The latest Sermon

Rev. Marlaena Cochran, M.Div.

Matthew 3:13-17

And with him, I am well pleased. These words ring out from the heavens. They resound throughout the creation.

And they mark the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. Jesus begins his work amidst these words of the love of God. And these are words that fuel him and guide him along his way.

And we see in the ministry of Jesus in the years that are to follow, that the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Also, during this time, Jesus is calling out the people to himself, his disciples, and all those who follow him. And he says to them, you are the beloved.

Follow me. These same words are spoken again in the life of Jesus as Jesus turns from his public ministry and sets his face towards Jerusalem. And as he and three of his disciples climb the mountain of transfiguration, Jesus is transformed into the fullness of his glory.

And those present hear a voice from the cloud. And the voice says, this is my son, the beloved. With him I am well pleased.

Listen to him. And again, these words will fuel Jesus towards Jerusalem and what lies before him, his death and his resurrection. But the words spoken over him from God are, this is my son, the beloved.

These are words of revelation. So, what is God revealing to us about God, about Jesus, about ourselves and our world? I think Matthew is very intentional in his account of the baptism of Jesus for in describing this encounter, he invites us to go back to the very beginning of the creation where there is water, where there is spirit, where there is a voice from the heavens. If we remember that in the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

And then God said from the heavens. I think Matthew wants to remind his readers that God is the creator, the one who brings order into the chaos, light into the darkness and life out of death. And this voice of the Lord is powerful, and it shapes us.

In Psalm 29, the psalmist describes God in this way. Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings. Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name and worship the Lord in holy splendor. The voice of the Lord is over the waters. The God of glory thunders.

The Lord over mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful. And the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

In this song, we see this phrase, the voice of the Lord seven times, which means it's important. And we also see words such as glory and strength and power and majesty. And this is the voice that speaks.

This is my son. The voice of the Lord. Where are you longing to hear the voice of the Lord in your life? And what are you longing for God to say to you? Maybe it is these words.

You are my beloved. You are my daughter. You are my son.

The baptism of Jesus reminds us that God has come near to us in Jesus Christ. And that God is once again creating. And this time God is creating a people.

A people who are made whole and holy by God's love. And so, we celebrate baptism as a community.

As a part of this creative work of God, of God calling out of people. And making them whole and holy. Baptism is one of two sacraments in the Protestant church.

And it is a sign and seal of the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Baptism is a sign of our coming into the body of Christ. And a seal of God's claiming us as beloved daughters and sons.

Baptism unites us with Christ. And with all those who have been baptized in his name. Baptism is related to God's covenant.

God's promise to God's people. And baptism has a breadth of meanings. That is conveyed in various images and metaphors.

And so, for a few moments, I'd like to share some of those images and metaphors with you. As they are described in the confessions of our church. And as I do so, I'd like for you to maybe think of your own baptism.

Or baptisms that you have borne witness to. And to also see if one of these images and metaphors of baptism are resonating in your heart this day. So, one of the things I love about this sacrament and having a variety of images and metaphors.

Is that they all speak to us. As in a different way of describing this very mysterious. And sometimes beyond our comprehension reality.

That we try to signify in baptism. So, the Heidelberg Catechism describes baptism as a washing away of sin. That baptism is an external washing with water.

And through it the promise of an internal washing with the blood of Jesus Christ. For the forgiveness of our sins. The Holy Spirit will use this washing as we are sanctified day by day by the Spirit.

The second Helvetic Confession speaks of baptism as being enrolled, entered and received into the covenant and family. And so, into the inheritance of children of God. And this emphasis on the covenant reminds us of the sign of circumcision.

And the covenant that God has made with God's people from all the way back until now. And so, God makes a covenant with the church through baptism. The Westminster Confession describes baptism as a sign and seal of the covenant of grace.

And grafting us into Christ of regeneration, of remission of sins, of giving up into God and walking in newness of life. And the Confession of 1967 offers us the image of humility in relationship to baptism. Jesus submitted to John's baptism and joined humanity in their need.

It's only in Matthew actually that we see this little conversation between John and Jesus. And John saying, I should be baptized by you. And Jesus says, no, at this time, for all righteousness, I will surrender to your baptism.

