The Baptism of Our Lord

1 Corinthians 1:26–31
St. Matthew 3:13–17

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

I assume many of us have asked a question similar to John the Baptist: Why does Jesus need to be baptized? If He doesn’t have any sins, why is Jesus getting baptized with a bunch of sinners? And then I assume many ask a similar question for ourselves: So, I need baptism because I’m sinner, but once I’m baptized, why do I need to think about it anymore? In other words, what does baptism have to do with the rest of my life? These questions about Jesus’ baptism and our own go together, so we will answer them both.

First, why does Jesus get baptized? He tells us, to fulfill all righteousness. Everything He does, He does for us men and for our salvation. He does it to accomplish, to do every righteous thing in our place. He doesn’t get baptized because He needs it. He gets baptized because we need it. He gets baptized as our representative so that we can get baptized like Him.

So, He was baptized as a man. As the new man, the new Adam, standing in for all mankind, Jesus gets baptized. This makes it possible for all men to step into His place and get that baptism for themselves. The Second Person of the Trinity, the eternal Son of the Father, already possessed the Holy Spirit. He was in perfect communion with the Father and the Spirit from before the beginning of time. But Jesus receives the Holy Spirit as a man in His baptism, so that He can give the Holy Spirit to us. Jesus didn’t need what He got in baptism. As true God, He didn’t need the forgiveness of sins, or the gift of the Holy Spirit, or the declaration of His Father’s voice. But Jesus got all of that as a man, so that we can get it too. He didn’t need to be purified or cleansed, but He hallowed the water. He is holier than the font, purer than the water—He is their source. He does not dirty the water with sins, but instead He cleanses the water, He makes it holy, so that when it is poured out on us, it makes us holy.

Everything Jesus does, He does for us. Everything Jesus is, He is for us. This is what St. Paul was saying when he wrote: you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Jesus became your wisdom—there’s no knowledge you can gain that will help you more than the knowledge of your Savior. Jesus became your righteousness—your sins are canceled out and His rightness, His good deeds, count for you. Jesus became your sanctification—His holiness makes you holy, filled with the presence of the holy God but not destroyed—a holy temple for Him to dwell in. Jesus became your redemption—He is your rescuer, He is your everything. 

There’s nothing, no gift from God that you can get, that hasn’t been given to you in your baptism, because you are in Christ Jesus. He is redemption—you are baptized into Jesus, so you are redeemed. He is sanctification—you are baptized into Jesus, so you are holy. He is justification—you are baptized into Jesus, so you are righteous. He is wisdom—you are baptized into Jesus, so you are wise.

I don’t know how many more ways I can say how great a treasure and gift baptism is. And yet, we hear all that and ask, once I’m baptized, why do I need to think about it anymore? What does baptism have to do with the rest of my life? If I get all of that great stuff in baptism, then why do I need anything else, like the Bible, or the church, or the Lord’s Supper?

But think about it: if Baptism really is everything we’ve said it is—if Baptism is Jesus being and doing everything for you—if that’s what Baptism is, then how can you ever get done with that? How can that ever become old news? How can Baptism ever become an excuse to stay away from God and away from all the gifts He keeps on giving? If Jesus is your everything, for you are in Jesus, then Baptism is your everything. Baptism is not just the few moments it took to pour the water and say the words. Baptism is the whole of your life. It’s not just one thing you’ve got to do (as if getting the baby baptized is just this one little thing we’ve got to do but has nothing to do with living a Christian life connected to the church). Baptism is not just one bit, a part segmented from the rest of you. From your Baptism on, everything you get and everything you do you get and do as the baptized.

