On Your Mark. Get Set. Go.

Everyone stands at the Starting Line when they start a race.  Maybe in High School you were on the track team and can remember the excitement you felt as you approached the line.  You weren’t sure if you were going to win or not, but you were ready to give it your best.   This is the first Sunday in the New Year, and we might think of some new starts:  Maybe you’re going to Exercise more, Get organized, Learn a new skill or hobby, Save more money, Spend more time with family and friends.  The list goes on.  If you have stepped up to the starting line of a new race, I would imagine that you’re hoping the event will have an impact and real change on your life and the lives of others.

That’s were we find Jesus today.  He is at a starting line called the Jordan River.  The season of Epiphany helps us think about Jesus’ life that he ran for us all.  So, today, let’s get next to Jesus at the starting line and get ready to have our spiritual life refreshed as we meditate on his great love for us all.  Are you ready? 

On Your Mark.  Get Set.  Go!

Standing with Jesus

When we stand with Jesus on the edge of the Jordan River, we know he has been around for a while.  Jesus is now about 30 years old.  Don’t you want to know what Jesus was doing since growing up in Nazareth!   This was a time when “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people” (Luke 2:52).   This certainly is different than the bumper sticker I saw on a truck this last week that said, “Make Money, Not Friends!”  No, during this time Jesus learned the Old Testament Scriptures, took care of his health, and built relationships with people.  This reminds us that Jesus was true man, with a brain that was trained and grew in knowledge and the application of that knowledge in his life.  He also had a body and soul that grew from infant to adult.  All this time Jesus was with people.  He related to them and stood with them.  But, now it was time to stand with Jesus at the Starting Line of the Jordan River.

Can you envision this?  You do realize that water changes things! A half inch of rain in the parking lot turns into Lake Divine Peace and soaks your shoes and socks when you try to get into church.  A pot of boiling water changes crunchy sticks of starch to pasta for a delicious plate of spaghetti.  Water changes things. A dip in the hot tub changes your stress level. An afternoon rain changes your outdoor plans.  Can you envision standing next to Jesus at the Jordan River?  Do you realize what’s about to happen?  Water changes things!

Standing on the banks of the Jordan in the wilderness is probably not the way I would have introduced Jesus to the public.  John the Baptist had been around this river with people for some time.

“⁴ John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  ⁵ The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. ⁶ John was clothed in camel’s hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.” 

I would have introduced Jesus at the royal Temple in Jerusalem with a crown and royal robes as the promised Messiah.  But, Standing With Jesus next to the Jordan River was the perfect introduction in God’s kingdom!  How often God takes the insignificant and turns it into the miraculous!  (Tell Naaman to wash 7 times in the Jordan and be healed of his Leprosy, tell Moses to hold his staff over the water and part the Red Sea).  Tell Jesus to stand in the Jordan River with John.  Did you say John?  John was anything but spectacular in his appearance.  That’s good.  He was there to point people to Jesus.  John was baptizing people for the forgiveness of their sins.  That’s good.  He was there to baptize Jesus, but not for the forgiveness of his sins, but for all of us who are Standing with Jesus Next to the Jordan River.  That’s good!  So, are you ready?  Are you On Your Mark?  Then it’s time to

Get set – Poised for Action

There are probably a few races where you remember people behind the Starting Line poised for action.  There is one occasion that stands out for me especially at the beginning of New Year.  Have you heard of the “Polar Plunge” in Milwaukee?  Our family has something like this every year in our back yard because Joel and Jenna have a bet on the OU/Texas game.  Loser has to jump into the pool.  They can probably relate to the people taking the polar plunge in Milwaukee.  I don’t think the water changes the people who do this all that much, as the circumstance surrounding the water.  For instance, jumping into cold water in the middle of winter in your back yard all by yourself wouldn’t be all that effective.  But when you combine cold water, New Year resolve, and friends or loved ones watching Get Set to jump into the water, that changes people. Look at the person about to jump into that water!  They are tough!  They have resolve!  They are committed!

Look at Jesus who is On his Mark and Poised For Action!  He was about to make a statement of commitment that was life changing.  John had been talking about him.  “⁷ He preached, “One more powerful than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals! ⁸ I baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  John was making reference to the Day of Pentecost when Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to his disciples.  Jesus was about to begin his ministry to carry out his work.  This work would be tough (knowing he would face enemies of God’s work), it would be require resolve (knowing the temptations he would face to shy away from this work), and it would require commitment (knowing the weight of saving the world would rest on his shoulders).  Yet, what do we see?  We see Jesus Poised for Action!

