The Vine: Jan. 13, 2025
“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”
This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)
“As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’”
“Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
One of my favorite worship services of the year is in early January when we share in a time of remembering our baptisms. We come forward and receive the water in the sign of the cross with the words, “Remember your baptism and be thankful.” We are reminded that God initiated relationship with us and loves us deeply. Baptism is God’s claim on our lives, as well our response to God’s love and offer of grace, forgiveness, and salvation in Christ.
In our passage from Luke, we read about Jesus being baptized. It is remarkable that in Christ God became human in every possible way, including participating in baptism. Luke wrote, “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized…” In that phrase we get the feeling that Jesus was in line with all the others. On the surface it seems so inappropriate – Jesus standing among sinners. On the other hand, it makes perfect sense because Christ came not to condemn but to save. More than once, Jesus was criticized for hanging around the “wrong kind of people”. Thankfully, for all of us, we serve a God who has continued hanging around the “wrong kind of people.” Our sin cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ and our baptism is a wonderful way of us saying, “Yes” to God’s “Yes” to us in Christ.
One of the most important things we can remember is that we are children of God and belong to God. Our identity is not in our work, our spouses, our children, our friends, organizations, etc. It is in God and God alone. One of the great passages in the Old Testament is from Isaiah 43. Isaiah 43 is a passage about God’s promise of restoration for the people of Israel, but it also speaks to us regarding God’s love for us. In Isaiah 43:1 we read, “But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” In our baptisms we remember that the God who created us and called us into relationship is also the One who said, “I have called you by name, you are mine.” God will never leave or forsake us.
I like how Paul shared the same thought in Romans 8: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Prayer:
Gracious God, we thank you for giving us the sacrament of baptism. We remember today that we belong to you, and that you know all of us by name and claim each one of us as your beloved. Throughout the difficulties of life, may we remember our value is in you and not in what we accomplish in this world. Amen.
Questions for Reflection:
What are some possible reasons Jesus submitted to baptism? Why would the Son of God need to be baptized?
In Jesus’ baptism God said to him, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” What does that say about Jesus’ relationship to God? What does it say about how God might view us? All too often we love and affirm others based on “what have you done for me lately”. When was the last time you felt truly loved for the sake of love alone? Have you extended that kind of love to anyone recently?
What do you remember about your baptism? Has your baptism had any affect on how you live your life? How you view God? How you view your relationship with God and others?
In Christ, God said, “Yes,” to us before we even existed. How does that inform your thoughts about grace and salvation?
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