Sunday Homily 1-11-09, The Baptism
Readings: Isaiah 55, 1-11; Psalm Isaiah 12; 1 John 5, 1-9; Mark 1, 7-11.
Isaiah II & Isaiah I: 2 readings from the Book of Isaiah today. Some points–
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Review of time frame. The 3 writers of Isaiah all write in relation to the Babylonian Captivity, ca. 575. Isaiah I before; Isaiah II during; and Isaiah III after the Babylonian captivity. Chapters 1-39; 40-55; and 56-66.
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Our first reading today, chapter 55, is from Isaiah II. Many of the lyrics for Handel's Messiah come from this writer, who is one of most influential of the prophetic writers. This is because he is used & quoted frequently by the Gospel writers.
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Our selection from chapter 55 is Isaiah II exemplifying the consolation theme that characterizes the work of Isaiah II & III. It is Isaiah II's last contribution and he is addressing a people depressed. Using Yahweh's words he is saying, 'Thirsty? Come to me.'
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In place of a psalm this morning we have another selection from this great work, a selection from Isaiah I chapter 12, which picks up the water theme. The passage was written before the Captivity.
I am Chosen by God and Beloved?
Like last week when we celebrated the feast of the Magi or Wise Men, this week's focus on the baptism of Jesus is intentionally crafted to help the Jewish people believe in the uniqueness of Jesus. I have 3 background facts about this story and will follow up by highlighting a somewhat hidden treasure.
First. When Mark has John the Baptist say, "I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals," the Jews knew something about John that the rest of us don't know today. Only a slave was expected to deal with the sandals, because the slave was at the bottom of the social order. The people of the time would recognize that John is saying, "I am lower on the social order than a slave."
He would be addressing his followers who thought he was terrific, and wanted him to be the man.
Second. While the majority of the Bible presents us with myth, occasionally there is a story about an event that is likely historical. The baptism of Jesus is one of those events. Biblical professionals apply two criteria. Know what they are?
a. One criterion is multiple mentions. That is, the event is mentioned in numerous places and by numerous writers. Jesus' baptism is mentioned explicitly in the 3 synoptic gospels, i.e., Matthew, Mark, & Luke, and is even hinted at in John's gospel.
b. The other criterion is dissimilar mentions. That is, each time the story is told, different aspects are developed around the main event. Therefore, it is unlikely that one writer told the story and the other two copied from him, which is the case with lots of stories in Matthew & Luke. They probably copied, sometimes directly, from Mark.
Third. Nazareth. We think of this village as a nice little place where Joseph ran his carpenter shop. His customers were the local folk who were his neighbors. However, Joseph might have been doing some of his work for the Roman army because at that time Nazareth was a garrison town of the Roman empire. In fact, Nazareth apparently had a reputation as being pretty wide open with a red light flavor.
That Jesus was born in Bethlehem with Joseph as his father puts him into the prestigious lineage of King David some 1,000 years earlier. Being from Nazareth would create a different image in the minds of his Jewish listeners. They would think, what kind of family is this that comes from that kind of town?
The story has to do with the line in Mark where Yahweh says, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." By the way, this line is mentioned in the other 2 synoptics, but exactly the same.
This past week we watched the BCS bowl game that OU lost in the second half. This week end we are watching the NFL play offs. We all want to know who is number one. We want our teams to be number one, college level, NFL, or NBA. On a smaller scale we often get caught up into thinking, 'I want to be number 1.' In my sports, in my studies, or with you. The advertising all around me tells me that to be that number one I need to buy a bigger house, or a hot car, or an iphone, or this clothing, or ultimately get something to make me better than I am as I am.
I even heard the story about the nut case guy who in order to get his name into the Guinness Book of Records climbed into a pit of 80 poisonous snakes. Number one!
One of the blessings for us in going every Christmas to Mexico City is to see that Stack lives in a bubble, a bubble of wealth and material. At a stop light on La Avenida de Reforma in Mexico City I am not surrounded by Cadillacs, Mercedes, Beamers, and big SUV's like I am at the corner of Preston & Royal near our house.
In the midst of this obsession with trying to be number one Yahweh comes saying the words 'my beloved' and 'pleased with.' I discount the words because they are applied to Jesus in the passage. I would propose that we can apply to us those words. He says to you, whatever your age or state is, 'You are my beloved', and 'I am pleased with' you. The way you are.
How does this idea strike you?
AUDIO: http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2009-01-11.mp3
Picture 1: Sabrina reading her Christmas Poem
Picture 2: The Choir
Picture 3: Birthdays, Bobby Ekes & Doug Kite
Picture 4: Chloe & Maggie