What’s up with this baptism?
I would guess most of you reading this or listening to the sermon will be familiar with the notion of “baptism.” You were baptized as a baby and were told about it, you were baptized as a non-baby and you remember it, or you have seen and remembered one or more baptisms.
You may have strong opinions about baptism, perhaps the mode or the age of the person being baptized. However, unless you have made an in-depth study of the event I suspect your opinions about Jesus’ baptism will be less strong. Jesus’ baptism is one of the less explicable events in the Bible. Even thinking about it can be a challenge, especially if our definition of baptism excludes everything except “for the remission of sins.”
Baptism wasn’t unknown in the ancient world, one form or another of it was practiced by many religions. But we still aren’t helped with this baptism? Why did Jesus get baptized? Why does it get its own Sunday, every year? You would think a yearly observance would be easier to understand and explain but then you remember Trinity Sunday.
I’m afraid to say I don’t have the final word on Jesus’ baptism but this sermon has a couple of interesting possibilities which may help you in your thoughts. As always, let me know what you think as you are able and inclined.
Blessings,
