Make disciples of all nations

Sermon planned for Sunday, January 16th, 2011
Text: John 1:29-42

Last Sunday I preached at Bergfeld EMMC. We studied Matthew’s account of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist at the Jordan River. And when I studied the passage for this morning, I couldn’t help but think that it would be good for us to also look at this theme of baptism. The gospel story for this morning is John’s account of Jesus’ baptism and the calling of the first disciples. The fact that we have just begun faith/Catechism classes also makes this theme an appropriate one.

Why does the church baptize? What does this practice mean? What does it accomplish? Why was Jesus baptized? And what relation does baptism have with the rest of our discipleship journey? These are the questions that permeated my studies, this past week, as I prepared this sermon.

I invite you to open your bibles to the gospel of John, chapter one, beginning at verse twenty-nine. The author tells us that Jesus came to John the Baptist at the Jordan River. In the other gospels, the authors are quick to mention that Jesus came to John for the purpose of baptism. But in John’s gospel the author doesn’t even get that far. The author’s only concern is to tell us about Jesus’ identity. There’s no really clear account of Jesus’ baptism in the gospel of John, but if you read between the lines, and compare it with the other gospels, we can tell that this is where Jesus was, in fact, baptized in John’s account of the gospel.

Now, it’s a bit of a shocker for us to hear that Jesus, the one who had no sin, came to John for the baptism of repentance. Jesus was without sin, yet he joined the line of sinners by the Jordan River. Why? There are at least three parts to this answer. First of all, Jesus was baptized in obedience to God’s will. God’s desire for all the nations, including us today, is that they be baptized. God wants humans to be washed in baptism. That is God’s Will, and Jesus obeyed God’s will, ‘fulfilling all righteousness’, as the gospel of Matthew puts it. Secondly, Jesus came to save sinners, and in being baptized he fully identified with sinners. He joined the line of sinners at the Jordan. He fully identified with us. Already in his baptism, Jesus shouldered human sin & guilt by undergoing the same cleansing baptism that you and I are asked to go through. Finally, Jesus baptism was the starting line for his ministry of announcing God’s Kingdom. In his baptism, Jesus’ took up his role as God’s Anointed Messiah, who announced the coming Kingdom of God. In his baptism, he was given God’s seal of approval: this is my Son, the Beloved, in whom I am well pleased! In summary: Jesus was baptized in obedience to God, for our salvation, and to begin his ministry.

These are at least some of the reasons that we can assume were behind Jesus’ baptism. But John’s gospel is more interested in a different part of the story. His gospel focuses all attention on what is said about Jesus, his identity, and what effect that has on those who hear it. The kind of news that John the Baptist delivers is the kind of news that completely changes the game. When two of his disciples heard John the Baptist talking about Jesus, they quit following him and they went after Jesus. They switched teams the minute they heard that Jesus was the Lamb of God. This news completely changed them. This news resulted in people choosing to follow.

Andrew was one of these followers of John. He was John the Baptist’s disciple. As a disciple, he would have been baptized by John and would have stuck close to him, to learn more about God and His Way. But John taught his disciples about the coming Messiah. He taught them that the Messiah would baptize not with water, but with the Holy Spirit. And so, it makes complete sense that when Jesus showed-up, and when John the Baptist pointed him out as the Messiah, John’s disciples switched teams.

If you play for the Manitoba Moose, and one day you know that a scout from the NHL shows up, well let’s just say that you pay a whole lot more attention to the game than usual. It’s a whole different level of hockey, and you know that if the opportunity arises, you know what your decision would be – you’d switch teams without hesitation. The disciples of John were huge fans of his ministry – but if the Messiah were to show up, it changes the game completely.