This is an act of solidarity by Jesus with those for whom he has come. And we also see in this confession that the Christian baptism remarks the receiving of the same Holy Spirit by all of Christ's people. And in the spirit, baptism represents a dying Christ and a joyful rising with him to new life.

So many ways to describe baptism. Washing away of sin. Being enrolled and entered and received into the family.

Being engrafted into Christ's body. Submitting and becoming a part of all those who are baptized in Jesus' name. And a dying and a rising into new life.

Which of these images is speaking to you this morning? In baptism, God is creating a people. A people made whole and holy by God's love. The voice of the Lord says to Jesus and to all those who are in Jesus.

This is my child. The beloved. And with him, I am well pleased.

God gives a blessing. And how we long to hear a blessing these days. One of my favorite quotes about blessing comes from spirituality writer Henry Mellon.

And he writes, To give someone a blessing is the most significant affirmation we can offer. It is more than a word of praise or appreciation. It is more than pointing out someone's talents or good deeds.

It is more than putting someone in the moment. To give a blessing is to affirm. To say yes to a person's belovedness.

So when we bless someone, we remind them that they are loved. And we say yes to who they are as a person. And we uphold their dignity and worth as a human being.

We give blessings at times of rejoicing and celebration and delighting. And how I think we need to pause and steepen that more in those moments. Whether it's in sacramental moments like we had this morning.

When we celebrate the sacrament of baptism. And we remind her and all those who are gathered that you are loved. Or maybe it's in those moments that we had at the beginning of the service.

When we remembered someone's birthday. And we celebrate their life. And we say, you are loved.

Or maybe even the small everyday moments. When we hear someone say to us, I love you. Either in words or actions.

Acts of kindness or compassion. And we feel that in our hearts. I am loved.

How we need to treasure and steep in those moments more. Giving a blessing, reminding people that they are loved, is actually one of the most common clinical interventions that I offer as a hospice Chaplain.

Whether with patients or families, as we are engaging in life review. And people are sharing the breadth of their life experiences. And through the good times and the hard times, for them to hear, you are loved.

When people are experiencing the brokenness and woundedness in our world. Whether through suffering or illness or disease. And to hear the words, you are loved.

Affirming the worth and personhood of an individual. Often when they begin to feel undignified. As their bodies begin to decline.

And they are not able to do the things that they used to do. And to say, you are loved. And in an end of life prayer, that I pray many times as last words.

In this phrase, eternal God, keeper of our days. Look on whomever, whom you created in your image and have claimed as your own through baptism. Comfort them with the promise of life eternal.

Made sure in the death and resurrection of your son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Reminding them at the end of this life, that you are loved. Whatever the circumstance or situation, I hear people longing for this affirmation.

Longing for this affirmation of love from friends, family, from God. And our God comes to us all along our life's journey and affirms our belovedness. Moments when we hear the voice of God saying, you are my son, you are my daughter, the beloved.

So where are you in need of a blessing today? Is there a circumstance or situation going on in your life? Where you need to be reminded of this baptism by many. And then how are we responding to God's love this day? Are we carrying this love out into our world? And speaking words of love to each other? Our baptism begins with being the beloved. And this fuels us and moves us in our everyday ordinary lives.

So, to close this morning, I would like to share with you a poem that was written about these words. And so, I'm going to invite you to close your eyes if that's comfortable for you. And to just let these words wash over you this day.

This comes from Jan Richardson. In a poem entitled, Beginning with Beloved. In a voice from heaven said, this is my son, the beloved.

Begin here, beloved. Is there any other word needs saying, any other blessing could compare with this name, this knowing? Beloved. Comes like a mercy to the ear that has never heard it.

Comes like a river to the body that has never seen such grace. Beloved. Comes holy to the heart aching to be new.

Comes healing to the soul wanting to begin again. Beloved. Keep saying it.

And though it may sound strange at first. Watch how it becomes part of you. How it becomes you.

As if you never could have known yourself anything else. As if you could ever have been other than this. Beloved.

So, as we remember our baptisms, maybe indeed begin here. Beloved. Let us pray.

God may these words wash over us this day. May they draw us to you. And may they reveal who you are and who we are.

And may they guide our lives and all we do in this world. May we be the beloved. Amen.