Jesus’ Baptism: Solidarity with Sinners to Save Them!

In the Name of our Epiphany Lord, our real present Savior Jesus, Amen.

In November, 2010, a wedding party in Glenelg, Australia, was unexpectedly called into action right after the wedding ceremony. While they were posing for pictures on a scenic ledge, a woman unrelated to the wedding fell into the water and started to drown. Dressed in his tuxedo, the best man jumped in and brought the woman back to shore. Then the bride, a trained nurse, waded into the water and started administering CPR. By the time the life saving volunteers had arrived, the woman had regained consciousness. But according to one safety official, they said “[The victim] was very lucky that the bridal party was there and they acted quickly and got her to the shallows.” After the daring rescue operation, the drenched but heroic best man and the bride happily rejoined the wedding reception and continued with the festivities.
For just a moment, that “best man” and bride were bound together with that woman in the water. Her need suddenly became their need. Her trouble in that moment became their trouble and their saving act became her salvation. Solidarity, bound together, solidarity to save.

In the Gospel of Mark, we also see Jesus “jumping into the water” for you and me. He doesn’t merely jump into the raging waters of the ocean; He jumps into the cesspool, the whirlpool of our sinful lives to save us. Jesus steps into the River Jordan, for a baptism that He didn’t need, to save a people who didn’t deserve it, for a solidarity with sinners so that sinners might receive God’s forgiveness and mercy by grace.

When Jesus is “baptized by John,” the event publically proclaims to the world that the Son of God is entering the battle to save sinful humanity from sin, and death, and the power of the devil. He enters the waters of our sinful lives, solidarity with sinful humanity, so that by His sinless life, His sacrificial death, and His miraculous resurrection, we might be reconciled to God by Grace.

Just try to picture this event for a moment. There, in the waters of the Jordan, is John the Baptist. He’s calling all of humanity to the “repentance for the forgiveness of their sins.” His message is a call for all people to get right with God, to get ready to welcome God’s Messiah, the One who will redeem and restore the world.

Incredibly though, our text says, “(When all the people (all the sinners) were being baptized) at that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Solidarity with sinners to save sinners.

Now to really come to grips with this one needs to remember some basic biblical truths. The Bible is clear, sinners need to be saved. Period. The wages of sin is death. Mankind’s sin and rebellion against God is the root cause of all that is evil in this world. From God’s point of view, there is no one righteous, not one. Evil doesn’t just live “out there,” it lives comfortably in here, in the hearts of all of us. Sinners need to be saved.

Yehiel Dinur testified against Adolf Eichmann at his Jerusalem trial in 1961 for war crimes. When he came face-to-face with Eichmann for the first time since being sent to Auschwitz almost 20 years earlier, Dinur began to sob uncontrollably and then fainted.

Was Dinur overcome by hatred, or fear, or simply the horror of the memories of Auschwitz? Mike Wallace asked him that very question on 60 Minutes. Dinur said: “I was afraid about myself. I saw that I am capable to do this. I am…exactly like he.” Mike Wallace then said: “Eichmann is in all of us.”

Chuck Colson, commenting on that episode of 60 Minutes, wrote: “Wallace’s summation of Dinur’s terrible discovery-‘Eichmann is in all of us’-is a horrifying statement; but it indeed captures the central truth about man’s nature. For as a result of the fall, sin is in each of us-not just the susceptibility to sin, but sin itself.”

Sinners need a Savior, that’s true, but the text says, “When people came to be baptized by John, Jesus was baptized, too.”

The sinless Son of God doesn’t need a sinner’s baptism. Yet He gets down in the water with them. Even John protests saying, “You don’t need my Baptism, I need to be baptized by you.” When even someone of the stature of John the Baptist is overwhelmed by the event, you and I start to see this Good News of Jesus, This salvation from God for sinners it’s unlike anything in human history.

Subjects get baptized, not kings. Sinners need baptism, not the righteous, Holy Son of the Living God. The problem: the Bible shouts over our protests, “Wrong, wrong, you’re missing the point!” Being baptized by John was exactly what the sinless/holy King of the universe did, for He is no typical king. He leads no mere earthly kingdom. In this incredible act in history, the Christmas Jesus begins His march to the cross by identifying with the ones He came to save! He enters into our sinful world to save it. He gets down in the muck and mire of human existence to bring His holiness, His healing, His life and salvation to all who will receive Him by faith.