Andrew and another one of John’s disciples left to follow after Jesus. And later that day Andrew went to Simon Peter, his brother, and told him about Jesus, and he also followed Jesus. This is John’s account of how these two brothers became Christ’s followers. We’re not told here whether these two followers were baptized by John or by Jesus. In fact, none of the gospels include an account of the disciples being baptized. But in the book of Acts 1:21-23, we get the sense that the twelve disciples included only men who had been there all along, beginning with the baptism from John. (Acts 1:21-23) Being a disciple included being baptized. In fact, in John chapter four we get the clear sense that making disciples and baptism are intimately connected. The bible leaves no doubt regarding the practice of the early church: disciples begin their journey with baptism. It is a practice that initiates believers into a life of discipleship in fellowship with Christ and His Church.

Baptism is a practice in which believers recognize that they have been set aside, by Jesus – they have been claimed by him for a life of discipleship. In this way, baptism comes at the beginning of the Christian’s journey. In the book of Acts, you read numerous accounts of people believing and then they were baptized. It’s as though baptism was the starting line for the Christian journey. Is that what baptism means for you? Is baptism the starting line for the Christian journey? Or is it something you do once you’ve achieved a certain level of faith? Or purity?

If we go back to the example of hockey, what are the practices there that compare with something like baptism? When you join a hockey team, there’s often a practice of initiation – it comes close to the beginning of your career with a specific team. In some cases, this initiation can be fairly difficult and even brutal – but it is a clear marker, for the rest team, that you are now part of the group, you’re on the team. There are other significant moments, in hockey, where you have a ritual or symbol that is reserved for achieving a level of accomplishment. Whether its an awards ceremony in public, or its some locker-room practice between the players – most teams have a certain practice that acknowledges ability and skill and achievement; a kind of reward. An example of this is when a team hoists the top player onto their shoulders and carries them around for a while, but I’m guessing there are other such rituals. The question that I want to ask here is this: is baptism more like an initiation ritual or is it more like a practice that acknowledges achievement?

When I was enjoying my first summer of being a camp counselor, each of the three Mennonite camps had their own initiation ritual. For Moose Lake, the male counselors would pick a guy up and toss him in the lake, fully clothed. But the one I remember the most clearly is what happened at Camp Koinonia. There they held you stretched out under a water pump and they got you soaking wet with ice cold water from the well, and their aim was always painfully accurate (if you know what I mean). Is baptism more like this kind of an initiation ritual, or is it more like an awards ceremony?

Many of you might think this is a silly question. Of course, Marco, it’s more like an initiation ritual. It’s when you confess your faith before the community for the first time. The reason I ask this question is because much of our language surrounding baptism, when we get baptized, or why people refrain from baptism, makes it seem like we’re confused about this.

What I mean is that many people say that they’re not ready for baptism, even though they have faith in Jesus, they put their trust in him and they do their best to follow him. What might it mean in this situation to not be ready? Is the person hesitant because they haven’t achieved a certain level of faith or obedience? They strive to be good disciples, but do they feel incompetent, or shy? In this case, it is good for a person to be baptized because it’s obvious that this person has chosen to be on Jesus’ team. They have felt God’s calling. They are ready for the initiation.

On the other hand, I’ve heard other people say that they don’t want to be baptized because they still want to have some fun. In this situation, baptism is viewed as a turn for the worse – as though the baptized are a boring group, who don’t have any fun. Of course, what is meant is that a person wants to party, drink, commit adultery, and do other kinds of immoral behavior. In this case, it would be wise to not get baptized, because its clear that this person understands something crucial about baptism. They understand that, in baptism, you join a different team. On this team, sin is something you repent from, not something you look forward to. This doesn’t mean you will be a perfect disciple – after your baptism you’re still a first-year rookie – but it does mean you’re training on Jesus’ team; you’re heading in the same direction. It’s a direction that requires discipline, training… and a whole lot of grace.

When we realize that baptism marks the starting line of our life as a disciple, then we realize that the only thing that makes us ready for baptism is that we want to play for Jesus. We admit that it’s going to be a while before we get a hang of the game, before we understand the game’s dynamics, but baptism means that we’re lining up at Jesus’ place… and not some other place. Baptism is the practice that Jesus commands of us, it is the initiation rite that he has given us, when we join his line-up. When we live our lives for Jesus, he has an initiation for you… he invites you into the waters of baptism.

