Psalm 118.19-29; Mark 11.1-11
Oh, what a beautiful mornin'
Oh, what a beautiful day
I got a beautiful feelin'
Everything's goin' my way!
Over the years of ministry, it has been my special joy to celebrate the baptism of a child …
The family gathers … Christ is present … the saints watch from afar … the angels sing … all God’s creatures rejoice.
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas--
His hand the wonders wrought.
Hosanna, cries the crowd on that fateful day when Jesus comes to town … down from the Mt. of Olives, on a colt, a young animal …
The prophet Zechariah wrote:
Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!
Lo, your king comes to you;
triumphant and victorious is he,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the war-horse from Jerusalem;
and the battle bow shall be cut off,
and he shall command peace to the nations;
his dominion shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
The church commemorates the day with palms … the ancient sign of victory … a new day coming … a day of peace and prosperity … when violence shall cease, and war be no more.
A great day … joyful songs and the cries of children …
The day our LORD enters the city of Jerusalem …
the heart of the matter,
where cross the crowded ways of life …
religion at its most intense …
the Roman Empire with its legions …
commerce and trade, poverty and disease …
Jesus enters on a young donkey …
a gentle beast of burden,
to carry the burdens we all bear …
burdens of love and broken dreams …
burdens of hope and shattered lives …
burdens common to all,
and burdens unique - for our time and place.
Into that fabled city on a hill, Jesus rides amidst the hopes and fears of the age … Jesus comes, not as a warrior, with sword and spear, but as the Prince of Peace, with healing in his wings.
It’s common for some branches of Christianity these days to confuse the cross and the sword … I’ve seen images of Jesus cradling an AR-15, bulging muscles, hardened fists … a Rambo-like character eager for blood.
Have you seen some of these images?
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Christ is no Rambo.
The cross is not a weapon.
God is not at war with humanity.
God is not at war with you or me.
Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a gentle beast of burden.
Jesus goes to the Cross to rescue and redeem the lost.
Jesus becomes the gentle beast of burden, to carry away the sins of the world.
To reconcile us to God!
Earlier this morning, we celebrated the baptism of Noah John Stepanian … a great day for all of us …
Baptism is a bridge … a bridge
between our present and Noah’s tomorrow …
a bridge between past and future …
right here, right now …
from all that has been, to all that can be … from the ancient families of Sarah and Abraham, to all the families to come.
A bridge in time … and a bridge from the very heart of Christ to each of us …
Christ stands in the water, and welcomes all of us …
little Noah John …
Mom and Dad, Grandparents, Godparents … young and old …
infants, children, youth, adults …
all are welcomed to the waters of baptism, in a place where the Tower still stands.
The language of baptism is filled with promises …
A promise made by God … you are mine.
A promise made by the parents - yes, we are yours, and we will give to Noah John all that we can … the material blessings of this life, and the spiritual blessings of Christ.
A promise made by the church … we will abide with these parents, and we will provide love and care …
A promise made by all of us … we will stand with Christ in Jordan’s water … we will honor the truth, the life, and the goodness of God, in this place, where the Tower still stands.
A real tower, of stone and steel, but wherever there is love, there’s a tower to be found, where you can worship God …
Whoever you are, a spiritual tower - reaching high into the heavens, rooted in the earth … call it the Cross of Christ, or Jacob’s ladder … call it faith, hope, and love … call it grace, mercy, and peace … call it the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
By baptism, we give this child a past:
A Christian past, the Christian story … the stories of Adam and Eve, Sarah and Abraham … Moses and Miriam and the Prophets of Old … Mary and Joseph … the life and work of Jesus … the stories of the early church … Peter, James, and John … the Apostle Paul … Lydia, Dorcas, and Priscilla … from sea to shining sea, and all across the world … stories of love and hope.
And with Baptism, God gives to us a future … Noah John will carry on the good work of Christ …
From time-to-time, Noah John will look back at us … he’ll see us all standing here, praying for him, wishing him the very best …
He’ll hear our words and remember our care …
he’ll remember the Christmas Story, and the Easter Story … and all the stories of faith;
he’ll remember good food, and good times … and he’ll remember moments of sadness and difficulty …
he’ll know, and remember, one vital piece of the story: he is loved …
loved by a gracious God,
loved by his family …
loved by Mom and Dad,
loved by faithful pastors and church organists, and all the music …
and he will turn to all us, and whisper to each one of us: Thank You!
Then he’ll turn to face his future … to take up his own work and life, to set the course for generations still to come … the great onward march of time …
To wave the palms of victory … shout Hosanna … do the work of love … help others to the waters of Baptism.
Dear Noah John … we’re glad you’re here.
We give to you our blessing and our love.
Our prayers go with you.
The palms signal God’s victory over death and sorrow.
The water of your baptism seals you to the heart of God.
And the heart of God holds you forever.
Hallelujah and Amen!
