A Sermon Delivered by The Rev. Terrilisa Durham Bauknight at Centenary United Methodist Church – Metuchen, New Jersey January 8, 2006

Text: Mark 1:4-11
My father loves movies, along with his wonderful sense of humor. On several occasions I have had the opportunity to watch old black and white movies, and by chance, an old-fashioned baptism. The minister in the movie walked down to the river edge, his robe perfectly white. The choir, congregation and baptismal candidates all walking in the bright sunshine, singing and praising God were not far behind. Each candidate, when called, walked into the water, and plac-ing themselves in the ministers trusting hands, allowed themselves to be placed under the water – washed anew, rising in Christ, repentant sinner saved by grace. And then I thought – in the movie this is perfect – the baptism is perfect. The minister is relaxed, the candidates willing. I thought then – what of the preacher’s shoes? Did he make enough money that he could buy more so readily? I searched my mind and could not remember them showing if he had taken them off or not. What if he, being the preacher, can’t swim and should lose his footing in the ever-shifting mud of the riverbed? What if the candidate panics and struggles or tries to flee before it’s over? What then? What too of the dirt, mud and more that must surely change those robes from a shade of joyful white to somber brown?

Then I thought, not being able to stop myself from thinking so much – I thought about the baptisms of today. I read that in 1998, a church in Charlotte, NC baptized some 2,000 people by using a fire hose! It took several church elders and firefighters to complete the service. Was this legitimate? Was God OK with this? Then I thought of a modern day baptism – the baptismal pool had heated, clear clean water and the pastor wore boots that appeared better for fishing than baptizing! The baptismal candidates came with a careful robe, and for the women, their hair was wrapped and carefully protected from the water that should cover them. Or the other baptisms – a shallow bowl and infant covered, a blessing given a welcome and promise into the household of faith.

So, why is it, that after reading and thinking, it would be better if the symbolic water of our baptism, in truth, had some dirt and mud in them – to remind us that Jesus’ beginning, such as the Gospel According to Mark describes, is in the Jordan, the dirty, muddy Jordan, instead of the dirt of the stable. Yet, it is clear, that from the humble, clearly earthen beginning – this is not an ordinary man – one who is destined to rise to glory.

Please understand, the author of Mark’s Gospel has limited time to write for at the time of his authorship the temple at Jerusalem is being destroyed by the Romans. Quick recording of history is done, yet Mark must establish the sovereignty of Christ. He must separate him, being Christ, from all else including the question surrounding just who John the Baptist is. The goal is to make no mistake in saying this is the Messiah.

And yet, baptism was not foreign to the people of that time for the Jews used it as a ritual cleansing. But again, here is the understanding, the result of ‘wise thinking,’ to use something that is familiar to point out that change is coming. And so, the gospel flips the script as John the Baptist to says, “’it is not me whom you will worship,’” even though he has been baptizing the whole of the countryside – “’there is another who is coming– I baptize you with water – he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’” Hold on, is the understatement – for here will come a man, one whom we have been waiting for – who will make a true way for us.

And thus, Jesus comes. And I can imagine as he approaches John, there is both awe and wonder for both. John is aware and yet caught off guard as Jesus tells him, “’you are to baptize me.” Yet John says, “’no, you are to baptize me.” Both men acknowledge their lacking and be-fore God. And when he does enter the water – it is not for anything but the clear identification that I am one who needs to be baptized, cleansed of my sins and thus, in doing so, stand anew, marked by God, whose words note – this is my Son, in whom I am well pleased. Symbol after symbol appears – baptism is necessary. And as heaven is torn apart – the message is clear – heaven once closed to sinners, is now made available for seekers – the work has begun.

Do you remember your baptism? The sign of your beginning? If the work was laid out for you – in the midst of cloudy water – muddy trails and unclear paths – would you have contin-ued? If you were aware that there would have been problems along the way – doubters and ‘naysayers’ – would you have still gone forward? Would you be willing to work, do the job that was laid out before you – knowing that the soil could shift under your feet at any moment, that the waters might carry you to some place other than where you wanted to be? If you could – would you have willingly been baptized, knowing what lay ahead of you?
Baptism is not just the outward signs of coming into the faith. It is not just the beginning of the change of whom you now belong to. It is the agreement that I now am a servant, a willing worker – up from the mud, the dirt and the silt, washed clean, renewed and restored. The work, the work, we are saying, the work, is there and we are ready to begin. Coming up we are from the dirt and the mud, moving on to glory.

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