So, when you sin, you sin against your baptism. You sin against the Holy Name of God that’s been put on you. And when you repent, you are brought back to the effect of your baptism: you die to sin, you drown yourself, so that you only live for Christ, because your only life is in Christ. When you hear the absolution, you are renewed in the righteousness and holiness of Jesus, which you first got at baptism. And when you hear God’s Word you listen as a baptized child of your heavenly Father. You love to hear it—not only do you need to hear God’s Word and preaching, but you enjoy it. How could a baptized person do anything else? And when you receive the Lord’s Supper, you come as a baptized one. You’re someone belonging to Jesus, someone in Jesus. And then in the Lord’s Supper, Jesus comes into you, so that you are completely, fully covered and filled with Jesus. He is your wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and redemption—your everything. Baptism puts you into Him, and the Lord’s Supper puts Him into you. It’s all one.

And then, when you go about your daily life, you go about it baptized.
      So use your baptism well! You are made new—
      In Christ a new creation!
      As faithful Christians, live and do
      Within your own vocation (LSB 596:6).
You’re a father teaching his children and bringing them to church, or a mother making sure the kids have clothes and food and a nice home to grow up in. That’s your baptism at work. When you do your schoolwork, whether you excel or struggle, you do your schoolwork baptized, which means doing your schoolwork becomes a holy work. And if you’re sitting at home by yourself, wondering what’s the point for you, then know that you sit there baptized. You’re not alone, and God’s point for you is that you’re His child and He loves you. When you’re supervising your workers or listening to your boss, when you’re shoveling someone’s sidewalk, when you’re cooking dinner, you’re baptized. And that means all of your work is baptized.

Every moment of every day, you are a beloved child of the Father. You are an immortal, walking in this dark and dying world like a burning torch. Just by being someone baptized, you shine the Light of Christ. You are a free lord over this world—nothing can destroy you or tear you away from your Lord Jesus. And you are a free servant, putting yourself under all others, willing to give yourself away for them as your free Servant Jesus did for you. All of that and more is Baptism. Do you think you could ever get done or get tired of that?

Jesus fulfills all righteousness, He is all holiness, and He gives it all to you. He gets baptized for you and you get all of Him in baptism. There’s no way for any of us to use it up or get through it all in this life. There’s never any “that’s enough,” never any “being finished” with the Lord and His gifts. Being finished with Baptism, not needing the Supper, going without the Word, that is just unbelief. 

But instead, whenever the Lord gives us a gift, He presses our hands open more to receive yet another one. There’s always another gift from the Lord, And each gift leads on into the next. Baptism flows into hearing and learning the Word. Hearing and learning the Word stirs up the hunger and thirst for the Lord’s body and blood. The Lord’s body and blood satisfies that hunger and fills you with life: holy life here and now, holy life forever.

In the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.


Preached at Trinity, Clinton, IA & Immanuel, Charlotte, IA

The Baptism of Our Lord

1 Corinthians 1:26–31

St. Matthew 3:13–17

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Baptism of Jesus belongs in the Epiphany season because it’s one of the clearest epiphanies or manifestations of the Son of God. In fact, it is the clearest vision of the Holy Trinity: one God in three Persons. The Father’s voice speaks from heaven: “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” The Son, the Man, Jesus, stands in the water of the Jordan River. And the Spirit descends like a dove and comes to rest on Him.

This revelation of the Holy Trinity at Jesus’ Baptism should also tell you something about your own Baptism. This is why you are baptized in the Name of the Holy Trinity—in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit descends and comes to rest on you. With the water and the Word, Christ the Son takes away your sin and covers you with His own righteousness. And the Father declares, “You are My beloved child. With you I am well pleased.”

Sounds good! Better than good! What can possibly be better than being baptized by the Holy Trinity? Do we have any idea of the infinite worth and dignity poured upon us when the one living God of the universe comes to us and serves us in this way? Do I need earth’s treasures many? No, I have one treasure worth more than any—my Baptism—That brought me salvation free Lasting to eternity! (LSB 594:1).

