Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 42:1-9
New Testament Lesson: Acts 10:34-43
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 3:13-17

Ah---The Christmas tree is on the curb.

The sanctuary has been "de-Christmasized" and the unused Christmas cards have become picturesque notepaper.

The cookies are growing stale and some of the toys are already broken. Its only been fifteen days.

We don't want to see it go.

But we move on - Jesus is Baptized. We have moved from the manger and from the wise ones coming from the east to Jesus being baptized. Maybe even thirty years later.

Wait a minute. This is our schedule isn't it? Baby's born - what do we do? - baptize it. Now we say - do it now. Little baby Jesus - my little porcelain baby Jesus is ready for his annual Styrofoam cradle - pack him in that box put him away. He could use some bapstism to remove his dust.

Yes--But the real Jesus isn't baptized as a baby but as a grown man. Some 30 years after his birth.

From birth to Baptism -- All that in a few days.

Jesus baptized. To be frank, any thinking person will have questions around such an event.

Here we are told John is baptizing at the Jordan and his baptism is a baptism of repentance. People are coming to be baptized, they are facing the truth all of us must face---that we are in a broken relationship with God and sin is a reality in our lives.

Jesus, the Son of God. Fully divine, fully perfect. Jesus the Christ of God, the Messiah, the Sinless one, the perfect Savior, the Lamb of God----Baptized?? Hm...

Why would someone who is sinless need a baptism of repentance? In fact, Jesus did NOT need to be baptized, but he choose to be baptized by John in the murky waters of that ancient river.

For Jesus his moment of baptism was at least for things: Four things that speak to us about our growth with Jesus.

*** First, it was a moment of decision.

As best we know, for about thirty years Jesus had remained with his parents in the small town of Nazareth. Faithfully he had done his day's work and discharged his duties at home. Legend holds that he had taken up his stepfather Joseph's carpentry business, and some believe he cared for his mother, sighting a possible early death of Joseph since we hear nothing of him beyond the birth narratives.

For a long time, he must have been conscious that the time for him to go out had come. He must have been waiting for a sign. And John's appearing in the wilderness was that sign.

This, he saw, as the moment when he had to launch out upon his task.

For Jesus his baptism was a moment of decision.

It was a moment when he decided to take that next step. He decided to grow.

As Christian people, we have to decide to grow in Christ.

It doesn't just magically happen. No, it's a decision that we make.

Life is really busy, and life is really complicated.

The bottom line is, are we willing to make a decision that faith development will be a priority in our lives.

Once we make that decision we can then do something about it.

And the reality of decisions is that if they are not backed up with action, then we never really decided.

The moment of Decision.

We face them everyday---even today. God calls on you to decide today - everyday - the decision is up to you. Decision. That's first.

*** And Second---The Baptism of the Lord was a moment of Identification.

It was an identification.

It is true that Jesus did not need to repent from sin; but here was a movement of people back to God; ---that's what was happening with John's baptism in the wilderness. People were making their way back to God; and with that Godward movement, Jesus was determined to identify himself.

Jesus was identifying himself as a person who publicly would stand up for God and be counted as one of God's disciples. He identified himself in his actions as a religious faith seeker of the one Creator God.

You see, How we identify ourselves matters.

How do you identify yourself--

Do you understand and see yourself as a member of God's family? Do you claim your identity as a Son or Daughter of God? That's your identity and you can use it in public - you can use it in prayer. But we need to use it.

How we identify ourselves matters. It matters to us. It matters to those we come in contact with. Its a major part of our Christian outlook.

Identity. Decision and Identity.

*** Thirdly, the baptism of Jesus was a moment of approval. It was a moment of approval.

No person easily leaves their home and family and sets out for a new life in an unknown place or way. To do that you have to be very sure that you are making the right decision.

Jesus had decided on his course of action, and now he was looking for the seal of approval from God. In his baptism came that seal.

"You are my Son, the Beloved---in whom I am well pleased."

At the baptism Jesus submitted his decision to God and that decision was unmistakably approved.

In prayer, in Scripture, in Sermon, in each other, in Sacraments, God speaks to us---uttering approval of our decisions to act and live for Christ.

God approves of us.

But like any relationship between a parent and a child---God does not always approve of all our action, but God always approves of us. We cannot loose that approval. No matter what happens---nothing can wipe it away---not even something we do.

Moments of approval. God speaks them to us all the time; we need to listen for them. God approves of us---that is demonstrated to us in God's grace and mercy. God approves of us.

*** Finally, this was a moment of equipment.

At his baptism, Jesus was equipped for his ministry of reconciliation which would lead him to the cross and beyond the tomb which could not hold him.

That moment of baptism was a moment of equipment as the Holy Spirit descended upon him. There is a wonderful symbolism here. The Spirit descends on Jesus as a dove would descent.

But from the very beginning---the picture of the Spirit likened to a dove is the picture of gentleness. Jesus will conquer, but the conquest will be the conquest of love.

The Spirit would empower Jesus with the good news of the kingdom of God as a kingdom of love and truth and goodness and justice.

Equipment. You see, we often think that we don't have the right stuff that we don't have what it takes to make it. We think that we just don't have the right equipment to grow and develop in our faithfulness.

My friends, whenever we listen to that message we are not listening to the Spirit of God.

We have what it takes.

We have more than what we need.

We can make it.

The Holy Spirit of the Creating, Redeeming, Sustaining God gives us all that we need. We have the equipment.

We need to believe that we have it and then begin to use the resources God has given us. And growth will---it will happen.

The Holy Spirit has equipped you for growth in Christ Jesus.

*** Decision. Identity. Approval. Equipment.

All in the Baptism of Jesus - and it sets the stage for where we are today as Christians, as the Church, as YOU, as me.

Decision. Identity. Approval. Equipment.

We have come to a moment today.

And we will come to more of them this week.

We have moments---many of them.

And in them we are called to make decisions. To make decisions for Christ.

We are called to discover anew our identity in Jesus.

We are called to seek out our approval not in others or in things, but in our relationship with God.

And we are called to trust that the Holy Spirit has equipped us to grow in Christ.

Equipment. Approval. Identity. Decision.

Ah - you see - here's the reality of faith. You don't need to be tougher, stronger, better........

You already have what you need to grow with Christ.

Just walk with him everyday - and let him walk with you.

Because we are the Beloved with whom God is well pleased. Amen.