Just as [Jesus] was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Mark 1:10-11

It always seems like good timing to me that this day in our church calendar – The Baptism of Our Lord – takes place just after a new year begins. Because both of these things are about beginnings. Baptism is a beginning. Jesus’ baptism in the River Jordan began his public ministry. And our baptisms begin our new life in Christ. And a new year is also a new beginning. It is the reason so many people make new year’s resolutions. Because we see it is as a new beginning, and a chance to make some needed changes in our life. And even those who don’t make resolutions, still see a new year as a new beginning. 

So, we gather today, on this first Sunday of a new year, to think about new beginnings, and to celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord. And what better way can there be than to begin a new year together by remembering our baptisms?

Baptism Begins a Real New Year 

A few years back, the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, Elizabeth Eaton, wrote an article about this very thing, with the title: “Baptism Begins a Real New Year.” And in this article, she reflected first on why we make New Year’s resolutions. And, as she sees it, it is because:

“We sense that our lives are not entirely the way they should be … There is a gap between who we are and who we have been created to be. So we try to fill that gap ourselves. And so, we make our New Year’s resolutions. And these resolutions might very well be worthy goals and they might actually be beneficial, but they can’t fill the gap between who we are and who we know we should be.”

These resolutions, in other words, can’t save us. But they don’t have to save us. Because we are saved through our baptisms into Christ. 

“In baptism,” Bishop Eaton writes, “we have died the only death that really matters. The death of Christ Jesus into which we are buried is the end of death. It is the breaking of the power of sin. It is the beginning of our new life.”

And so, she concludes her article by encouraging us to: “Make New Year’s resolutions if you want, but understand that in baptism God has given us a new life, a new year, a new day. Freed from all of the emotional and spiritual energy that had been invested in the impossible task of freeing ourselves, we are now free to love God and serve the neighbor.”

And I think that these are very wise words to hear at the beginning of a new year. And they bring us back to the gift of our baptisms into Christ. Our baptisms free us from trying to free ourselves. Our baptisms save us from trying to save ourselves. Our baptisms give us a new beginning that is rooted in Christ, and rooted in grace, not in the need to have a perfect year, or to accomplish every resolution. We are freed from all of that. And so, freed from all of that, we can get back to doing what God wants us to do this year, things like: loving God, serving our neighbor, sharing our faith, and striving for justice and peace in our world. 

Jesus’ Baptism

But you might wonder, what does all of this have to do with Jesus’ baptism? Because that is really what we are celebrating in the church today. Not our baptisms, but Jesus’ baptism. And that is the story at the heart of our gospel reading (Mark 1:4-11). It is a story about a new beginning, of course. There is that connection. We know that Jesus’ baptism is his new beginning, the beginning of his public ministry. 

We know very little about how Jesus lived his life before this day, before the time when he made his way to the River Jordan to be baptized by John. But after this happens, we know a lot about Jesus and his life and his ministry. So, this is a critical moment in his life; you might even call it a new beginning for Jesus. 

But what does that have to do with us? Jesus was baptized for us. And his baptism can teach us about our baptisms. In this story, when Jesus is baptized by John in the River Jordan, there are three significant things that take place, and each of these has something to teach us, about his baptism, and about ours. 

Heaven Is Opened

The first thing that takes place when Jesus is baptized is that the heavens are torn apart. Or, in other translations, the heavens are opened. When Jesus was baptized, he saw heaven being opened. And when Jesus died on the cross, he opened heaven for us all. Baptism opens heaven to us. And because it does, baptism takes away our fear of death. And that changes everything, doesn’t it? 

We live in a world that seems to be driven by fear, and especially by the fear of death. And politicians and advertisers and others often use this fear to manipulate us. But our baptisms free us from all that. As Christians, we are not driven by fear, but by faith. We trust in the promise of our baptism. We know that we have already died the only death that really matters. We believe that we are living a new life in Christ. And because of that, we are not afraid. And this changes how we live – every day, in every way.

