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Sunday, 9 Jan 2011; Epiphany 1 Year A

Matthew 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Acts 10:34 Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favouritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached-- 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. :39 "We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen--by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Going, sending, and telling are parts of everyday life. Before Christmas people sent Christmas cards, perhaps telling people of some of the things that have happened in the year. People may tell one another what gift they would like. Family and friends go and visit and are visited. In our readings today we have going, sending and telling.

Before Acts 10.34 God sent an angel to Cornelius who asked him to tell Simon Peter to come to him. Cornelius sent 2 servants to summon Peter.

Just before they arrived God gave a vision to Peter telling him to kill and eat unclean, non-kosher, meat. This was a sign to tell that God accepts everyone, even non-Jews/Gentiles. The Holy Spirit told Peter to visit Cornelius, and we then come to Acts 10.34-43, when Peter tells Cornelius and a large crowd that had gathered, 10.27, the good news of Jesus, vs.36-43. This was a message sent by God, v.36. This was known to Cornelius, vs 37. Why? Because people had told one another about Jesus. Peter said that he, himself was a witness of everything Jesus did, v.39, and of the resurrection, v.41. Jesus told the disciples to tell others just as he had told the prophets to tell people about Jesus.

Peter's message was not in vain because the whole crowd came to trust in Jesus and they received the Holy Spirit, which was a sign from God that they were true believers, vs. 44-48.

At Christmas we remembered that God sent Jesus to earth. In our gospel reading God sent Jesus to Galilee to be baptised by John. Not because Jesus had done anything wrong he needed to repent of, but to identify with people, and especially those who were being baptised. People who wanted to turn away from their sin, to be forgiven, and make a new start with God. Just as the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentile crowd in Acts 10.44 to give them the gift of faith, so the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus to equip him as he began his public ministry.

The events of Acts 10 are radical, a defining moment in the early church. It tells us that the gospel of Jesus is for everyone, even Gentiles, or non-Jews. This is still relevant for us today. The gospel is for everyone and anyone in Knebworth, and beyond. Not just the religious, the young, the old, those who like the BCP, or Holy Communion, or hymns, or choruses etc.

There is still a belief, held by some, that are lives are made up of different compartments. So there may be religion, politics, home, work, community. Some think that these are, or should be unrelated. Illustrate by the man who stopped coming to church because I preached about the injustice of children enslaved in producing cocoa and promoted the Fairtrade option. If our faith doesn't influence all of our lives we need to think about if it is truly Christian. The Christian faith is about living, going, sending, telling. It is not a private religion. It calls us into God's people and challenges us to be salt and light, visible, distinctive and purifying in our world.

History is full of examples of Christian who transformed society.

There is William Wilberforce who fought to have slavery abolished. Also, Lord Shaftesbury who promoted Acts of Parliament that prohibited employment of women and children in coal mines, provided care for the insane, established a ten-hour day for factory workers, and outlawed employing young boys as chimney sweeps.

In the mid 18th Century Sunday schools were instituted by Christians to provide education for children working the other six days. In the 19th century the Church of England was responsible for most schools until the establishment of free, compulsory education towards the end of that century.

The adoption of Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire drove an expansion of the provision of care. The First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. urged the Church to provide for the poor, sick, widows, and strangers; it ordered the construction of a hospital in every cathedral town. Medieval hospitals in the UK were charity in concrete form. While the modern hospital provides medical care, many medieval hospitals were founded simply for the poor. They provided a home for those too handicapped or elderly to work - people who might otherwise have to beg in the streets if their families could not care for them. Other hospitals took in the stranger. They were hostels for pilgrims and other wayfarers.

Antiseptic surgery was first championed by the Christian doctor Joseph Lister against tremendous opposition. It was based directly on the theories of Louis Pasteur, who was also a Christian. Antiseptic surgery sought to kill germs, primarily by the use of carbolic acid.

The most famous champion of vaccination was a Christian doctor, Edward Jenner, who did his work against fierce opposition. In effect he wiped out smallpox which, at the time, killed one in three of those who contracted the disease, and often badly disfigured those who survived it.

James Young Simpson, who championed use of chloroform as an anaesthetic in Britain was also a professing Christian. Asked by a reporter what was his greatest discovery, he replied, "When I learned Jesus Christ had died for my sins."

Y.B.H.

Yes, but how? How can we live for God and tell others?

Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit to help him to do good, and heal people, Acts 10.38. God was with him by the Holy Spirit.

Cornelius and the crowd were filled with the Holy Spirit, to bring them to faith, and give them the gifts they needed to praise God, vs. 44ff.

God has given every believer the free, undeserved gift of the Holy Spirit. To help us to trust in Jesus, to worship him, to give strength to live for him in every part of our lives, to gift us to serve him and give us the courage and words to speak about Jesus.

Later this year we will be launching the Just 10 Mission, based on J.John's talks relating the 10 Commandments to life today. It will be an excellent opportunity to invite people to church, to tell them about Jesus.

Over the next few weeks we will be looking at ways in which we can be better equipped to do this. In the meantime, I would like to tell you ways in which you can prepare for this.

Pray. Pray for yourself, that God will fill you with his Holy Spirit and give you the power, words, and opportunities to live and speak for him.

Pray, also, over the next few weeks for specific people who you would like to see come to faith and for the opportunity to talk to them.

Pray, too for the planning and implementation of the course, that God would lead and guide us by his Holy Spirit, so that people may come to trust in Jesus and worship him, with us.

