First Sunday after Epiphany, the Baptism of Our Lord

Sanctity of Life Sunday

IN YOU, WORST SINNER, I AM WELL PLEASED

Text: Mark 1:4-11

Dr. Carl C. Fickenscher II

A baby--such a beautiful creation of God. Curled up almost into a little ball. Its eyes are closed so tightly, its face making the cutest grimace. Those fingers are so tiny, but they're all there; count 'em. Ten toes, too. She reaches up to suck her thumb. What a beautiful baby. She's not born yet, but already she's doing all these adorable things. Who could help but love a little baby.

An industry, trading in human flesh to the tune at least 400 million dollars a year, taking an average of 4,384 innocent lives per day in the United States. Its rooms are stainless, sterile, but they must somehow also be sterilized of any feeling. Otherwise, how could they do what they do. At the end of the day, customers and practitioners go home and try to go about life as if nothing has happened. Except something terrible has happened: abortion stops a beating heart. How can one help but be furious at everyone who participates in an industry like that.

Beloved children and terrible sin. Each in a struggle to the death against the other. A struggle that can never be resolved.

Oh, but it can be. God has a way of bringing them together. The dearest with the most despised, the beloved with the worst sinner. Amazingly, God has found the way to be pleased with both, with them all. His way is baptism.
 

IN BAPTISM, GOD SAYS TO THE WORST SINNER,
"YOU ARE MY BELOVED CHILD; IN YOU I AM WELL PLEASED."
 

Our text for this Life Sunday is Mark's account of the baptism of Jesus.

I. In the baptism of Jesus, God declares His pleasure to the worst sinner, (His beloved Son). (4-5)

"John [John the Baptist] came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins."

  1. You know scene well: great crowds people going out be baptized by John
     
    1. People all walks life (religious leaders/plain folks, tax collectors/soldiers, housewives/children)
    2. One thing all common: all sinful
    3. John proclaiming baptism of repentance forgiveness sins
      1. Here was means by which sins washed away
      2. Sinful business, this baptism
         
  2. Then along comes Jesus (9)

"It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan."

    1. What Jesus doing there?
      1. Had no sin, nothing to wash away
      2. What He doing there?
      3. Baptism for sinners
    2. That's right--baptism for sinners, worst sinners
      1. Jesus' baptism was, too
      2. Jesus' baptism for benefit all worst sinners
      3. See, Jesus no sin, but by voluntarily accepting means God provided to care for sin, Jesus putting Himself under sin
      4. Putting Himself in our place
    3. Jesus came Jordan--as came into world--to gently care for helpless, like helpless sinners (Isaiah 42:1-3a)

"Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish."

      1. For those who could not help selves, Jesus came
      2. Bruised reed, hanging limp, He will lift/support
      3. Dying glow of candle wick, He gently fan to flame
      4. For those who could not deliver selves from sin, Jesus accepted place of sinner
    1. In fact, Jesus became worst sinner!
      1. Sins of whole world Jesus accepted when baptized
      2. Truly became worst sinner because became guilty every sin

Yet, (10-11) "Immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, 'You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'"

Jesus came up from the water as the worst sinner, and yet

  1. God the Father says "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."
     
    1. God is pleased with Worst Sinner, His Son
    2. His Son still beloved
    3. As God speaks these words, saying particularly pleased Jesus willing follow Father's plan, put Self our place
      1. Pleased because Jesus took our sin upon Self
      2. Pleased because Jesus willing be baptized
    4. Jesus' baptism meant willing go all way our place, bearing our sin, all way cross
    5. Father knew how difficult way would be
    6. So at the baptism speaks so tenderly to Son
      1. Mark's account transfiguration, Father speaks everyone else, says (3rd person) "This My beloved Son"
      2. But at baptism, speaks words encouragement/comfort directly to Heavenly Child

"You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.'"

In the baptism of Jesus, God speaks those blessed words even to the Worst Sinner, Christ Himself.

Now, because Jesus became the Worst Sinner--and took the punishment all sins deserve--our baptisms bring the same wonderful words of God to all the worst sinners we know--and are.

II. In our baptisms, God declares His pleasure to the all the worst sinners.

Like

  1. To every child of the human race
     
    1. Remember that beautiful baby?
    2. Even before birth, each child by nature the worst of sinners
      1. Curse we inherited from Adam
      2. David (Psalm 51:5)

"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me."