Sounds really good. But what about when things are not so good? What does a Christian do when it seems that all of earth’s treasures many have been stolen away? How does a Christian rejoice and go on with life when it feels like we’ve lost our way, or that we’ve hit bottom, or that even the bottom has dropped out and there’s nothing holding us up? The glory and honor of Baptism sounds good but then sickness comes when we were least expecting it. Tragedy strikes, and it seems like it usually strikes the people that least deserve it. Death still waits for each of us, or comes rushing at us, and there’s nothing we can do to stop it. What are we supposed to do then? How are we supposed to keep positive when all we want to do is cry until there are no more tears left? How are we supposed to keep praying when we’ve got no words for our fear or grief? How are we supposed to keep faith when it seems like even God has abandoned us?

When nothing else revives your soul, Your Baptism stands and makes you whole. Let me say that again: When nothing else revives your soul, Your Baptism stands and makes you whole (LSB 596:5). Your Baptism is good and true whether you feel it or not, whether you even think about it or not. Your Baptism is the eternal guarantee from the one true God that He is your God and you belong to Him. He never breaks a promise.

So, what do we do when all is lost? Remember your Baptism.

            O Christian, firmly hold this gift

            And give God thanks forever!

            It gives the power to uplift 

            In all that you endeavor.

            When nothing else revives your soul,

            Your Baptism stands and makes you whole

            And then in death completes you (LSB 596:5).

Although, maybe that seems like a strange way to end that hymn stanza: And then in death completes you (LSB 596:5). But you see, what got started at your Baptism, continues every day of your life: God is drowning you, the old sinner, and raising you, the new man. There’s no other way to deal with sin than by killing the sinner. God puts you to death with Jesus so that He can raise you up again with Jesus. That got started with that little bit of water and the Word. And it will finally be complete when you are dead for good. Because then all that remains is for you to be raised for good.

Now all that drowning and dying seems negative and backwards to the world. But that’s the kind of God we have. He doesn’t do things the world’s way. Remember what the Apostle taught us in the Epistle reading: Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

God works and saves in weak and lowly ways, because He doesn’t want anyone getting the idea that they saved themselves by their own efforts, pulled themselves up into heaven by their own bootstraps. So, God upsets the world and does things His own way. He calls weak and lowly people to be His people—foolish, no-good sinners like Moses and David, Peter and Paul, you and me. And God uses weak and lowly, even despised things, when He is doing His will. He uses things like persecution and cancer and death. He does this for our good, to bring us to nothing, so that we may know that we are nothing without Him, so that we have no reason to boast in ourselves. Even the most kind, humble, and gentle person we know has an arrogant old sinner inside them, and that has to be killed.

But most important of all, God did His saving work in the most weak, foolish, lowly, despised way possible: He gave His Son over to suffering and death. The Son of God was forsaken and damned. But by doing this backwards thing, He satisfied God’s Law, He destroyed the power of death, He crushed the devil, and He opened the gates of heaven for all who believe. Christ Jesus, the God who died and rose again, He became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” God saves you in His weak and lowly way. He saves you by His Son dying and rising, and by baptizing you into that dying and rising, joining you to Christ in His holy death and in His victorious resurrection.

Baptism itself is quite a weak and lowly looking thing. Just some water and some words. But Baptism is something to boast about. We don’t arrogantly boast about ourselves, but we, His baptized ones, we boast in the Lord. We, baptized children of God, can’t help but sing and shout and boast in what He has made us: God’s own child, I gladly say it: I am baptized into Christ! There is dignity and worth beyond anything in this life. There is a foundation that cannot be taken away, a promise that cannot be broken.

Sin, disturb my soul no longer: I am baptized into Christ! Although we often remember our sins and they still cause us sorrow, they cannot hurt us. They are covered by the perfection of our Savior. Satan, hear this proclamation: I am baptized into Christ! The devil will try to dissuade us, tempt us, bring us to despair, but if we’re with Jesus in our Baptism, then the devil is just a liar, and our God will put an end to him and to all his noise. Death, you cannot end my gladness: I am baptized into Christ! Those who are baptized and believe are immortal. They will live forever with Christ. Not even death can deny this promise we have from God. Baptism really is something to boast about—even when things seem to be at their worst—here’s something to boast in the Lord about.