The Son of God was committed to a mission of humble obedience and mercy for sinners when he laid aside the power of God and stood ready to walk into the water to be baptized by a sinner who wasn’t even worthy to unlace Jesus’ dirty sandals.  God the Holy Spirit was committed to tearing open heaven – at Jesus’ baptism and every baptism including yours – descending with heavenly gifts that equip believers for acts of faith and love. The Heavenly Father committed to his Son and to every one of his children baptized in the name of the triune God, when you heard the voice from heaven says, “You are my Son, whom I love. I am well pleased with you.”  Therefore, Get Set and Stand Next at the Jordan and see Jesus who is Poised for Action!  Jesus is committed to the work the Father sent him to accomplish. He was On His Mark.  Get Set. 

Go! And Run The Race

Would you have walked into the Jordan with Jesus?  Think about it as you listen to the event as recorded by Mark. “⁹ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.”  That sounds so simple, doesn’t it?  But, do you realize the Race that Jesus is running?   When you run a race you’re hoping to cross the finish line and win the victory.  Jesus was starting the race that would end in him being nailed to a cross!   Jesus’ baptism was the starting point of this divine race to save the world from the curse of sin, the power of death and hell.  Knowing this, would you have walked into the Jordan with Jesus and be baptized as well?  Of course you would rather take the Polar Plunge or jump into a pool at New Years rather than run the race Jesus ran!   It would take real divine commitment, wouldn’t it?

Then what’s your excuse?  Do you consider yourself a committed person to Jesus Christ?  If so, do your New Year’s resolutions reflect that commitment?  You know it is God’s will for you to be a wonderful spouse.  Are you committed to take the plunge?  You know it is God’s will for his people to prioritize and regularly come to God’s house to have souls fed through Word and Sacrament.  Are you committed to take the plunge?  You know it is God’s will for his people to help others with prayers, time and testimony about Jesus Christ. Are you committed to take the plunge?   We have no excuse.  So let’s own our sins.  Confess to God that we are not always as committed as we want to be.  Admit that we make promises and pursue priorities that are the exact opposite of what God wants for us.   I know, that makes it hard to have honest conversations with yourself and those you love.  I know, it makes it hard to get up some mornings, hard to look in the mirror, hard to pray and hope.  So, rather than come up with excuses, let’s confess our sins that we haven’t been as committed as God would want us to be.   Then let’s remember, it doesn’t have to be that way.  Why?  Water changes things.

Let’s stand on Jordan’s bank and rejoice that Jesus took the plunge for us.  He wasn’t baptized for his sins, but for ours.  He was baptized to begin this formal ministry of saving the world.  Look at Jesus and say, “On your Mark.  Get set.  Go!!!!! Jesus!!!!!”  Watch him run his life of love and commitment to his Father in heaven, to take on the sins of the world and get nailed to the cross to win the prize of our eternal life heaven!  Rejoice that Jesus ran the perfect race to save us from the times we failed in our race.  Yes, we stumble and fall.  Yes, we don’t live up to God’s perfect demands.  But, here’s the good news!  Jesus did it all for you!  Jesus forgives all your sins.  Look at God’s stamp of approval on all Jesus would do for you and me! “¹⁰ Just as Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love. I am well pleased with you.”

Today we see Jesus at the Starting line at his baptism.  Thank the Lord that he finished the race at the cross, and proved his victory at his resurrection.  Rejoice that Jesus did it all and brings the blessings of his work to us through work of the same Holy Spirit that descended on him like a dove.  What a miracle of God’s grace!  Our salvation started at Jesus’ baptism and the victory was finished at the cross.  Remember God doesn’t say to be baptized so you can run a race like Jesus did.  No, he says be baptized and enjoy the blessings Jesus has already won for you that he graciously and miraculously gives you in your baptism.  The Bible gives us examples such as Pentecost, the Ethiopian Eunuch, or the jailer at Philippi.  I wonder if the water the jailer at Philippi used to wash Paul and Silas’ wounds was the water Paul and Silas used in baptism that washed his sins?  Or how about you? When you are feeling guilty plunge into your baptism. When you aren’t sure how God feels about you plunge into your baptism. When you don’t have the faith you need to fight temptation plunge into your baptism. Plunge into your baptism and let Jesus drown them for you and then make you forgiven and strong. The Lord God wants you to be so certain of the power of your baptism that the Bible makes this incredible promise: “⁴ We were therefore buried with him by this baptism into his death, so that just as he was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too would also walk in a new life” (Romans 6:4).

When you start a race you begin at the starting line.  Today we see Jesus who started the race for our salvation.  May you remain faithful to the Lord who ran the prefect race for you.  Then, dear Christian friends, commit yourself to run the best race you can from a thankful heart for all Jesus has already won for you.  So, are you ready?  On Your Mark.  Get Set.  Go!   Because you know and believe that Jesus’ water changes things!  Amen!