“When all the people were being baptized, (the good news for sinners was that the Son of the Living God) Jesus was baptized, too.”

Solidarity with sinners to save us, even more, to save you and to save me!
This text becomes even more amazing when you take it personally. Just try to put yourself into the text.

Can you imagine standing in John’s shoes? He must have been dumbfounded when the one he called the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, now shows up and humbly submits to God the Father’s wishes.

You hear the voice from heaven proclaim, “You are my beloved Son! The one in whom I am well pleased.” You awed by the fact that God the Father is pleased when God the Son humbles Himself and literally puts His life at the disposal of sinful humanity, as a servant Savior to sinners. Remember what the Bible says later, “He who knew no sin, became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God!”

Or maybe you are merely one of those standing around the banks of the River Jordan. You know that you need a Savior; you know that you need a relationship with God, and then you see this Jesus.

He climbs into the muddy waters, not just of the Jordan, but the waters of your life so that you, too, can again become clean. He is willing to take up your struggle; He’s in that water with you, for you!

You see, Jesus knows you. He knows me, sins and all. He knows the guilt we feel, the disappointment we carry, the temptation that racks our lives; He’s willing to step into that with you, for you.

In fact, there is not one thing in your life that Christ doesn’t understand! The muddy waters of all of our lives were poured all over Him that day.

We can’t fake Him out; we can’t play games with God; for He already knows our weaknesses, sins and all. He even knows our strengths need His forgiveness! That’s why He is in the water in the first place!

William Hendriksen says: “The demand of Jesus to be baptized by John signified his solemn resolution to take upon himself the guilt of those for whom he was going to die. In a sense, by means of (this) baptism, Jesus was fulfilling part of His task of laying down His life for His sheep.”

But let’s be clear. Jesus didn’t just enter the sinful, muddy waters of your life and mine just to get dirty along with us. He got involved in our pain, our guilt, our shame to bring us His joy, His life, His peace.

He got down in the water with you, to call you up out of the water to the newness of His life. In fact, there is a washing in Jesus’ Name that does just that. It’s Holy Baptism, washing in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

This event in the River Jordan declares Jesus to be our Savior and by the Holy Spirit calls each of us to repentance and to life in His name.

There is an interesting temptation in our modern world. I call it the “I feel great because I’m sinning like everyone else” temptation. I think that it’s the driving force of the “reality TV phenomena.” I think that people actually enjoy watching others act crassly, coarsely, behave badly. It kind of bonds us together at the bottom. There are folks who feel good when others give in to temptation, in fact, they like to egg people on at that point. It’s just like they’re saying, “Come on in to the muddy waters of our sinful life, because the water is just fine!”

Now, I’ve never understood that. When you know the destructive power of sin and temptation in your life; when you are constantly aware of the struggles and pain that you endure just because you can’t do the very things you know are right; when you can’t even measure up to your own expectations let alone God’s, who’d want to keep swimming in that water?

Jesus doesn’t enter the waters of our sinful life to make light of sin and death. He hates such things. But He has come to save us and so, in solidarity with us, in the waters of our broken humanity, He calls us to repentance, to faith in Him, and to a life in the cleansing grace of His life and death for us.

When you take this lesson personally, you can hear God Himself calling you to “Wake up, to turn around, to repent, to believe and be baptized.”

Now it makes sense. Your salvation and mine begins here with Jesus in the waters of the Jordan. The tears of blood sweat in the garden of Gethsemane began in the muddy waters of the river. The brutal sufferings, the crown of thorns, even Christ’s death on the cross itself were the end result of what began in the shallows of the Jordan River. And even Jesus facing the damnation of Hell itself in our place, started here with the Messiah willing to be in solidarity with you and me as a sinner to be judged, to be condemned so that we might be saved. Such a Savior offers real salvation, real forgiveness, real peace. The Baptism of Jesus calls us all to repentance and faith in Him for our life and our salvation.

ARLIS II is an Arctic Research Lab Ice Station. It needs three things, 1) Radio, 2) Beacon light 3)Diesel fuel. The first two are needed to bring the supply plane (with the fuel) back to the base. North Pole, with its ionospheric storms, can black out radio contact at a moment’s notice!