There is nothing worth comparing 

To this life-long comfort sure!

Open-eyed my grave is staring:

Even there I’ll sleep secure.

Though my flesh awaits its raising,

Still my soul continues praising:

I am baptized into Christ;

I’m a child of paradise! (LSB 594)

In the Holy + Name of Jesus. Amen.

Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity

St. Matthew 9:1–8

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Behold, some people brought to Jesus a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take heart, My son; your sins are forgiven.” The details of the Bible are not inconsequential. These particular words were inspired for a reason. It says that Jesus saw THEIR faith. He notices the faith not just of the paralytic but also the faith of the friends carrying the man. This is not unimportant. Not only does faith receive the forgiveness of sins, but faith also brings others to receive that forgiveness.

This is a perfect example of what we know to be true: Christians bring people to Jesus. These friends loved the paralyzed man and they trusted in Jesus, so they brought him to Jesus so that He might help and save him. They showed their trust in Jesus by bringing the man to Him. And by this act of faith they brought forgiveness and healing to the man. God worked through them to deliver His mercy and healing.

The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League is another example of Christians bringing people to Jesus. That is their goal as a “missionary league.” That’s not to say that bringing people to Jesus or missionary work is a special work that only they do. As we see with these friends bringing the paralytic, this is what all Christians are to do. The LWML purposefully supports and promotes this work, particularly by supporting full-time, called missionaries. As Christians we show our trust in Jesus by bringing people to Him. And by these acts of faith—by supporting the mission of the Church, by sharing the good news with family and friends, by inviting them to hear God’s Word preached—we bring forgiveness and healing to others. God works through us to deliver His mercy and life.

Today, we saw another important example of Christians bringing people to Jesus: Christian parents brought their child to Baptism. This is just as important as missionary work, because Baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit forgives sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe the promises of God. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. So, Christian parents, who love their children and trust in Jesus, bring their children to Jesus so that He will do His saving work for them. But if you don’t show your love for your children in this way, meaning, if you don’t bring your children to Jesus for Baptism, then you don’t trust in Jesus either. And whoever does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:16).

Parents always want the best for their children. You don’t want your children to suffer, or struggle with difficulty. You want to shield them and help them as much as you possibly can. And this is natural. But you won’t be able to protect them entirely. Even if you had millions of dollars so that your children never wanted for anything, even if you could cure all their illnesses, and ensure that they have a successful life and a good family, you cannot guarantee their happiness. You cannot protect them from every evil. 

Because the root of all suffering is sin. The cause of all evil lies in our hearts: yours and your children’s. Only sinners suffer. Only sinners get sick, and experience failure and evil disasters. Only sinners live in this fallen world. And only sinners die. But the good news for parents and children is that only sinners get baptized. Yes, that means babies are sinful too—they’ve inherited their sinful hearts from their sinful parents. But that is precisely who Baptism is for. Baptism is not for perfect little cherubs—it is for the salvation of sinners.

So, Christian parents, you who would like to give your children everything and protect them from anything, this is why you want to give your children the most important thing: faith in Jesus and the forgiveness of sins. More important than money or job security, health or happiness, more important than all that is the eternal salvation of your child. So, you bring them to Jesus. He forgives sins and He heals. The root of all suffering is sin, and so the real solution to all suffering is the forgiveness of sins. That forgiveness is given to us here and now: today, to Knox in his Baptism; today, to you all in God’s Word. And the full healing benefits of that forgiveness will be given to you and your children in the life to come.

Christian parents, your most important job is to bring your children to Jesus, not just at Baptism, but by teaching them God’s Word throughout their lives. By doing this, you show your own trust in Jesus. And by this act of faith you bring forgiveness and healing to your children. God works through you to deliver His mercy and life, so that you and your children may finally, with all God’s saints, obtain the promised inheritance in heaven (Baptism Rite, LSB p.271).