      1. Every baby by nature desperate for forgiveness
    1. But that's why God gave Sacrament Baptism
      1. In baptism, God takes baby His arms
      2. And says, "You My beloved child; with you, well pleased"
      3. Every child precious, personal to God
      4. God loves every child so much, provides means grace especially for them
    2. Good question raised in flock last week: Why wasn't Jesus baptized as infant?
      1. Is simple answer: baptism wasn't commanded for all until Jesus did so Matthew 28:19 (end His ministry)
      2. But Jesus had received means God had provided in OT to do same thing for babies: circumcision
      3. Circumcision was OT sacrament
      4. In NT baptism has replaced circumcision as means God takes our children as His
    3. By way, though, although Scripture doesn't tell, no reason doubt John Baptist also baptized babies
      1. If you were mother who heard John's preaching, realized your sin, believed baptism would give forgiveness, would you keep baby your arms receiving also?
      2. I wouldn't
    4. God makes His means grace available everyone
      1. He loves helpless
      2. "A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish."
    5. See why God wants so badly for every child be born?
      1. God wants every baby brought to Him in baptism so He may speak those words:
      2. "You My beloved child; with you, well pleased"

In baptism, God declares His pleasure to the all the worst sinners, like

  1. To every girl/boy who's made sinful mistake (who's engaged in sex before marriage, maybe even w/ resulting pregnancy)
     
    1. That may be treated as worst possible sin
      1. Parents may feel disgraced
      2. Boyfriend may say he's long gone
      3. May be treated as worst possible sin
    2. It is: tied for worst
    3. But in baptism, God says to worst sinner: "You My beloved child; with you, well pleased"
      1. Because by baptism Jesus took our place, by our baptisms we take place God's Son
      2. . Beloved/pleasing to God
    4. God says repent, remember your baptism; you forgiven!

In baptism, God declares His pleasure to the all the worst sinners, like

  1. To every girl who compounded one sin by sin abortion
     
    1. If you've been there, you may yourself feel you've committed worst sin ever could commit
      1. Studies in post abortion syndrome found women who've had struggle terrible guilt
      2. You may feel it's worst sin anyone ever commit
    2. It is: tied for worst
    3. But in baptism, God says to worst sinner: "You My beloved child; with you, well pleased"
      1. St. Paul (Galatians 3:27)

"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

      1. In baptism dressed in His garment salvation/robe righteousness (remember: talked couple weeks ago?)
    1. Repent, remember your baptism, or be baptized--sins washed away!

In baptism, God declares His pleasure to the all the worst sinners, like

  1. To those who perform abortions
     
    1. We may think participating that industry worst sin anyone could ever commit
      1. All those innocent lives
      2. We may think worst sin anyone ever commit
      3. It is: tied for worst
    2. But in baptism, God says to worst sinner: "You My beloved child; with you, well pleased"
    3. Even for worst of sins, when repentance, baptism washes away

In baptism, God declares His pleasure to the all the worst sinners...like

  1. To every one us
     
    1. We, who've been inactive to stop abortion
      1. To find out where candidates office stand, vote
      2. We, who've avoided touchy subject rather than speak to friends with prolife witness
      3. We, who too shy/busy be visible in law-abiding pro-life assemblies--like Austin Saturday (bulletin)
    2. Worst sinners--we
      1. Who loveless toward daughters/sons who've sinned
      2. Who refuse to love/forgive/pray for those who've had/who do abortion
    3. We may not think worst sins ever committed
    4. They are: tied for worst
    5. But through your baptism/mine God still says to the worst sinner: "You My beloved child; with you, well pleased"
      1. We, too, washed/forgiven because baptism connects with Jesus death/resurrection
      2. The death/resurrection of Jesus who connected Self with us by His baptism
      3. God is well pleased give us kingdom,
        1. well pleased have us as His children/His voices/hands this world,
        2. well pleased give us another chance to save lives from abortion

Every one of us is the worst of sinners--tied for the worst, tied with everyone who participates in the abortion industry, tied even with every beautiful little baby. We're not really so far apart; we're all together in sin. The truly amazing thing is that God has found that way to bring us back together with Him, with His holiness: baptism. And by His washing, incredibly, we may all be His beloved, His children, with whom He is well pleased.

 

This Page Was Last Revised: 31 January, 2000
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