointing not only recognized God’s calling to that position, but it also provided divine power to fulfill their role.

         Jesus would later tell the members of the Nazareth synagogue, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Matthew 4:18,19). Jesus’ anointing by the Holy Spirit took place at the time of his baptism. At Jesus’ baptism God was announcing his official approval of his Son as the promised Messiah, and the Holy Spirit was providing Jesus with the divine power to fulfill his role as prophet or spokesman for God; as king, to do battle with our spiritual enemies; and as priest, to sacrifice his life as a ransom, a payment to his Father to set us free.

            But in addition, something happened at Jesus’ baptism which would happen only one other time during his life on earth, “A voice came from heaven: ‘you are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’” (Mark 1:11). The Father spoke from heaven expressing his complete approval of Jesus, his perfect live, his willingness to take the place of sinners, to participate in the sinners’ baptism, and eventually to go to the cross. He was so overwhelmed that he took the occasion to express how much he loved his Son.

            We have a rare glimpse here of the interrelationship of the Triune God. The Father loves the Son. The Son loves the Father and wants to carryout out the Father’s will to the extent of sacrificing himself. The Holy Spirit empowers the Son in his human nature to fulfill the Father’s will. What perfect harmony! What perfect unity. What perfect love exists within the Triune God!

          And just think, God brought us into that unity with him when we were baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. In baptism you and I were brought into the family of God, so that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit love us with as much love as they love each other. Listen to Jesus’ prayer to his Father just before he went to the cross, “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they (believers) know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them” (John 17:25-26).

          Yes, our journey to the Jordan with the Jews and Jesus took place at the time of our baptism when God brought us into his family of love. Because of our journey to Jordan we are assured of our journey to heaven.  Amen.

Let us pray:

Dear Lord Jesus, your baptism marked the beginning of your ministry to fulfill your work as prophet, priest and king. At your baptism you associated yourself with sinners, which ultimately led to your becoming the Savior of all sinners. At our baptism we associated ourselves with you our Savior by being clothed in your righteousness. Help us to live always in that righteousness. At your baptism you were anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power. At our baptism we were anointed with Holy Spirit and his power to work faith in our hearts for the forgiveness of sins, spiritual life, and eternal salvation. May we never take that faith for granted. At your baptism your state as the Son of God and the Father’s love for you was confirmed. At our baptism our state as a child of God and loved by him was also confirmed. May we always cling to that love in every situation in life. In your name we pray. Amen.