The Ripple of One Baptism (Jan 12)

Readings, Isaiah 43: 1-2, 5-7 and Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Image, Hiroshi Senju, Waterfall, 2016. ​
 
It was a happy accident that today’s baptism was rescheduled to the Baptism of Christ Sunday. Not only do we get to celebrate the baptism of --, but now we reflect on the baptism of Jesus. This is most suitable after all, for there is only really ever one baptism. For the millions of baptisms performed by Christians over two millennia simply share in Christ’s own baptism. And as we share in Christ’s baptism, we share in the words spoken over Christ by God: This is my beloved child. With you I am well pleased.
 
But what more might it mean to share in Christ’s baptism? When writing of the victory of Christ, Paul declares that Christ’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. For we are baptised into Christ’s death, and if we share his death then we shall share in his resurrection. We walk with Jesus out from death into newness of life. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you have received a spirit of adoption… and if children, then heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.
 
Our baptism, which is a ripple of Christ’s own immersion, signifies the reception of this spirit of adoption. That what is Christ’s is ours, that by plunging into his death, we are raised into his life and glory. This act recognises that in Christ everything is made new. Old shames, old barriers, old designations are buried, and we walk in newness of life a sibling of Christ. It is not that those existing markers of our identity (be it culture, history, or relations) are obliterated, but they are viewed through the lens where the truest thing about us is that we are a beloved child of God. We are delighted in by the Divine not because of anything we do, but simply for being one formed and made in the life-breath of God. No one may assume superiority over another because of lineage, wealth, status, gender, race, or worldly esteem, for we are all of us beloved creatures: formed by, delighted in and called by God.
 
But we share something more. In the gospel accounts, Christ’s baptism signifies his emergence on the scene. Following his immersion in the waters, the heavens break apart, the divine blessing is announced, and Christ is immediately driven to the wilderness to face trial and temptation. Following his triumph there he bursts into action and begins of his ministry: heralding the coming kingdom of God, calling disciples, casting out demons, and restoring people to wholeness.
 
To be baptised into Christ is to proclaim and celebrate that we share in all that belongs to him. We share in Christ’s righteousness, his resurrection, his glory, divinity, and eternity. But we also share in his work, his commission and calling. We share in his work to proclaim good news, to restore to wholeness that which was broken, to bring hope where there was misery, freedom where there was oppression, justice where there was indignity, mercy where there was apathy, healing where there was hurt, restoration where there was fracture, neighbourliness where there was exploitation, community where there was isolation. Baptism signifies that the great virtues at the heart of our faith (mercy, charity, forgiveness, justice, love, grace, beauty) are what we get to devote our lives to because we share in all that is Christ’s. Works of this nature are what we perform gladly in response to the Spirit of adoption we have received. This is walking in newness of life.    
 
As our baptisms are – essentially – repetitions of Christ’s own, we seek to live lives that are (to the best of our abilities) repetitions of Christ’s own. For in his grace Christ has made what was his, ours – both the riches of his righteousness and the significance of his work. Such wonders are what rightfully belong to beloved children of God, co-heirs with the Son, in whom God delights.