Rev. Dustin ParkerThe Chosen Identified
Concordia Lutheran Church
Celebration of the Baptism Of Christ
January 9, 2011
The Chosen, Identified!
Isaiah 42:1-9
† In Jesus Name †
As we realize that Christ was identified to us as John baptized him, may realize the gift of mercy and peace that God our Father sent His Son to bring to those that are united to Him by the water and word in baptism!
Christ’s Commission
It just didn’t seem right to John the Baptist, that he would have to baptize this one, not just a man, not just his cousin, but the one that the Holy Spirit identified as the Agnus Dei – the very Lamb of God, the Chosen, the Anointed. For John, who disdained popularity to call people to repentance and cleanse them from their sin, to baptize the one who could not know sin. It just didn’t seem meet, right, or beneficial. One could say – it seemed wrong and humiliating to identify HIM with sinners
It just seems wrong that the Messiah would even get into the same water where people had come, to receive the assurance that their ugly, dirty, sin was cleansed from them, even as their dirt and sweat was removed by the coolness of the water.
Theologians have long argued the Lutheran question on this one – “What does this mean?” Why? What is the significance of the one identified as the, Almighty God, the Wonder Counselor, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace submitting himself to this humiliating experience of being identified as a sinner? How does Jesus fulfill all righteousness by being identified as a sinner?
Why would the Father in Heaven look down at Him, and indicate that this brought Him pleasure, that the Son’s humiliation pleased God the Father, and indeed would cause the angels to dance?
Whoever picked the combinations of readings for this day, centuries ago, knew the answer to “why” was not found in the Gospel text, but in the Old Testament, in the prophecies regarding the God’s lowly servant, the one whose actions the Father could be pleased with, in whom the very soul of the Father would delight!
The common joy seen in the Father over His Son in Matthew and His lowly servant in Isaiah is not coincidence… it is the identification of the Servant, the Chosen, the One whom the Father would stand with, and who would rejoice. For indeed Jesus Christ in His ministry would bring justice and righteousness, God’s version of righteousness, to the nations… for that is for what He was chosen!
Our fragility met with the Chosen’s Care
The ministry to which Christ was called was one that required great skill and even greater compassion. He was chosen and sent, and identified as one with great focus, focus so great that He would not be distracted by the pain, and the suffering that would be required of Him. He would not cry out, or make great noise and publish His trumpet His great sacrifice.
Instead, he would serve the lowly, the ones who are bruised and broken, whose faith seems all but quenched and extinguished.
When it talks of the servant bringing forth justice to the nations, there is a very specific tie in to those who are bruised, to those whose faith is nearly extinguished. For it is the lack of righteousness, the mockery of justice that causes such damage, How many times can we look ourselves in the mirror, and realize how far short we fall of our own standards, never mind those of God’s that we desire to define us? How many times can we hear of the innocent suffering, or evil prospering before our faith is affected? How many times can we look at those we care for deeply, and see their struggle, their trauma, and that which would distract them from the love of God?
It is a hard world out there… enough so it seems that its intention is to crush everyone, The effect of individual sin, both our own and that committed against us, leaves us broken and barely intact. If that is not enough the sin we see prevalent in our world tries to snuff out what little positive is left in us. The Old Testament warns us about trusting in princes and leaders, for they are as sinful as we are.
Yet Isaiah is clear, the Chosen One will not utter a sound in complaint as He brings God’s justice and righteousness to the nations. It is not clear in the English, but the description of him not growing faith, or being discouraged are the same words as bruised and quenched. Even as Jesus will go to the cross, He will bear the pain, the pressure, and look with joy. In doing so, the very unrighteousness and injustice that so depletes our souls will be destroyed, and it will suffer defeat.
Our Unrighteousness met with the establishment of Justice
We shall be kindled, our light strengthened as we reflect the light of Christ to the world still in darkness. We shall know restoration and healing as the Holy Spirit will lift us up because we have received Christ’s righteousness. That is marvelous to witness, as I have been blessed to see over and over again. Including Thursday night, as some of the leaders of this church met and prayer with a former member. Truly he grasped what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth,
7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
2 Corinthians 4:7-10 (NLT)
I think one of our challenges in hearing that the Chosen One will bring justice to the nations, is that we hear that He is bringing “law and order”, that all will behave perfectly and do that which is good and right. That children will respect and honor their children, that parents will raise children to know God, and become responsible citizens. That people will obey laws, and not be so materialistic and self-centered. That people will love their neighbor, and husbands and wives will love and cherish and submit to each other.
We desire heaven on earth, and are disappointed to see that it hasn’t happened yet, and our spirits are more quenched as we hear of others rejoicing in the injustice, or at least gleefully pointing out the injustice served by their adversaries.
The justice Christ brings is different, what He will establish is far more than we could ever imagine. It is why the life, so bruised and crushed by sin is not trampled by wrath, but healed. It is why the wick, snuffed by watching hope nearly extinguished, will blaze in reflection of the Son.
