January 11, 2004

Mindekirken Jan 11, 2004
Pastor Jens Arne Dale

Luke 3.15-17 and 21-22

It’s always nice to receive an affirmation…

I have lived much of my life together with four women, my wife and three daughters. In indecisive moments it has happened that I have said yes to joining them on a shopping trip. But I confess that long lasting visits to the Mall might be a considerable stress. It has happened that I have taken refuge in a chair outside the fitting room. I have stared straight ahead with what must have looked like the sight of a cooked cod. And I have questioned myself: Why are you really here? I’m still not sure of the answer, but it might be that a husband and father is towed to the shopping because it means a lot to have an affirmation: "Yes, you look good in that dress…"

If you go to a party, it means a lot to hear positive comments on your new dress. When you come home from the hair-dresser, it’s nice if others notice. If you have worked hard, words of acknowledgment are a nice reward. A good boss gives his employees the feeling of being seen and valued. Many of us think back with joy on teachers who inspired us, and maybe were decisive when we chose education and career.

The church is a place where we can strengthen each other’s self-esteem with praise and encouragement. It means a lot to feel welcome. We need to be met and taken seriously. Jesus emphasizes that we should love one another. We need confirmation that others care about us, that we are valuable and accepted, not only for the things we do, but for what we are.

A mother’s warming hands may give comfort. To be held firmly may give the feeling of safety. Eye contact often says more than many words. A father who gives concentrated attention may give his child a capital of confidence which may last for a lifetime. Without a father’s or a mother’s basic Yes , life may be an endless hunt for acknowledgement. And what about spouses? The vow to love and honor each other is no guarantee for warm feelings, but a commitment to respect and loyalty.

Today’s text deals with the basic affirmation Jesus received from his heavenly father. And I think the words in this text carried Jesus until the last drop of the cup of suffering was emptied.

We get to hear about the baptism of Jesus. Now, the text doesn’t pay much attention to the baptism itself. Luke even manages to make it unclear if it was John who baptized Jesus. He tells in the verse before the baptism that John the Baptist was put in jail. Even so, we envision Jesus in the masses of people merging down to the river to be baptized by John and his disciples. The text focuses on what happened right after the baptism, when Jesus stood up and prayed. The heaven was opened, Luke says. What a wonderful expression, the heaven was opened. We get no further information about what kind of natural phenomenon this might have been, but it must have been a special moment of divine presence. Here Father, Son and Holy Spirit are present at once. The dove symbolizes The Holy Spirit. The voice from heaven belongs to the Father, the Son is the one to whom it is affirmed: "You are my son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased."

Jesus was 30 years old when this happened. Until now, Jesus had been the local carpenter. In the small village of Nazareth a lot of stories were told, but hardly the one about shepherds and wise men when Jesus was born. That Jesus acted as a wonder kid, and at the age of 12 impressed the scholars at the temple, gave no extra credit at the carpenter’s bench. It’s rather more likely that Jesus worked long hours as the oldest son of a widow who had several children. When Joseph died, Jesus would have been the one who got the biggest responsibility for being the family’s breadwinner.

The text represents a turning point in the life of Jesus. By his baptism, Jesus is installed in a new and divine career. From now on, he will act as a traveling rabbi and preacher for three years. We know that his mother and brothers won’t be able to grasp the meaning of this. There is a story where they came to the door where he preached, not to listen to him, but to bring the insane man home. However, we do have beautiful testimonies of Mary’s confidence in Jesus, for instance when he turned water into wine. But it’s not until after the resurrection that his brother Jacob would worship Jesus as God. Luke tells that Jacob died as martyr for this faith. But this will come later. Here, at the beginning of the messianic work of Jesus, he gets no affirmation from his family. Therefore, the affirmation by the heavenly father is so valuable: You are my son, the Beloved; with you I am pleased.

When Jesus was baptized, he started on a path that he had to walk alone. It was a way where he would be exposed to misunderstanding, adversity and even persecution to death. At this very moment, a cross lights up before Jesus. He was not delighted by what was about to come. I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Luke 12:50. How could Jesus choose a way that would cost him everything? In one way or another Jesus must have known that he had come to earth to die. He was a human under the same condition as us. But even so, he knew that he was the Son of God.

Did Jesus doubt? We know John the Baptist did. We hear that the disciples lost their hope. All who judged that Jesus had been sent by God, had their assumption devastated on Good Friday.

Did Jesus doubt? I don’t know if doubt is the right word, but he will cry from the cross: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Matt 27:46. Jesus must have felt the deepest darkness where he even felt forsaken by God. But maybe the words that sounded at his baptism gave him sufficient strength to empty the cup of suffering to the last drop: You are my son, the beloved; with you I am well pleased.

The Father’s affirmation of the Son must have meant a lot to Jesus. With our human insight we can’t get to the bottom of the mystery of the trinity. But the nature of God is perfect love: the love that believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things; a love that never ends. 1 Cor 13. When the Fathers voice sounded from heaven, the love of God was affirmed. And the mission of Jesus was clarified. The heavenly voice quotes two verses from the OT. Psalm 2:7 You are my son, are words said to the Messiah. With you I am well pleased is from Isaiah 42:1, the songs of the suffering servant of the Lord. Those songs have their highlight in the description of him who gave himself for the sin of his people. The voice from heaven is the Father’s confirmation and presentation of the Son as the Messiah, the King. He’s supposed to be the suffering king. His cross would be his throne. He would concern the world, not by power, but by the love of he who gives his life for others.

Anyone who has been in love knows that one can stretch oneself far for the beloved. No one has ever stretched himself further than Jesus in his mutual love of his father. And his love also reaches out to us. By his baptism, Jesus got the sin of the world placed on his shoulders, that we by our baptism might have forgiveness of sin. You are my son, the Beloved; with you am well pleased. These are words that confirm the Father’s love to the Son, but through this love, we’re also enveloped in the perfect love of God.

Glory be to God, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church ·  924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 ·  (612)874-0716