January 9, 2005

Mindekirken, January 9, 2005
Pastor Jens Arne Dale

Matthew 3.13-17

On January 20 of 2005, President George W Bush will be inaugurated as president in the USA for four new years. The ceremony which takes place when a president is inaugurated is loaded with symbolism. The place is not randomly chosen. The Capitol in Washington D.C. stands for democracy and power. The president is sworn in by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

The most important institutions of America are represented at the event. The flag is visible, symbolizing history and ideals of freedom. When the president swears to uphold the Constitution, he holds one hand on the Bible, the other is raised. That is incredibly strong symbolic language, and it underlines some of the basic values of this nation. The event is loaded with gravity, but it is followed by events of art, culture and entertainment, a gigantic celebration of the nation. The inauguration of the president is watched on TV world wide. As the only super power in the world, the world looks to the leadership of the U.S. president.

When Jesus was installed in what would be his mission on earth, it didn’t happen where the power normally was exercised in Israel. I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill, God says in Psalm 2.6. The Jerusalem temple played a decisive role in the kingly psalms in the OT. It was expected to be the place from which the Messiah would exercise his power. But it wouldn’t be that way. Jesus was installed in his position far away from column rows and offering altars. He went down into the Judean desert where John stood, baptizing in the river Jordan.

No representatives of the official Israeli institutions were present. Quite contrary, the cluster of people gathering around John were about to reject what they perceived as dead worship life. The inauguration of the American president releases national pride and joy, but the installation of Jesus was accompanied by people crying for their sins, they grieved and confessed their wrongdoings. There were no flags waving in the wind to look upon, only the cloak of camel hair that John wore, urging them to bow their heads in repentance.

The inauguration of an American president is planned down to the smallest detail. When Jesus came to John the Baptist and asked to be baptized, they started to discuss how the ceremony should be performed. I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me? John said. But Jesus contradicted him: Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.

The Greek text reveals that Jesus uses the word must which elsewhere only is used in texts predicting the suffering and other texts about what had to happen according to God’s plan and will. In other words, there is a higher consideration to take when Jesus is installed. His installation has to be seen in the light of God’s plan for salvation from before the foundation of the world was made.

The people who went down to the river Jordan were baptized for forgiveness of their sins. It must have been a feeling of relief to get one’s sins washed off. This was different for Jesus. According to Luke 12.50, he talks about how he worries about his baptism. I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Jesus was pure. He didn’t need to be baptized. He didn’t have any sins to wash away. But his baptism was an installation to a mission which would be completed on the cross.

In his baptism, Jesus had the sin of the world placed on his shoulders. It’s typical that John the evangelist doesn’t tell about the baptism of the Lord. On the place where the other evangelists tells about that, the fourth gospel quotes John the Baptist who is standing with his raised hand pointing at Jesus, saying: Here is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John 1.29 When Jesus was baptized, the roles were changes: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor 5.21.

I mentioned that there was no one representing the Israeli religious Institutions when Jesus was installed as the Messiah. That’s correct. When the president of the US is inaugurated, the nearest family is present. For instance, it’s easy to see a first lady in a red coat among the many men dressed in suits.

When Jesus was baptized there was also a character who was distinguished. The heavens were opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove. A voice from heaven said: This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased. The presence of the triune God shows that this is a moment of greatest importance. Here not only history is shaped. God is intervening to save mankind. The baptism of Jesus is the installation to a mission which will be completed by the death of Jesus on the cross.

Our baptism is related to the baptism of Jesus. By our baptism we’re united with him. We are marked with the sign of the cross. We die with him, and we are resurrected with him. We get a new life, the life that one day will unfold in perfect and eternal life.

The inauguration of the president is a presentation of the person who will have the highest office in the USA. Jesus was presented to the people and all the world through the voice of the Father that said: This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased. The words beloved reminds us of Abraham who took his only and beloved son, Isaac, to sacrifice him. At the end of the story God told Abraham not to sacrifice his son.

It’s as if God wants to keep that for himself. In Jesus, he will offer his only, beloved Son for the salvation of the world. The voice from heaven also refers to Psalm 2.7. There the task of the Messiah is described. Jesus will be king. The voice of the Father is also like an echo from Isaiah 42.1 where the suffering servant of the Lord is portrayed. Jesus is in other words appointed the suffering Messiah, the one who will give his life in the place of others.

God blesses us through other people. When the Bible encourages us to pray for all people in high positions, the goal is that good things may take place in this world. Good government is an expression for the blessing of the Lord. When a president is inaugurated it expresses the will of the people through free democratic elections. But ultimately, it’s something for which we should be grateful to God.

Jesus was installed to a mission with perpetual blessing for us. His baptism opened the door to eternal life for us. Therefore we celebrate the baptism of the Lord today with gratitude and joy.

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

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