Now, there’s one thing in all this that might seem like a problem. You can’t actually bring people to Jesus like those friends did for the paralyzed man. Jesus is not visibly present in a particular place like He was then. So, you bring people to the Church—and you are quite right to do so. But why do you bring them to the Church? How do you know that Baptism will save them? All you see is that some water is poured and some words are spoken. How do you know that hearing the Word preached will strengthen faith? All you see is an ordinary man trying his best to speak clearly, and sometimes failing even that. But you are right to bring people to Jesus by bringing them to the Church, not because there is anything special in the water, nor is there anything special in the man who preaches, but because Jesus has authority to forgive sins and He gives that authority to men.

We are told this here in Matthew 9: that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—Jesus then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. But the full impact of this scene doesn’t really hit home until the end of Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 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, teaching them to hold onto all that I have instituted for you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18–20).

The Son of God is given all authority as a Man. Only Jesus has the authority to forgive sins because He is the One who died in payment for our sins and rose for our eternal salvation. He now exercises this authority in His Church on earth, and so He works through men to forgive sins, to deliver His mercy and healing.

Having brought people to Jesus, having brought your children to be baptized, we and they must stay connected to His Church. Here, by His authority, the gifts of Baptism are given more and more. Sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The life-giving Words of Jesus are spoken and taught and treasured. The holy gifts of His body and blood are shared to make us holy and to make us one in Christ. These things happen only by the authority of Jesus. And so He is truly here doing it. That is why we must and we may joyfully say with Jacob: “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven” (Genesis 28:17).

The Lord Jesus is here on earth in your midst with the authority to forgive sins. He is working through His called and ordained servants to speak this forgiveness to all who repent and believe. He is working through parents to bring their children into His Family by Baptism and by teaching them. He is working through His whole Church to bring more people into His Kingdom. Let us give glory to God.

In the Holy + Name of Jesus. Amen.

The Feast of Pentecost

Acts 2:1–42

The Baptism of Hayden R. Hartig

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

On the sixth day of creation, the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature (Genesis 2:7). The breath of God is the Spirit and He gives life. He is the Creator Spirit, by whose aid The world’s foundations first were laid (LSB 500:1). He is the Exhalation of the Father and He put life into the dust of man. He is rightly called the Lord and Giver of Life. But when Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s Word and ate from the Tree, the Holy Spirit forsook them. The Breath of Life was taken away and the sentence of death was pronounced: You are dust, and to dust you shall return (Genesis 3:19).

This is our fate as well. As the father and mother of the human race, Adam and Eve represented us. As members of the human race we are complicit in their sin. That which is born of the flesh is flesh (John 3:6). We are born with original sin, that is, the origin of sin is within us: a heart that does not fear, love, or trust in God above all things, but rather a heart that doubts, hates, and despises God above all things. Conceived and born in sin, we no longer have the Holy Spirit. The natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). Rather than being alive in the Spirit, we are dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). We are hopelessly weak (Romans 5:6) in our ability to please God. Worse than all of that, we are enemies (Romans 5:10) with the One who created us.

This is what human nature looks like apart from the Spirit: blind, dead, weak, enemies of God. We are zombies, a gross perversion of the life once given by the Creator Spirit. And we would like nothing more than to kill our Lord and do away with the one true God once and for all. Do you think you can choose what is true, good, or beautiful? Do you think that you can prepare yourself for the Holy Spirit and make yourself acceptable to the holy God? Do you presume to offer your heart to Jesus? Your disgusting, hate-filled, sin-riddled heart? No, you cannot by your own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, your Lord, or come to Him. You cannot believe. But the Holy Spirit calls us by the Gospel, He enlightens us with His gifts, He sanctifies and keeps us in the true faith. This is exactly what He did on Pentecost and continues to do daily and richly in His Christian Church.

On Pentecost, Peter reminded the Jews of what God had promised them through the prophet Joel: “And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh.” Those last days arrived with the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. Peter proclaimed, “Being exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, Jesus has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.” Jesus was put to death for our sin. Then the Father vindicated His Son by raising Him up again. And now, at His ascension into heaven, the Father has given the Spirit to His Son so that their promise might be fulfilled. The Lord Jesus poured out His Spirit on all flesh. The sound of the mighty rushing wind and the tongues of fire showed that the Creator Spirit, the Breath of Life, was once again being given to men.

