Epiphany II: God’s Transforming Voice – David Brubacher – Jan. 11/09

The plant’s name I don’t remember. I learned of it during an overnight camel trek in the Negev desert in southern Israel.  It was July. It was hot and dry. The plant, indeed all plants, seemed to be dead. Taking a pod from the plant, our guide placed it in water to show that the plant was very much alive. With time what looked like a shriveled up fist opened to reveal several outstretched spikes. What we saw happening before our eyes, the guide explained, is what happens when the rains fall on the desert. As the pod opens, it releases its seeds to fall on the moist desert soil. The desert landscape that appeared lifeless to my eyes is annually transformed into a beautiful sea of colour.

            This illustration reflects something of the transforming presence of God we encounter in the drama of today’s scriptures. These scriptures are connected primarily by association and theology. The theme of God’s voice weaves them together.

            The primary drama on the stage before our eyes is the story told of Jesus’ baptism in Mark 1. Genesis 1 and Psalm 29 play supporting roles in providing a backdrop of context and meaning. The full message of the drama comes to us as we follow the trajectory from backdrop, to stage presentation, to our own context. In this trajectory the writer of Mark’s gospel tells us of God’s transforming power in creation and human history, and how God’s power is manifested in baptism.

To paint the backdrop we consider the verses from Genesis 1 used as a call to worship. Mark’s gospel begins, “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ,” reminiscent of Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth.” Even before we get to the main drama the anticipation of something new taking place is established.

            In our backdrop we see the Spirit of God moving over a formless mass and water. God speaks, “Let there be light,” and the light is separated from the darkness, a first step in transforming the formless void into God’s creation we call home. In our drama we will hear God’s voice marking the beginning of a new era and a new creation. As we anticipate the drama the backdrop establishes that the power of God creates a livable world.

Theologically, we have understood the baptism of Jesus as marking a new era in the reign of God’s Kingdom. Along with Jesus, our baptisms also mark a new creation. As followers of Jesus, God empowers us for the ongoing creation of a livable world.

            As we continue to ponder the significance of the painted backdrop we begin to hear strains of the soundtrack. Again we hear God’s voice; this time in a storm. Liturgically ancient Israel used this psalm in anticipation of the fall rains, bringing new life to the parched desert lands. 

            In the psalm God’s voice is heard in a fall storm as it moves across the land. God’s voice thunders over the waters as the storm gathers force over the Mediterranean Sea. The powerful and majestic voice of God is heard as the winds blow and the storm crashes onto land in the northern coastal regions of Israel. God’s voice is heard in the twisting and snapping of the cedars. Much of the nature is disrupted. The rains begin to fall and the worshippers in the Temple shout, “Glory!” They celebrate the enthronement of the Lord God who controls the universe.

With renewed confidence the worshippers offer up a petition, “May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!” It becomes quiet and we envision the worshippers anticipating the new planting and growing season the rains bring. Seeds falling onto damp ground make new beginnings p
ossible.

            In the final moments before the drama begins we ponder the display of God’s transforming voice in the painted backdrop and the soundtrack. God’s transforming voice appeared both transcendent and immediately present. As moderns we are tempted to take our theatre glasses to get a closer look at God in a distance. Yet the immediate presence of God’s transforming voice defies consideration through theatre glasses or other modern technology. It engages us with our total being here and now. As we anticipate the curtain to rise at any minute we become profoundly aware that we will not be distant observers of the drama. God’s transforming voice reaches across the expanse of all time and touches us today.

Finally, the curtain rises and the drama begins. We are transported into a desert wilderness along the backs of the Jordan River. The city of Jerusalem is off in the distance across the vast expanse of the Judean desert. Throngs of people are streaming across the desert to the banks of the Jordan to listen to a preacher named John. He baptized many people. They called him John the baptizer, or John the Baptist.

            John preached a message of repentance. He did not speak repentance as feeling badly, but rather as beginning to think differently. People from all walks of life and levels of society came to hear John. He spoke against the corruption of those in political and religious leadership. He called them to repent, to turn away from their sin, to be baptized in the Jordan and be cleansed from their sin.   

            And so they came by the thousands. After hearing John’s message they walked to the bank of the Jordan and under John’s watchful eye dipped themselves in the river as they were accustomed to do in their ritual baths known as mikvahs. Many were truly repentant. For them it marked a new beginning.

            John dressed in camel skins and ate locusts and wild honey as found in the wilderness. Many wondered if he might be the one prophets had promised for so long. But John spoke clearly. He was not the one. The one who was coming after him would be more powerful. John baptized with water, but the one who was coming would baptize with the Holy Spirit.

