Reflection:
At seminary, I had a professor, Rev. Dr. Hans Kouwenberg, who taught us about Presbyterian worship and polity. Early in my first semester, during lunch at a campus café, we discussed faith and ministry. I shared my surprise at finding myself in seminary after 30 years of experience in education. He told me I must have experienced the Holy Spirit during my baptism.
When I first heard it, I didn’t fully understand. I didn’t see my baptism as significant since I had not felt any extraordinary emotions. There was no tearing of the heavens or a visible dove-like spirit descending as Jesus experienced during his baptism in the River Jordan. What I remembered most clearly was the weight of my body, heavy with pregnancy, as I carried my first child.
Years later, during my ordination interview, one of the interviewers asked, “Why does the church administer baptism?” Without hesitation, I replied, “Because Jesus asked us to.” My response pleased him because it aligns with Matthew 28:19: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
So, baptism, first of all, is an act of obedience to Christ’s command, but its meaning goes deeper. It signifies God’s grace and forgiveness, a new life emerging from the old life, unity with Christ, and bridging us into the Christian community – the body of Christ.
This morning’s Gospel reading from Luke describes John the Baptist urging people to be baptized in the Jordan River. He explained that baptism is not only with water but also with the Holy Spirit and fire. These elements remain significant today. Water symbolizes cleansing and renewal and marks the physical act of baptism. The Holy Spirit is invoked during the ritual, and the spirit represents transformation and divine guidance. Fire is understood metaphorically, symbolizing the refining and empowering work of God in the person’s life after baptism.
Baptism marks the end of the old life and the beginning of a life filled with God’s grace and forgiveness. That is why, this morning, we are going to recommit ourselves to our baptismal covenant to renew our commitment to follow Jesus.
After Jesus’ earthly ministry, his followers became members of the early Christian church. They developed this idea of what baptism means for us and to explain why baptism is so important. They carried on the practice of baptism. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples to continue Christ’s work. When St. Peter preached that day, he was asked by his listeners how they should respond, and he answered: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
It means in baptism, we die as Jesus did, but we are also born and raised to new life, as Jesus was. We die to our old selves and rise to new life in Christ. This promise has sustained Christians throughout centuries: We die in baptism and rise to live again.
Baptism is not just a personal experience; it unites us with others. In Luke’s Gospel for today, it says, “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened.” Jesus’ baptism was an act of solidarity with sinners, identifying with those who are broken and in need of God. Likewise, when we are baptized, we become part of the Church, the body of Christ. The Apostle Paul emphasizes this when he writes, “We were all baptized into one body.” Baptism is a shared experience, whether it is an adult choosing faith or an infant being brought into a family of believers.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus tells Nicodemus, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, one cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Through baptism, we are born into a new life. Paul adds, “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Baptism is also a means of grace, a sacred act where God’s love meets us. To an outsider, it might seem to be just a splash of water, but for us, it is rich with meaning. Baptism is about forgiveness, the presence of God’s spirit, our union with Christ, and being part of a global Christian community.
Despite its profound significance, some may feel that nothing extraordinary happens during their baptism. It’s a common experience to wonder if we have truly encountered God’s grace. But baptism’s power lies in reflecting on its meaning – a holy ritual practiced for centuries that affirms our identity as God’s children. One thing that I want to emphasize is that God calls and affirms each one of us as a child of God. At Jesus’ baptism, God declared, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Those words affirmed Jesus’ calling as the Messiah and sustained him through trials and ministry for three years. These are life-giving words that every person on earth needs to hear: “You are my child, whom I love; with you, I am well pleased.” When Jesus heard these words, they changed his life forever. And they hold the power to do the same for us – our children, our neighbours, our fellow church members, and, as Jesus promises, even our enemies.
Last week, we celebrated Rong’s baptism, a joyful milestone in her faith journey. Today, she will share her testimony, reflecting on why she chose to be baptized and what it means to her future. Her story is a powerful reminder of the gratitude we owe to God for guiding us through life.
Even when baptism feels ordinary, pausing to reflect on its profound significance brings us deep joy. It reminds us that we are called and affirmed as God’s beloved children. This is the blessing of life together in Christ.
Thanks be to God for calling us and affirming us again and again as God’s own. Amen.