- Gospel Reading: Matthew 3:13-17 - Baptism of Jesus
- Second Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9 - Servant of God
- Psalm Nugget: Psalm 29 Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (psalmimmersion.com, @pomopsalmist, Patreon)
Featured Musician -My Anchor Holds, “Wade in the Water,” from their album Dirty Jesus
Hello and welcome to the Pulpit Fiction Podcast, the lectionary podcast for preachers, seekers and Bible geeks. This is episode 200 Sunday January 8, 2017, Baptism of Jesus, Year A.
- Gospel Reading: Matthew 3:13-17 - Baptism of Jesus
- Second Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9 - Servant of God
- Psalm Nugget: Psalm 29 Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (psalmimmersion.com, @pomopsalmist, Patreon)
- 200 episodes!!
Sponsor: That Church Conference.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 3:13-17 - Baptism of Jesus
Initial Thoughts
- Love this quote from David Lose: “Apparently, baptism was always a problem.”
- Focus, rightly, is on Jesus, not John.
- Post-Epiphany season begins here, has frustrating stop in John 1 next week, then back to Matthew, especially the Sermon on the Mount, leading into Lent.
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John’s reluctance and Jesus’ assurance
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This awkward exchange is not found elsewhere. All the gospels include John proclaiming that the one coming after him is greater. Mark and Luke do not have this exchange. G of John does not even have John baptizing Jesus, but just “witnessing” to him.
- “Perhaps Matthew wished to defend Jesus against the supposition that he too was guilty of prebaptismal sin and came to John to have it washed away. Perhaps Matthew was piqued by followers of the Baptist who claimed that Jesus must be inferior to John since he had submitted to to baptism by John.” (Douglas Hare, Interpretation: Matthew, p. 20).
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“Allow me to be baptized now. This is necessary to fulfill all righteousness” are the first words attributed to Jesus in Matthew, and thus in the NT.
- “The term ‘righteousness’ (used seven time in Matthew and with differing connotations) seems here to indicate a divine requirement to be accomplished. The adjective ‘all’ mean that it is not simply a special requirement for the Son of God but on that joins him with fellow Christians in carrying out ‘all that God requires.’” (Charles Cousar, Texts for Preaching, Year A, p. 97).
- “Why would Matthew regard it as God’s will that the Messiah be baptized? The most likely answer to this question stressed Jesus’ solidarity with sinners. The one who will save his people from their sins by submitting to a baptism of annihilation must here consecrate himself to his vocation by joining the sinful multitude in the waters of the Jordan. ...In so doing, he takes the first step on the road to Calvary.” (Hare, Interpretation, p. 21)
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This awkward exchange is not found elsewhere. All the gospels include John proclaiming that the one coming after him is greater. Mark and Luke do not have this exchange. G of John does not even have John baptizing Jesus, but just “witnessing” to him.
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God’s response -
- Heaven opened to him
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Spirit of God descended like a dove and resting on him.
- A commissioning - connected to Great Commission, where Jesus send out disciples to baptize and to obey his commands.
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Voice: “This is my Son whom I dearly love. I find happiness in him.”
- Isaiah 42
- Matthew did not know the Nicene Creed. “Father/Son” relationship was more about identity and vocation that metaphysical relationship. Jesus was also Son of David and Son of Abraham.
- “Our main doctrines, which include all the rest, are three: That of repentance, of faith, and of holiness. The first of these we account, as it were, the porch of religion; the next, the door; the third, religion itself.” John Wesley. At baptism, the heavens were opened. This is the entry. This idea of repentance being the porch of God’s Kingdom could be a helpful one - it is the first step toward a relationship with God. Stepping through that door is the coming of faith and living into holiness. Baptism can be seen as the transition point between repentance and holiness. This metaphor is helpful, but imperfect, because as Wesley knew as well, the process of holiness
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“I believe we need make teaching the significance of baptism a priority. This shouldn’t occur only in the sermon, of course. Confession of sin is a time to remember baptism. Communion is an extension of the baptismal promise. The dismissal is the time to send us forth to live out our baptism in our various roles and vocations in the world. And during hospital and home visits there are manifold opportunities to remind our people of God’s promises to us in Baptism.” David Lose
- How do we teach baptism? Is it just something we remember once a year, and whenever a baby is born?
