Current Sermon: January 10, 2010 - go to archives

Is it 2010, or 2010? Whatever! Ten days into the New Year, who is ready for a fresh start, enough of ’09! January is significant; it’s a time to anticipate what lies ahead. Think of the year-long exciting opportunities to grow and learn, to discover new things, to develop new friendships and treasure existing relationships. For 2010, what will cause you to laugh and cry? What will cause you to stop your frantic pace and appreciate what you have? Looking ahead is unnerving; so much of our daily life is not in our control. Yet one thing is a surety for 2010, Jesus’ abiding presence for our lives.What difference does his comforting presence mean for us?

The difference lies in the word Epiphany. Epiphany is spelled b-a-p-t-i-s-m. Epiphany means presence, we are Jesus’ residence. Listen today to Isaiah (verse 2): “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” From the waters of our baptism to the moment we die Jesus lives and works unconditionally in our lives. How, doing what? Today in Luke 3 Jesus’ own baptism is recorded. Notice what follows his baptism, the voice of God speaks: “You are my beloved Son (Isaiah 42:1); with whom I am well pleased” (Psalm 2:7). Interesting, as God the Father observes his Son’s baptism he is moved to quote two distinct Old Testament passages. Que pasa? Chapter 42 is the first of four Isianic servant songs and Psalm 2 is a coronation psalm that was sung when David was crowned a king. Hmmm, servant song-king; by jove I’ve got it! Jesus’ baptism is a coronation; as John baptizes Jesus the Father is crowning him a servant king! And that becomes Jesus’ role, residing in our baptized lives, he lives to serve us!

And wow, does he ever serve us as our servant! Listen again to the soothing words of Isaiah: “Fear not, for I the Lord your God have redeemed you; I have called you by name (at your baptism) and you are mine. As you live your life you will pass through treacherous waters, you will be overwhelmed by the harsh floods of anxiety and worry, and you will have to walk through flaming fires of adversity and trouble. But as you do so I will walk beside you. I will ransom you and save you; because you are precious in my eyes and I love you” (verses1-4). Oh my, this gives me goose bumps. Who says there is no comforting Gospel in the Old Testament? You will not find a more heart-warming text in all of Scripture than Isaiah 43. This is why we spell Epiphany with the word baptism. No matter what floods or flames of adversity we will face in 2010, Jesus promises his Epiphany presence to ransom, to gather and to save us. Today in Romans 6 St. Paul assures us that when Christ was raised from the dead on Easter Sunday, he will never, ever die again, death has no dominion over him (verse 9). He lives eternally in our hearts and lives never to leave or forsake us.

What a marvelous consoling message Epiphany is for us. For the next five Sundays, leading us towards the season of Lent, this will be God’s overarching promise: “I will be with you, you are mine, you are precious in my sight and I love you”.

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