Christ’s justice comes to us in the water of baptism – as Paul talks – the place where we are united with His death, and the power of His resurrection. In the water where the Sin was cleansed, Christ enters to deal with that sin. He doesn’t create a just world, He justifies a sin-filled mortally wounded world, where we often wonder if evil reigns.
He willingly identified with the sin, He went down into the water – not caring that he would be identified as a sinner, because He would bear all sin on the cross. Every stinking, evil, horrible self-centered thought, word and deed He was chosen to bear. The big sins like hatred and murder, the sins that are accepted by society today, the sins like gossip and lust. All of it, nailed on the cross. All of it, didn’t break His body, but cost Him life, and His blood.
Our transgressions met with the Chosen as Covenant
Last week, Deacon Don preached about the signs of God’s love. We need them, not because we overlook the obvious in stupidity, but because the world will try and steal our peace. We need it when we get news of a friend who passed away un-expectantly, or when the news of a something as reprehensible as what occurred in Arizona yesterday occurs.
We need a sign of God’s presence with us, that the promises He gives are true, the promises of our being freed of that which crushes us. That these promises in scripture aren’t just the mad idealistic ravings of a bunch of desert dwellers two thousand years ago. If we don’t have a sign – if we don’t have this Chosen one, and bringer of justice identified for us, what hope is there?
Jesus is not just the Chosen one, Isaiah tells us He is the covenant, the signature of the promise. He is the very promise of God and the evidence of it. His body and Blood given to you from this altar, not just a fading memory – but as the scripture tells us – the Body given for you! The blood shed for the forgiveness of all sin, the very new covenant of His Blood
The sign of this font, reminding us that Christ was willing to be identified as a sinner, that we would be identified as righteous. We were united with Him here…..we are untied with Him here…. Together – His people.
It is not just written in His blood, it is His blood – that cleanses us and gives us life
because we are united God is pleased
As Jesus enters the river, and John pours the water, the prophecy of Isaiah becomes fulfilled – He has brought justice and righteousness to the world and the Father is overjoyed – He delights, or the translation of the New Testament – He is well pleased. If you remember our series from last Easter, God dances!
His Son begins the journey towards Good Friday, and the Cross, and the sacrifice we needed to bring and establish God’s version of justice, God’s version of righteousness, in a world that is neither.
Isaiah, ten chapters later – will restate this joy of God, even more clearly,
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. 11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:10-11 (NKJV)
In doing so – He established righteous in us, He healed those crushed by the weight of sin, and He breathed life into us.
And so we live in peace, and the Father is delighted, for Christ the servant secures our hearts and minds in that peace. This my people, is most certainly true.
AMEN!
 
Celebration of the Baptism Of Christ
January 9, 2011
The Chosen, Identified!
Isaiah 42:1-9
† In Jesus Name †
As we realize that Christ was identified to us as John baptized him, may realize the gift of mercy and peace that God our Father sent His Son to bring to those that are united to Him by the water and word in baptism!
Christ’s Commission
It just didn’t seem right to John the Baptist, that he would have to baptize this one, not just a man, not just his cousin, but the one that the Holy Spirit identified as the Agnus Dei – the very Lamb of God, the Chosen, the Anointed. For John, who disdained popularity to call people to repentance and cleanse them from their sin, to baptize the one who could not know sin. It just didn’t seem meet, right, or beneficial. One could say – it seemed wrong and humiliating to identify HIM with sinners
It just seems wrong that the Messiah would even get into the same water where people had come, to receive the assurance that their ugly, dirty, sin was cleansed from them, even as their dirt and sweat was removed by the coolness of the water.
Theologians have long argued the Lutheran question on this one – “What does this mean?” Why? What is the significance of the one identified as the, Almighty God, the Wonder Counselor, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace submitting himself to this humiliating experience of being identified as a sinner? How does Jesus fulfill all righteousness by being identified as a sinner?
Why would the Father in Heaven look down at Him, and indicate that this brought Him pleasure, that the Son’s humiliation pleased God the Father, and indeed would cause the angels to dance?
Whoever picked the combinations of readings for this day, centuries ago, knew the answer to “why” was not found in the Gospel text, but in the Old Testament, in the prophecies regarding the God’s lowly servant, the one whose actions the Father could be pleased with, in whom the very soul of the Father would delight!
The common joy seen in the Father over His Son in Matthew and His lowly servant in Isaiah is not coincidence… it is the identification of the Servant, the Chosen, the One whom the Father would stand with, and who would rejoice. For indeed Jesus Christ in His ministry would bring justice and righteousness, God’s version of righteousness, to the nations… for that is for what He was chosen!
Our fragility met with the Chosen’s Care
The ministry to which Christ was called was one that required great skill and even greater compassion. He was chosen and sent, and identified as one with great focus, focus so great that He would not be distracted by the pain, and the suffering that would be required of Him. He would not cry out, or make great noise and publish His trumpet His great sacrifice.
Instead, he would serve the lowly, the ones who are bruised and broken, whose faith seems all but quenched and extinguished.