- What does it mean to “remember your baptism”? Is it just the remembrance of the ritual - which many of us cannot recall; or it something else? To remember your baptism is to remember who you are.
- Baptism is, above all, about identity.
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- Stacia Michael
- Leah Benish - Thank you for all of your incredibly insight! You're always my first stop in sermon prep.
- Alison Patton - Hi, Eric! I miss having you here in CT but am grateful for the preaching resources you both provide through the podcast. Thanks so much! Merry Christmas!
- Tom Durrance - Been listening on the website a couple of years now. Now in a position to pay it forward. Blessings, Pastor Tom in Virginia.
- Paige Blair-Hubert - Thank you so much for your ministry! I love beginning my sermon prep week with you and your amazing team. This is a contribution from my professional expense account at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Del Mar, California... I really felt for you this morning hearing about highs of 4... We had about 40 in the church Sunday... heater was out! And we could see our breath... but it was no 4 degrees! Bless you!
Psalm Nugget: Psalm 29 Richard Bruxvoort Colligan
Second Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9 - Servant of God
Initial Thoughts
- The Baptism “Easter Egg” for bible geeks
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2nd Isaiah written to those in Exile
- Some probably wanted violent reprisal (Psalm 137) but God’s servant is non-violent
- First of the four servant songs (42:1-4; 49:1-6; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12)
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Good connection between the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament
- Marcionism is alive and well!
- Beware supersessionism
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Servant of God - person or nation?
- Could be either or both
- Not necessarily about a specific individual
- Israel? Jesus? Cyrus?
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Dual purpose
- A way of identifying the servants of God
- Comfort for the servant
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Church History Context:
- the Servant is Jesus who is the divine mediator between humanity and God - therefore no need for a priestly mediator - therefore priesthood of all believers.
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Characteristics of the Servant
- Called and Chosen by God
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Brings for Justice
- Patience
- Perseverance
- No shouting
- Won’t give up
- Won’t “break”- but will be bruised
- The servant of God doesn’t force, coerce or execute justice
- God is the center of the servant - a powerful message for those in exile
- God imagines a world full of those who serve God - where the old ways of oppression, shouting, and coercion have given way to non-violence, love, forgiveness and patience.
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“Shouting” is often justified by the perceived justice the shouter hopes to accomplish. God’s servant works for justice without shouting. Often we shout to drown out the voices of others- perhaps God’s justice is achieved by listening to others.
- Some may shout to have their voice heard- how does this resonate with God’s justice
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In Baptism we accept God’s choosing and call to be servants of God. How are we establishing God’s justice?
- Who need to be supported to they won’t break or grow faint?
- In Baptism we are called back to recognize God as the center of our lives and that we are the center of God’s life (called, chosen, beloved, covenanted, taken, kept) despite all evidence at times to the contrary.
- Whether Christ is the only servant Isaiah was predicting or by virtue of his life and death Christ is a servant - there is no doubt that Christ is a Servant of God. Baptism and Epiphany are an opportunity to reengage with Christ as our servant leader and our calling to be servants of God as well.
Tasty Wafer of the Week:
- BaptismSite.com, a fascinating look at the site where many claim that Jesus was baptized. Referred to by Christian Piatt in our most recent conversation. Includes footage from the site and a documentary about how the site was found and the history of the archaeology, conflict, and pilgrimages that have centered on the site for centuries.
CLOSING
Thank you listeners
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Featured Musician - My Anchor Holds, “Wade in the Water,” from their album Dirty Jesus ++
Thanks to our Psalms correspondent, Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (psalmimmersion.com, @pomopsalmist). Thank you to Scott Fletcher for our voice bumpers, Dick Dale and the Del Tones for our Theme music (“Misirlou”), Nicolai Heidlas (“Sunday Morning”, "Real Ride" and “Summertime”) and The Steel Wheels for our transition music(“Nola’s First Dance” from their album Lay Down, Lay Low) and Paul and Storm for our closing music (“Oh No”).