But we hear no mighty wind today and we see no tongues of fire. For that matter, the sound of the wind did not fill all the houses of the Jews, and all their heads were not anointed with fire either. These signs were only given to the apostles. We might naturally, and desperately, ask, “Where is the Spirit given? How is He poured out on us?” We might echo the terrified Jews, “What shall we do?” And Peter said to them, and he says to us, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.”

Today, the Lord our God has called Hayden to Himself. In the Word and the water, the Holy Spirit called Hayden by the Gospel. He enlightened her, sanctified her, and gave her true faith in Jesus Christ.

It is a vile doctrine of the devil that says babies cannot be baptized because they are not old enough or they can’t think and choose for themselves or even that they cannot believe. It is evil that some people would hinder the little children from being brought to Jesus in Baptism. They reject God’s gift of Baptism and turn it into a work of man. But how much clearer could the Apostle Peter be when he said, “this promise is for you and for your children”? God’s promises give what they declare. His Word does what it says. Baptism bestows the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Lord pours out His Spirit in that Word and water.

I baptize you in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Right there, the Lord God breathes the breath of new life into the dead dust of sinful flesh. Today, you witnessed an even greater event than the creation of Adam. You saw and heard a new creation—a sinful daughter of Eve was reborn to be a holy child of God.

            Today, you witnessed an act of God just as great as the day of Pentecost. Because the greatest miracle from that day was not seeing tongues of fire or hearing a mighty wind. The greatest miracles of Pentecost were the baptisms of those who repented of their sins and believed in the name of Jesus Christ. And you witnessed that today. You saw the water and you heard the Name of God as Jesus poured out His Spirit on Hayden, washing away her sins and giving her faith in Him. Today, you witnessed the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, and you acknowledged His work in the one Baptism for the remission of sins. Every Baptism is a modern-day Pentecost.

We are living in the last days that Joel and Peter talked about, when God is pouring out His Spirit on all flesh. Jesus has accomplished our salvation with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death. So now, our risen and ascended Lord sees to it that salvation is delivered to us by sending us His Spirit in the Word and the Sacraments.

When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by His grace we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying (Titus 3:4–8). It is a trustworthy saying for newly baptized Hayden. A trustworthy saying for all baptized Christians, for all of you whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.

In the Holy + Name of Jesus. Amen.

Lent 4 Wednesday Matins

Catechism Series: Holy Baptism

Small Catechism: Holy Baptism

St. Mark 10:13-16

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Lord loves water. In the beginning of creation the Spirit hovered over the face of the deep waters. Then the waters of the Flood destroyed the sinful world, while Noah and his family were kept safe in the ark. At the Red Sea, the Lord saved His people by bringing them through the water, and drowning Pharaoh and his host. At the Jordan River, God again stopped water and let Israel cross over into the Promised Land. At that same Jordan River, but many years later, the Lord Himself – Jesus – God incarnate, stepped into those waters and was anointed with the Holy Spirit to be our Savior. And finally, the Lord instituted all water to be a washing away of sin. What is Baptism? It is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s word. And not just any word, but His Name. “Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in THE NAME of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The Lord loves water. And He gives great benefits with His water. And yet, we take it for granted. Or even worse, we despise it.

If you despise Baptism, you despise the Lord who gives it. And if you think people don’t ignore Baptism, think again. Many Christians believe it does nothing at all. For them, it’s just a symbol. For them, Baptism is all about what they do – they dedicate their life, or dedicate their child to God. Of course, we don’t believe that, but what about us in our Lutheran church? How many times do we postpone the baptism of a baby because we’re more about getting all the relatives there? How many bring their children to Baptism and then never bring them back to church or Sunday School? How many go through the steps of getting baptized and then never give it a second thought?