When Jesus commissioned his disciples he said: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." This is the purpose that Jesus sets before us; it is his command and our game-plan. This is our mission as a church fellowship. Go and make disciples! How do you make disciples? Well, by baptism and teaching. This is how Jesus, our coach, wants us to fill the ranks of his team – with these two important components – teaching and baptism.

This doesn’t mean that you wait to get baptized until you’re taught 100% of the bible. The first-year rookie still has lots to learn – but he’s on the team, he’s past the starting line. This doesn’t mean that you only get baptized once you understand everything about the faith. That’s not what it means. In fact, the book of Acts includes numerous examples where many people were baptized after only a very short summary of the gospel. The point is that people be taught about Jesus, his salvation – the fact of his Lordship, his death and resurrection – that people affirm this, pledge allegiance to Him, and that they trust Him. And so, for example, when Philip met the Ethiopian fellow on the road, he baptized him after only a short conversation about the gospel. That’s completely legitimate. Jesus commands us to make disciples, and we do this by teaching and baptizing. Jesus doesn’t give us a once-for-all curriculum, but the Holy Spirit gives us words to say in preparing people for this commitment.

This doesn’t mean that once you’re baptized the teaching is done either. Teaching and learning continues for the life of a disciple. It’s part of what we do here every Sunday, in Sunday school, in the text of our hymns, in mentorship, and in preaching. Studying and learning should also continue on at home and in your personal life. Baptism is just the beginning – the starting line – and the rest is… well, it’s a journey, a mission, a whole new reality.

What would have happened if I had refused initiation at Camp Koinonia? What would happen on a hockey team if you’d run away from the team every time they tried to initiate you? Well, on paper, you’d still be part of the team. I would have continued on as a camp Counselor in form at least. But these initiation rites are crucial because there’s something that happens that goes beyond the formality of a paycheck or a name on the roster. There’s something mysterious about the practice, and the team loyalty and bond that develops, when you undergo an initiation, even if it looks harsh on the outside, as baptism does.

Paul writes that baptism is a kind of death – a death to our old selves. “Romans 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” This ritual might look and sound brutal, like the initiation rituals of most sports teams, but something happens in this practice that unites us with our Lord and with his Church. I don’t quite have the words to explain it – it includes mystery. A membership list idea doesn’t quite do it justice either – it’s beyond our comprehension. But the words that scripture uses about baptism remind us that in these waters we meet Jesus who has claimed us.

Baptism is not about reaching a certain level or readiness or perfection. If you love Jesus and want to be his disciple, baptism is the step of obedience. In Acts 2:41 we read, “So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.” Have you welcomed Jesus’ message? If yes, then what is to keep you from being baptized?

It’s not about being a certain age, but about standing up in celebration of the fact that Jesus has claimed you. It’s not about understanding Christian doctrines 100%, but about being obedient to God who wants all nations to be washed in baptism. It’s not about trying to fit in, or checking off a to-do list, or about listening to what your parents want you to do; baptism is about jumping-in with both feet into fellowship with Jesus and his disciples. It’s not a ticket to heaven; rather, baptism names the start a costly journey that’s marked by the suffering of our Savior.

As Andrew and Peter joined Jesus, they were drawn into an unimaginable mission in which God, who created everything, used simple fishermen, their simple gifts, and partnered with them to usher in His Kingdom. How will you respond to Christ’s call? If you love Jesus a lot, or if you love him a little; if you find him curious or just plain frustrating, I encourage you to come talk to me, if you haven’t already, and ask about joining our faith exploration class. We’re meeting tonight, 7pm at my place, and there’s plenty more room. Learn more about Jesus and seek him in the waters of baptism. Join him at the starting line of the Christian faith – and join him in the Mission of God’s Kingdom that’s breaking into our world all around us. Amen.