In 1963, in mid-September, they were running out of diesel fuel, fuel for heat, fuel for that beacon to signal for the supply plane. As the plane began its journey in to the long polar night, an ionospheric storm blacked out all radio communications. The plane, the saving plane, was now on its way, but they didn’t know it and now without radio contact, they needed that beacon light more than ever.

Unfortunately, the radio operator got exasperated and turned the ARLIS II Station’s radio off! He was through for the night, he was off to bed, not knowing that the plane enroute would never find them without radio contact or that beacon light turned on.

No one knows why, but the radio operator came back from his bed, turned the radio on to hear the shouts of those pilots, “beacon light – diesel fuel, beacon light – diesel fuel.” He repented, he returned from his slumber, he opened up his ears to their saving shouts. He not only lived because of it, so did all the others at that base.

We are called to turn around today, to turn to Christ. That’s what the baptism of Jesus means to us. It’s that cry of grace flying all around our hearts.

“(When all the people were being baptized), at that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized (too) for you (and me)!

Solidarity with sinners to save us; but now in solidarity with Him by faith. The very blessings of Jesus’ cross, taken up in His baptism, such blessings of life and salvation are poured out all over us in our baptisms in His Name. Christians are raised to new life in Christ through our baptism as Paul says in Romans 6.

And we, by the power of His Name…alive in our lives, we’re called to “bind ourselves to others in love and service” so that they might know this “waters of the Jordan” Savior, too.

The baptism of Jesus by John not only calls us to faith in Him, it also challenges us to look at others through His eyes, the eyes of the One who would enter the Jordan for all.

Again, just try to imagine. The Bible clearly says, in Jesus, we are given real love, and hope, and forgiveness all by His grace, all by His undeserved kindness! Such is His commitment to us. That’s why we commit ourselves to serve others in His Name! We love, because He first loved us!

And we love others….the way He loves us. His love challenges us to commit ourselves to love others even in spite of themselves sometimes! Do what is right for them, no matter what the cost to you and to me, now that’s love!

That’s why we go the extra mile for those who don’t deserve it, that’s why we turn the other cheek, that’s why we forgive those who sin against us, because that’s what Christ does to and for us!
God will bless you. He will bless a people who seek to live godly lives in a sinful world for the sake of others. We, too, can meet people in the muddy waters of their lives to bring them a Savior who wants to wash them clean as well.

Christ’s baptism is a call for all Christians to get in to the battle; to identify with others, to bring Christ’s righteousness and hope to those who don’t know Him! If you are going to be guilty of something, be caught among the hurting, sinful people as one who bears the righteousness and comfort of Jesus as a gift!

With Christ as our Savior, our Leader, who is willing to be in solidarity with us to save us, we repent, we trust in Him by the power of His Spirit. With Christ as our Savior, our Leader, we commit ourselves to enter into the battles for the hearts and minds of those who don’t know Christ; reflecting His love to others the way He loves us, for we have a Savior, a Lord who can be counted on in all things.

It was the night before the D-Day invasion of Europe. General Eisenhower made the call, and three million soldiers were deployed to face down Hitler’s Atlantic Wall in France.

Eisenhower spent the night before the attack with the men of the 101st Airborne, The Screaming Eagles. As his men prepared their planes and checked their equipment, Ike went from soldier to soldier offering words of encouragement. As Eisenhower watched the C-47s take off and disappear into the darkness, his hands were sunk deeply into his pockets and his eyes were full of tears.

The general then went to his quarters and sat at his desk. He took a pen and paper and wrote a message – a message that would be delivered to the White House in the event of a defeat.

It was as brief as it was courageous. “Our landings…have failed…the troops, the Air, and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches itself to the attempt, it was mine alone!”

Real leadership takes responsibility even for losses! Under real leadership, those men hit the beaches in the definitive battle for victory in Europe in World War II.

Solidarity for victory. What a day that must have been. But victory and more happened when the Son of God was baptized into the lives of sinners and stood down the forces of sin, and death, and Satan himself for us on the cross. In the waters of the Jordan, Jesus took charge, He took responsibility for our lives, in the waters of our baptism in His Name, He became our leader, even more our Savior! Under His victorious leadership we can now hit the beaches, if you will, and reclaim lives lost in sin! That’s what the baptism of Jesus is all about for you and for me!

“For (When all the people were being baptized) At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized (too). Solidarity with sinners to save them. Thank God! Amen!

LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for January 8, 2011
Topic: Is It Okay For Christians to Marry Non-Christians?

