When Jesus stepped into the waters of the Jordan River he stood beside a large mass of people who went to the river to be baptized by John. Jesus was going to receive the same baptism as everyone else. John the baptizer warned the people that the coming messiah would essentially “clean house” so they had better get clean. The wild eyed preacher warned that the coming messiah would be equipped with a winnowing fork in hand, clear the threshing floor, and burn the chaff.
Instead, Jesus inconspicuously stood by the people that day, joining them at the baptism as if he were one of them. Jesus steps into his messiahship gently. Jesus certainly caused trouble. Just by speaking the things of God, let alone enacting them, he would find both acceptance and rejection, but he would come not as a bully but as the strong Son of God extending mercy.
So, if he received the same baptism as everyone else, what made him different or how was Jesus’ baptism any different?
Well, the difference is revealed once Jesus emerged from the waters of baptism. Following his baptism, Jesus was praying and while he was praying, something remarkable happened. The heavens were opened.
The heavens were opened.
That’s pretty dramatic!
Once the heavens were opened the Holy Spirit fell on Jesus in bodily form, like a dove, to anoint and empower Jesus for his mission and ministry. Then the voice from heaven: “You are my Son with whom I am well pleased.” The Father gave his stamp of approval.
This is a seminal moment. It is an epiphany!
The birth of Jesus is an epiphany. In fact, the feast we call Epiphany concludes the great days of Christmas. Jesus was born and revealed to all nations. So is his baptism an epiphany.
By epiphany we mean a revelation or an appearance of something brand new, and in the case of Jesus, it is the appearance of God who brings newness to the world. When someone says “I had an epiphany!” it usually means that they had a new insight, or aha moment. Sometimes, these epiphanies cause people to change their mind or the manner of their lives. Just so, the epiphany of Jesus in his birth and baptism brought on a new age. Something changed. Yes, after all at his baptism the heavens were opened.
It was a new beginning, the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and the beginning of a new age. With the heavens opened Jesus received his identity and power to be the Messiah who would bring heaven to earth.
Like the Gospel of Luke, Matthew says the same thing – the heavens were opened. Mark is more expressive. In Mark we read that the “heavens were torn apart.”
In what Jesus said and did after his baptism, heaven was let loose, broken out wherever he went. Heaven has broken out among us.
In the Gospels, we see how this unfolds: heavens were opened when Jesus cast out demons, cured diseases, and cleansed lepers. I suspect those healed and made new may have told others that they experienced something like the opening of heaven. And for outcasts, sinners, and anyone who suffered rejection and hate, the heavens were opened for them. And when Jesus spoke parables of God’s kingdom and grace, those who heard it felt the breeze of heaven opened up. And even at the darkest moment when the powers and principalities killed the Son of God, heaven was opened in that time of death and despair when Jesus cried from the cross, “Forgive them for they know not what they are doing” and when the thief being executed next to Jesus requested, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” Jesus in that moment when death seemed to reign, Jesus promised: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Heaven broke loose for the thief on the cross.
You see, wherever Jesus was even as he was grasping for life, heaven was breaking out all over the place.
In some news coverage about the horrific fire in Southern California, someone affected by the fire said, “All hell has broken loose.” It is a common phrase “all, hell broken loose.” Indeed, we have that feeling when there are disasters or when there is conflict or trouble and whatever problem it is seems to wreak so much havoc that it is all pervasive. Sometimes when we feel “all hell broke loose,” it is diffiultcu to imagine anything like heaven among us.
What if we stepped into this new year by remembering that heaven is among us even when destruction seems to be all-in-all, we can remember the promise of God spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
Do not fear, I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name, you are mine.
The heavens are opened. God is with us.
Where has heaven broken out among us?
I think any act of forgiveness or reconciliation, small or large is a sign that Jesus is among us. When peace comes to embittered people or nations, it’s reminder that the kingdom of God is among us. When generosity replaces greed it is sign that the heaven has been opened up, filling people’s hearts. When every person is given respect and dignity, the kingdom of heaven has broken in and the age of grace has begun. It may not make the headlines but God moves slowly, silently, and the kingdom of heaven is often hidden.
As people of God and followers of Jesus we dare to trust that heaven has broken out among us.
Today, as is the tradition on this feast of the Baptism of our Lord, we affirm our baptism or renew our baptismal vows. In doing so we renounce again the things of sin and death, confess again our faith in the triune God, and renew the promises that we will continue in the covenant God has made with us – to reaffirm our commitment to Christian community, participating in the worship of the church, speeding the good news of God’s love, and commit to serve all people and to strive for God’s justice and peace.
When we focus again on these promises as a guide for living, we have a compass, a way to be aware of and present to and participate in all heaven broken out.
I have a friend who has a daily practice of reading and praying over these promises every day. You may want to do something similar or put the inserts on your refrigerator door. Our friend describes her practice as her “rule of life,” a kind of navigation device for her daily discipline of following Jesus.
It is a way to remember who you are. Today as we renew these promises or vows, we pray God to be renewed by the Holy Spirit given us in baptism and we know again who we are when we are sprinkled with the waters from the font and when you dip your hand in the font and make the sign of the cross, to remember, most of all that you are God’s beloved one and that you have been set apart, anointed by God to participate in the holy work of letting the world know that heaven has been opened.
A cross has been placed on your brow at baptism and it is an indelible cross, both a summons to serve and most of all, a sign that you’ve been sealed with God’s Spirit forever. Remember your baptism and give thanks. Amen.