Baptism saves you. Baptism saves because faith saves. But if faith is gone, Baptism can’t do too much. There’s no such thing as “once saved, always saved,” or “once baptized, always saved.” So once again, if we despise Baptism, we despise the Lord.

But the opposite is also true: when we remember Baptism, when we hold on to it, when we continue in it, when we return to Baptism, then we trust in the Lord. Because Baptism is all about what our Lord is all about. Baptism works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe. And whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

As I said before, there are many who ignore or despise Baptism. Because it really doesn’t look all that special. Just some water and some man saying some words. Nothing impressive about it. So people ask: How can water do such great things? Aha! says Martin Luther. You’re missing the best part! Not just water, but the word of God in and with the water. The Name of God joins with the water and makes it Baptism, makes it God’s water, and makes the baptized God’s child.

Where God’s Name is, there He is doing His work, doing the things that only the crucified and risen Lord can do! Forgiving sins. Putting sinners to death, and raising them up again. Where God’s Name is, there is forgiveness, life, and salvation. The Lord loves water. And He uses that water with His Name to deliver His forgiveness. In Baptism, the water and the word always go together. So, when the water got put on you, God’s Name came with it, and His Name got put on you. You are branded, marked, singled out, with the Name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. You are His. Bought by His blood. One of His children.

With the Name of God put upon you, there is no part of your life not belonging to God. There is no part where He is not there. Where His Name is, there He is. You belong to Him and He belongs to you and with you. You are His children. He is our Father. And nothing else in this life can change that. Yet, even as Baptism doesn’t look like much, doesn’t look real, the troubles of life look like a lot. They look all too real. But God’s baptized Children shut their eyes to what things look like, and see things as they really are. So here’s a great Baptism word to remember: “Nevertheless!” Whatever you’re facing, say, “Nevertheless, I am baptized!” If the Devil throws your sins in your face and makes you feel your guilt, say “Nevertheless, I am baptized!” If you are worried over finances, or faced with sickness, or faced with death itself, say “Nevertheless, I am baptized!” You have God on your side. You are His.

Notice, it’s in the present tense: “I am baptized.” It’s not just something in your past. God’s Name is put on you and stays with you. And so every time we remember our Baptism, when we say “Nevertheless I am baptized!” we are returning to that water and Name. We are splashing around in it some more. Your baptism won’t dry up. Because when you return to Baptism, you return to the Lord, you trust Him.

This all has to do with the dying and the rising. Baptism is all about dying and rising. It’s all about Good Friday and Easter. Christ bore the sins of the world on the cross and died for them. Those sins, your sins, followed Him into His tomb, and were sealed there. Christ rose from the dead, but your sins stayed in the tomb. Christ rose to new life and now gives that life to you. Where God’s Name is, there He is, doing His dying and rising work. So in Baptism the Lord puts you to death. You are crucified with Christ. You are drowned in the water, and all your sins follow you down into that watery grave. Then the Lord raises you up again to new life.

Martin Luther once said that the Old Adam, our sinful self, is a good swimmer. That means, that as long we live in this life, we won't be fully dead to sin or fully alive to Christ. At least we can’t see it yet. And so throughout our lives we stay swimming in the Baptism pool. Every time we confess our sins, we are dying, drowning again. And every time we hear the pastor pronounce forgiveness, we are raised to new life. Every time we pray to God and fight against temptation, we are drowning our sinful self. And every time we remember our Baptism and the salvation given there, we are raised up again.

This continues daily, for now, but not forever. There will come a day when you die for good. But do not fear. Your death is a good thing, because then you can be raised for good, forever. So, when next you face death, face it as one baptized. God’s Name is on your head, so death cannot keep you. You have already died in Baptism. The worst is behind you. All that remains is for you to be raised up to new and eternal life. When you go to die, go as a little baby in the arms of Jesus. He wants the little children to come to Him and live with Him forever.

In the Holy + Name of Jesus. Amen.