Of those who were coming to John, some felt crushed under the wheels of poverty, disease and oppression. They heard the call to repent, to turn, to think differently, not as a call to turn from their sin, but rather, to turn to the one who was coming. They heard an invitation to come to the one who was for them. Judgment meant deliverance; vindication, not punishment.

John’s preaching provoked both deep repentance and enthusiastic anticipation.

Suddenly a hush comes over the crowd. One unknown walked up to John. Without anyone saying so, everyone knew it was the one of whom John spoke. It was Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee. Everyone else came from Jerusalem and the Judean countryside. But this one came from Galilee.

            By now in his late twenties, Jesus had lived an obscure life with his family in Nazareth. He heard about his cousin John’s popular ministry. Did he come to join John’s movement; perhaps to be mentored by John? As one who fled the comfort and corruption of the city for the loneliness of the desert, John had made a name for himself as one who spoke against the religious and political powers that be while standing up for the downtrodden. Would Jesus join John’s movement?

            It did not take long for the question to be answered. With the others, Jesus walked into the Jordan River and dipped himself into the water. With that Jesus joined John’s protest and renewal movement.

            As Jesus was walking into the water you could almost hear what was on everyone’s mind. Why? Why would the one whom John said was greater submit to his baptism of repentance? John had made it quite clear that this one, whom we now know as Jesus, did not need to repent of his own sin. Why did Jesus choose to be baptized?

            Then as quietly as Jesus walked into the water, he turned to walk out. He stopped and looked toward heaven. We could not see what Jesus saw. Later Jesus said he saw the heavens open and a spirit like a dove came to be on him. As Jesus was looking toward heaven, a clear voice was heard,“You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased.”

            Everyone knew what that meant. Earlier the scriptures used words like these to refer to King David. This one, Jesus of Nazareth, he was indeed the one coming to claim the throne of King David. Jesus was the promised one, the Messiah. Again God’s transforming voice spoke something new into being.

            But the question was still on everyone’s mind, “Why did Jesus choose to be baptized?” It became clear only later. The spirit of God coming upon Jesus and the affirming voice of God identified him as the promised Messiah and empowered him for his ministry. Jesus later described his ministry as being sent “to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Indeed, new seeds were being sown.

            What began there that day on the banks of the Jordan River marked a journey, a way. Jesus walked this way touching many people with his teaching of love for enemies, with healing and forgiveness for the outcasts of society. In the end the way of Jesus led to the cross where he modeled the self-giving love he taught in death.

In leaving the theatre people are still deep in thought. We heard the voice of God and saw its impact on stage. But was it really only on the stage? The transforming voice of God also touched the audience. As heard on the soundtrack, the rains fell and tight fisted pods burst open; releasing new seeds. Those seeds fell on the ones who saw and heard the drama. New growth was taking place where there was once formless confusion. Hard hearted and thick headed people were being transformed. As they turned from their sin and walked in the way of Jesus new life sprouted everywhere. God’s voice transforms.

            And I begin to think about myself. I was not literally with Jesus the day he dipped himself in the Jordan River. But in my baptism I can see myself, shoulder to shoulder with Jesus. Jesus chose to be baptized, to ally himself with the faults and failures of all people, even though he was without fault and failure. Standing in the water he took upon himself the pains, the problems, the brokenness and the hurts that people left behind in the river. From there he carried them to the cross. Yes, in his baptism Jesus also stood with me, and still does, to carry my fears and my anxieties.

            Standing side by side with Jesus in baptism I am also empowered for the ministries in life to which I might be called. Jesus baptized to show that he was walking away from sin and corruption and into the arms of God. My baptism symbolizes saying “no” to sin and saying “yes” to God. As God’s Spirit came upon Jesus to empower him for his life call, my baptism is also a baptism with the Holy Spirit.

            I don’t know what all this means and where it will lead me. In a strange kind of way it does not matter. There is great comfort and joy walking with others who are also on the way with Jesus. In baptism we are empowered with gifts. By the gifts God has given us we are called to be a blessing to others. And in that endeavor, my friends, the mission of God’s people becomes real.

So, why did Jesus need to be baptized? Why do we choose baptism? In baptism we respond to the transforming voice of God that creates order out of chaos. When God speaks, things become new. Baptism marks a new beginning and an empowering with gifts for a life of service and mission. God’s Spirit releases in us seeds that fall on moist desert soil. How will we welcome God’s transforming voice in our lives today? Amen.

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” Let us join in offering up our praise to the One who breaks the darkness with a liberating light. AMEN.