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Now John was clothed with camel s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

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(1)

Mark 1:4-11

4 John the baptizer appeared[a] in the wilderness,

proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all

the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather

belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I

is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.

8 I have baptized you with[b] water;

but he will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit.” The Baptism of Jesus

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee

and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

10 And just as he was coming up out of the water,

he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.

11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son,

(2)

O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL

UNION HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF DENVILLE JANUARY 10, 2021 BAPTISM OF THE LORD MARK 1: 4-11

In Advent, we spent a month singing “O Come, O Come,

Emmanuel,” where Emmanuel means “God with us.” Now, sad as I feel every year when the time comes to take

down the Christmas tree, today’s Gospel reading makes

Christmas seem like it is miles away in our rearview mirrors. Our lectionary has fast-forwarded Jesus about 30 years to his baptism in the Jordan River by John. We can only hope in the intervening time, Jesus has sent polite thank you notes to those who gave him the gold, frankincense, and myrrh we heard

about just a week ago!

Emmanuel. God with us. As much as we associate that with Advent and

Christmas, it is quite fitting for today as we remember the Baptism of Jesus. This week of disturbing events has us BEGGING to sense God with us.

On one level, Jesus being baptized seems curious: certainly Jesus need not be forgiven for anything. Yet, maybe, in subjecting himself to baptism, Jesus embraces the human experience. In his baptism, Jesus relates to us, the ones who need to be brought into that close connection of relationship with God. In his baptism, Jesus is, indeed, God with us.

(3)

If these verses from Mark were to be studied in a language arts class, those key questions of WHO/ WHAT/ WHERE/ and WHY would be answered from the very first line!

Who? John. Where? In the wilderness.

What? Proclaiming baptism of repentance.

Why? For forgiveness of sins.

As neatly as all that falls into place, so much more of this

passage, that we may take for granted as all too familiar, is remarkably unusual, inviting and challenging us to wrestle

with what it all means to us and our own walk with Jesus.

In these days of extremes, taking sides, and disturbing behaviors,

…drawing into question the sanctity of our institutions…

revisiting how we define treason

and determine what it is to inspire or incite unlawful behavior, what do we make of John drawing people from both country and city?

Rural & urban, field & office, heading in the same direction.

Whatever their station in life, whatever their place in society and culture, people knew something was missing… something was broken. Forgiveness, wholeness was needed.

(4)

The ringleader himself would not have been on the cover on too many magazines: cloaked in camel’s hair, his ragged clothes held up with a strap, eating bugs and what he could find…

The one chosen to point us in the direction of Jesus

sounds to have all the fashion sense and behaviors of someone that we would more likely pretend NOT to see.

Often, we prefer to look at, or listen to, or accept guidance from, someone we find familiar, attractive, safe.

On the surface, as Mark describes him,

John would appear to be none of those things. Yet, this is who God chose to bear the message, the call to live differently.

If you have been to a concert, the headliner is likely

the reason you bought a ticket, saved the date, and made the

effort to get to the venue. The folks of the countryside and city had come because word of John had gotten to them.

Imagine their response when among the things he tells them is that it is not he but someone else who is the main attraction!

(5)

Among the most interesting requests I accepted in church came nearly 20 years ago, when a pastor was preaching on this

account of the baptism of Jesus. “I hear you do a good Bob Dylan. Would you do me a favor?”

And with that, I was enlisted to play my spot on rendition of “It Ain’t Me, Babe,” as the anthem on a Sunday morning!

You say you're lookin' for someone /Who's never weak but always strong To protect you and defend you / Whether you are right or wrong Someone to open each and every door / But it ain't me, babe

No, no, no, it ain't me, babe / It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe Go lightly from the ledge, babe / Go lightly on the ground

I'm not the one you want, babe / I will only let you down

You say you're lookin' for someone / Who will promise never to part Someone to close his eyes for you / Someone to close his heart Someone who will die for you and more

But it ain't me, babe /No, no, no, it ain't me babe It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe

John told the crowds…John tells us…John is the warm-up act paving the way for Christ. Paving the way for the extraordinary one who seems to consistently do the unexpected!

In being baptized, Jesus joins with us. He is Emmanuel, God with us.

(6)

Here we are, a couple weeks past Christmas. Decorations about to come down.

We likely will not hear the minor key of

O Come O Come Emmanuel again until after Thanksgiving, about the same time we pull those same decorations

back from our closets and attics.

The next time our voices sing that appeal, we will be lighting the first purple candle of a wreath for Advent 2021.

That seems a long time from now…

I called the pastor of one of the people whom I serve as hospice chaplain. We compared notes on how our churches celebrated Christmas Eve. In the course of the conversation, he said WE are Advent…WE are the living, breathing anticipation of the coming of Jesus into the world!

Maybe that is the best way to receive the familiar account of the baptism of Jesus. Maybe this year, especially, we need to perceive of Christ’s baptism as His grand gesture of connecting

with us. Maybe this week, especially, in the midst of life’s

absurdity, distorted thinking, and unfathomable behavior, we need to be reminded that, indeed, God is with us.

By his grace we find meaning, discern God’s purposes, and hope for better days ahead.

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