Baptism of the Lord

Luke 3 : 15 - 22

What does it really mean to be baptized? We are baptized into the Lord's death that we may live the Lord's life (Rom 6). There is so much in this that we need to unpack so that our baptism continues to transform our lives.

To be baptised into the Lord's death surely means much more than giving up shopping on Sundays, or other non religious activities for church attendance. Or more than merely joining a religious social 'club'. The Lord's 'death' I believe involves our own leaving a way of life that seemed good and right. At one time, it was all we desired from life - but in dying with Christ, our ideals and purposes for living have taken a 360 degree turn. This is not easy - because it involves a real 'death' - to the very selves that served us well at one point. And it is a dying that we are called to at ever deeper levels as time goes on. God is not surprised but sometimes we get shocked that we have yet quite far to go.......dying in order that we might live anew.

Perhaps it is close enough to the start of the year to allow the significance of our baptism to take us into what the Lord is calling us to this year. Perhaps there is more 'dying' to allow the Lord to help us do, or more forms of 'creative living' that are invited.

Jesus was baptized by his cousin John - not because he needed to die to sin - but in order to more fully identify with and enter our human condition - one that is at one time frail yet 'beloved of God'.