The Spirit Descends

The second thing that takes place when Jesus is baptized is that the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove. John the Baptist had already reminded those gathered around him that, while he baptized with water, the one coming after him baptizes with the Holy Spirit. When Jesus is baptized, the Spirit descends on him.

And when we are baptized, Jesus gives us that same gift, the gift of the Holy Spirit. Before Jesus returned to heaven, he told his disciples that it was to their advantage that he was going away, because he would send the Holy Spirit. Now Jesus could be with his followers at all times and in all places. He could fulfill his promise to be with us always. And he does this through the Holy Spirit. He gave the Holy Spirit to his first disciples at Pentecost. And he gives us the Holy Spirit when we are baptized. 

Baptism begins for us a new relationship with Jesus. And the Holy Spirit helps us to grow in that relationship. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God and the Church to help us become the people that God has called us to be. The Holy Spirit helps us to become holy. And that is also what it means to be baptized. 

In baptism we are set on a new path in this life, a new journey, a journey toward becoming more and more the person that God created us to be. It is a journey with fits and starts, to be sure. We make mistakes; we sin; we stumble and fall. But we get up; we are forgiven; and we begin again. And it is the Holy Spirit that guides us through all of this, who has the God-given task of making us holy, of making us more and more like Jesus. 

Martin Luther reminds us that this will not be complete until our death, when in an instant it will all be accomplished. But in the meantime, the Holy Spirit brings us into a church community, where we learn and grow together; we become more and more holy by becoming more and more like Jesus.

A Voice from Heaven

And the third and final thing that took place when Jesus was baptized was that he heard a voice from heaven. It is the voice of our heavenly Father, who spoke these wonderful words to Jesus:

“You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Think of how encouraging these words must have been to Jesus, as he began his public ministry. And as he faced challenges, he must have returned to this experience often – As the devil is tempting him in the wilderness; as the religious leaders are challenging him; as the crowds embrace him and then reject him; as his own disciples abandon him. How many times must Jesus have reminded himself of these words, that he is God’s beloved son, with whom God is well pleased? 

But these words are not just for Jesus. When we are baptized, we become one with Christ. All the Father’s love for Jesus is now given to us. We are now God’s beloved sons, God’s beloved daughters. God is now well pleased with us. This, too, is what it means to be baptized into Christ. And isn’t this a wonderful thing to remember at the beginning of a new year? Not focusing on what is wrong with us, on what we need to improve. But instead focusing on the amazing truth that we are already God’s beloved children.

God is already well pleased with us. Imagine beginning each day this year by simply reminding yourself of this, that you are God’s beloved child? What a relief, right? Freed from trying to earn that love, you can simply receive it, and then give it away.

Imagine what a difference that would make if we all did that – began this year, and each new day, by reminding ourselves that we are God’s beloved children. But imagine, too, what it would be like for those around us to believe this, too – for everyone in this weary world to believe this. And isn’t that our job as Christians, to share with those around us this wonderful news, that they are God’s beloved children? We know it. And when we forget it, we remember our baptisms. But there are too many who don’t know it, who don’t believe it, or who have forgotten it. Our neighbors, our co-workers, our students, or our teachers. Think of who in your life might need to be reminded of this simple, freeing truth – that they are God’s beloved children, and that God is well pleased with them. What a wonderful way to begin a new year. 

New Beginnings 

Today is a day of new beginnings. The first Sunday of a new year. And a day when we remember that we have been baptized into Christ. Heaven has been opened to us. The Holy Spirit has been given to us. And God’s love has been promised to us. We don’t have to spend this year proving ourselves, saving ourselves, or earning God’s love. We have been freed from all of that. And being freed from all of that gives us the energy, and the courage, and the desire, to spend this year loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. And regardless of what happens this year, remember this one, precious thing: That you are God’s beloved child, with whom God is well pleased. Thanks be to God. Amen.