ANNOUNCER: Now, Pastor Gregory Seltz responds to questions from listeners. I’m Mark Eischer. Today a listener asks a “relationship question.” She says she’s been dating her boyfriend for a long time, but he is not a Christian and they don’t go to church together. He’s a nice guy and she enjoys his company. So, what about a Christian marrying someone who’s not a believer?

SELTZ: Well Mark, this is a situation that many people get themselves into today and I think I know the answer that our listener “wants me to give.” But, I’m afraid that she’s not going to want to hear what the Scripture says on this one, especially when it comes to one’s spouse for a lifetime.

ANNOUNCER: Right, because friendship is one thing, but marriage is altogether different.

SELTZ: Yeah, very much so. So let’s step back for a moment. If I could, I would want to ask our listener, “If your relationship is serious, what is the key element that bonds you together?”

ANNOUNCER: Well, I’m sure along with many other people, she’d say it’s “love.”

SELTZ: And that might just be where the problem is because even when it comes to love, “Whose love are we talking about here?” And, “What kind of love is going to be necessary to have a good marriage, even a blessed one?” And, “what is the purpose of marriage too, from God’s point of view?”

ANNOUNCER: Okay, all questions that need answering!

SELTZ: And that’s where common faith is vital for a common faith in Jesus defines what “love is, what service is, what marriage is, why forgiveness is so important, why His love is the source and strength of our love.” Without a common faith in these things, all a person has is the common love of two sinful people. God has more for us, not only in our lives, but even in our marriages.

ANNOUNCER: And that common faith not only helps us to share God’s love with each another, but it also gives a couple a unique power and perspective with which to face hard times.

SELTZ: Well said, Mark. That’s exactly right. I’ve even said that when two Christians say, “I do,” they’re not saying “I love you perfectly at this moment for all times,” rather, they are committing themselves to “learn to love the other person in the way of Jesus for the rest of their lives.”

ANNOUNCER: And that’s a commitment to love that flows out of a common faith.

SELTZ: Exactly. And that’s why “marriage to someone who is not a believer in Jesus” is so risky; it can even be destructive. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:14, that a believer is not to be “unequally yoked” to a non-believer because a common faith is a key foundation for a healthy relationship, and this verse can clearly apply to marriage too. Common faith really helps each spouse to look to Christ first when facing the challenges of living with a fellow sinner in this chaotic, sinful world.

ANNOUNCER: It’s hard to image facing such things without that common faith.

SELTZ: Right, but we do need to be careful here. The Lord does tell us to be open to others, especially those who don’t know Him as their Savior. In fact, we are to go out of our way as servants to show those who don’t know Jesus “how much Jesus Christ loves them.”

ANNOUNCER: Okay, well, couldn’t marriage be that kind of opportunity?

SELTZ: I don’t think so. In fact, I think that a healthy marriage makes you a better neighbor and friend to others. You need a spouse, strong in faith with you, to give you the strength and the love that you need to be the kind of neighbor and friend a non-believer needs. Bring that challenge into your marriage makes that more difficult, for sure.

ANNOUNCER: Okay, so for the Christian, marriage has a greater purpose than merely bonding two people together; it actually, ultimately, gives God glory.

SELTZ: Absolutely, marriage is that first place that a Christian gets to practice their faith to someone that really matters. It’s a place where one gets to practice giving and receiving Christ’s forgiveness. It’s the first place that you get to see the difference between your love and God’s love for you. Try loving your spouse the way Christ loves you and vice-versa; you’ll see the radical difference between His love and our best loving efforts, every time.

ANNOUNCER: Okay, so, for the Christian, a common faith in the love and mercy of Jesus is not merely an option, it’s meant to be the foundation for a blessed marriage.

SELTZ: It sure can help couples avoid a lot of unnecessary heartaches and it can help give strength and courage to love each other when the going gets tough. So, if you’re already married to a non-Christian, keep trying to love them as Christ loves you and pray, but if you’re considering marriage, make common faith your number one priority as Paul says in I Corinthians 7:12-13.

ANNOUNCER: Very good. Certainly words to live by and I suppose words to get married by. Thank you Pastor Seltz, this has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.

Music Selections for this program:

“A Mighty Fortress” arranged by Chris Bergmann. Used by permission.

“To Jordan’s River Came Our Lord” by James Tiefel. Used by permission.