When it talks of the servant bringing forth justice to the nations, there is a very specific tie in to those who are bruised, to those whose faith is nearly extinguished. For it is the lack of righteousness, the mockery of justice that causes such damage, How many times can we look ourselves in the mirror, and realize how far short we fall of our own standards, never mind those of God’s that we desire to define us? How many times can we hear of the innocent suffering, or evil prospering before our faith is affected? How many times can we look at those we care for deeply, and see their struggle, their trauma, and that which would distract them from the love of God?
It is a hard world out there… enough so it seems that its intention is to crush everyone, The effect of individual sin, both our own and that committed against us, leaves us broken and barely intact. If that is not enough the sin we see prevalent in our world tries to snuff out what little positive is left in us. The Old Testament warns us about trusting in princes and leaders, for they are as sinful as we are.
Yet Isaiah is clear, the Chosen One will not utter a sound in complaint as He brings God’s justice and righteousness to the nations. It is not clear in the English, but the description of him not growing faith, or being discouraged are the same words as bruised and quenched. Even as Jesus will go to the cross, He will bear the pain, the pressure, and look with joy. In doing so, the very unrighteousness and injustice that so depletes our souls will be destroyed, and it will suffer defeat.
Our Unrighteousness met with the establishment of Justice
We shall be kindled, our light strengthened as we reflect the light of Christ to the world still in darkness. We shall know restoration and healing as the Holy Spirit will lift us up because we have received Christ’s righteousness. That is marvelous to witness, as I have been blessed to see over and over again. Including Thursday night, as some of the leaders of this church met and prayer with a former member. Truly he grasped what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth,
7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
2 Corinthians 4:7-10 (NLT)
I think one of our challenges in hearing that the Chosen One will bring justice to the nations, is that we hear that He is bringing “law and order”, that all will behave perfectly and do that which is good and right. That children will respect and honor their children, that parents will raise children to know God, and become responsible citizens. That people will obey laws, and not be so materialistic and self-centered. That people will love their neighbor, and husbands and wives will love and cherish and submit to each other.
We desire heaven on earth, and are disappointed to see that it hasn’t happened yet, and our spirits are more quenched as we hear of others rejoicing in the injustice, or at least gleefully pointing out the injustice served by their adversaries.
The justice Christ brings is different, what He will establish is far more than we could ever imagine. It is why the life, so bruised and crushed by sin is not trampled by wrath, but healed. It is why the wick, snuffed by watching hope nearly extinguished, will blaze in reflection of the Son.
Christ’s justice comes to us in the water of baptism – as Paul talks – the place where we are united with His death, and the power of His resurrection. In the water where the Sin was cleansed, Christ enters to deal with that sin. He doesn’t create a just world, He justifies a sin-filled mortally wounded world, where we often wonder if evil reigns.
He willingly identified with the sin, He went down into the water – not caring that he would be identified as a sinner, because He would bear all sin on the cross. Every stinking, evil, horrible self-centered thought, word and deed He was chosen to bear. The big sins like hatred and murder, the sins that are accepted by society today, the sins like gossip and lust. All of it, nailed on the cross. All of it, didn’t break His body, but cost Him life, and His blood.
Our transgressions met with the Chosen as Covenant
Last week, Deacon Don preached about the signs of God’s love. We need them, not because we overlook the obvious in stupidity, but because the world will try and steal our peace. We need it when we get news of a friend who passed away un-expectantly, or when the news of a something as reprehensible as what occurred in Arizona yesterday occurs.
We need a sign of God’s presence with us, that the promises He gives are true, the promises of our being freed of that which crushes us. That these promises in scripture aren’t just the mad idealistic ravings of a bunch of desert dwellers two thousand years ago. If we don’t have a sign – if we don’t have this Chosen one, and bringer of justice identified for us, what hope is there?
Jesus is not just the Chosen one, Isaiah tells us He is the covenant, the signature of the promise. He is the very promise of God and the evidence of it. His body and Blood given to you from this altar, not just a fading memory – but as the scripture tells us – the Body given for you! The blood shed for the forgiveness of all sin, the very new covenant of His Blood
The sign of this font, reminding us that Christ was willing to be identified as a sinner, that we would be identified as righteous. We were united with Him here…..we are untied with Him here…. Together – His people.
It is not just written in His blood, it is His blood – that cleanses us and gives us life
because we are united God is pleased
As Jesus enters the river, and John pours the water, the prophecy of Isaiah becomes fulfilled – He has brought justice and righteousness to the world and the Father is overjoyed – He delights, or the translation of the New Testament – He is well pleased. If you remember our series from last Easter, God dances!
His Son begins the journey towards Good Friday, and the Cross, and the sacrifice we needed to bring and establish God’s version of justice, God’s version of righteousness, in a world that is neither.
Isaiah, ten chapters later – will restate this joy of God, even more clearly,
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. 11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:10-11 (NKJV)
In doing so – He established righteous in us, He healed those crushed by the weight of sin, and He breathed life into us.
And so we live in peace, and the Father is delighted, for Christ the servant secures our hearts and minds in that peace. This my people, is most certainly true.
AMEN!
 
A Simple Christian
pastor
pastorsponderings