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Epiphany 1- Year A The Baptism of Christ - Matthew 3:13-17

One Christmas a Baptist Minister in the United States gave his parents a microwave. They were excited about becoming part of the instant generation. Their smiles disappeared when they unpacked it, plugged it in and tried to get it to work without success. Two days later the mother was talking about this with a friend. The friend offered to lend her a more detailed instruction book. The mother replied, 'What I really need is my son to come along with the gift!'

This passage is about the Son coming along with the gift. There is a way in which the Son, Jesus is the gift, as well as bringing the gift of eternal life. This passage underlines the fact that God has taken human flesh.

God has taken human flesh in the person of Jesus.

We have just celebrated this at Christmas. This passage happened about 30 years after the birth of Jesus. It proclaims who Jesus is. The Christ, the Son of God, as we see from verse 17. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." God who came to earth as a man, Jesus. 100% God and 100% man.

Christ uncrowned himself to crown us, and put off his robes to put on our rags, and came down from heaven to keep us out of hell. He fasted forty days that he might feast us to all eternity; he came from heaven to earth that he might send us from earth to heaven. W. Dyer

This required Jesus to be humble. To leave the glory and splendour of heaven where Jesus enjoyed what it means to be God. Ruling. Being worshipped. Being untouched by sin and the pain, suffering, and distress that it brings.

Jesus put other people's interests before his own. Followed the way planned for him by God the Father. This led him not only to humbling himself by becoming a man. But also humbling himself to endure the suffering and humiliation of the cross. To receive the punishment that we deserve for our sin, separation from God. The only time that Jesus and God the Father were separated. That is why Jesus said, 'My God, my God, why have you deserted me', as he hung on the cross. So we can be free. Free to know God as our friend. Free to live for God and to put him and other people before ourselves.

Athanasius, a fourth century Bishop of Alexandra said, ' He became what we are, in order that he might make us what he is.' REPEAT.

The Baptism of Jesus also proclaims the start of his public life and ministry. We have recently had several examples of how the roles of M.P.s and government ministers have been ended when their private lives have been examined. Jesus comes forward into the public gaze at his Baptism. When we look at his life and work we see that there was nothing that he could be ashamed of. No sin that he could be convicted of.

This leads us to ask the question, 'Why was Jesus baptised, then ?' After all, John's baptism was for repentance. Making a new start with God by turning from what is wrong to do things God's way. John had acknowledged that Jesus would be superior to him in verse 11. "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

John tried to deter Jesus from being baptised in verse 14. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"

Jesus said, 'Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.'

What does this mean? Something that is righteous is from God. So if we behave righteously we are living in accordance with God's plan. Jesus was saying, 'Let us do this now because it is part of God's plan'. Even though John did not fully understand all the implications of this he agreed. There are times when we have to trust that something is part of God's perfect will for us, even through we may not fully understand this. There is no faith where there is certainty. Although we can certainly trust in God and his ways for us.

What, then was the significance of Jesus' baptism ?

Jews had been coming to John to be baptised. For a Jew to be baptised was a humiliating experience. Up until then Gentiles, or non-Jews, were baptised when they became a member of the Jewish faith. So, for a Jew to come to John for Baptism was to admit that they were not truly a member of God's people, but wanted to make a new start with God. This involved turning away from a selfish life to a life lived for God and other people.

In coming to be baptised Jesus was identifying himself with people who want to make a new start with God. Who want to change and live for God. Not just once but every day. Jesus is saying, 'I am with you'. 'I am with you as you turn to God. I am with you as you are tempted, because I was tempted. I am with you as you go through difficult times, and endure pain, because I have been there too. I am with you as you fail to live up to God's ways, because I took the punishment for that on the cross so that you can be forgiven.'

"Jesus did not become identical to us; he did become identified with us." Donald English

At the start of 2005 never forget that Jesus is with you. He offers hope, strength, guidance, companionship, and forgiveness for those who turn to him.

Jesus does not just offer a new start with God, as shown by the Baptism of John. He offers a baptism with the Holy Spirit and with fire, verse 11. Jesus offers us a soaking in God's Holy Spirit and fire. This is not a fire that consumes, it is a fire that changes and purifies. Like fire purifying gold.

The Holy Spirit is God's way of purifying us, making us more like Jesus. This may not be easy, but it will make us better people.

Without the Holy Spirit we are far from God. We do not know how to be good. We are not able to turn to God. But God's Spirit shows us our sin and our need to repent, and enables us to respond to God's undeserved favour in Jesus. We need to be continually open to the Holy Spirit so we can go on with God in 2005. Both as individuals and as a church.

This should have far reaching consequences. When John was questioned by the crowd in Luke 3 he tells those who have two tunics to share with those who have none and those who have food to share with those who do not.

This is the other side of the offer of eternal life. Yes we are free to know and follow God, but we are freed so we can follow his ways. Not to continue unaffected doing what we like in the hope that we will be forgiven. God calls people to follow Jesus and live like Jesus.

This is the response that Jesus requires of everyone. We, as Christians should imitate Jesus. Copying his love and humility.

"They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we," George W Bush 2004

Jesus never stops thinking about loving and helping people, and, as His body on earth, neither should we.

How can we help people in 2005. We can help people locally by living and sharing the good news of Jesus with people around us and praying for them.

We can help people in South Asia immediately by giving and/or raising money. We can help by praying for them. We can be encouraged that Christians have been heavily involved in the relief efforts.

We can also help people in the developing world who are poor by lobbying our government for change. If there is am election this year politicians may have to take more notice. 2005 offers an exceptional series of opportunities for the UK to take a lead internationally, to start turning things around. The UK hosts the annual G8 gathering of powerful world leaders and heads up the European Union (EU). So the UK Government will be a particularly influential player on the world stage.

MakePovertyHistory is a unique UK alliance of charities, trade unions, campaigning groups and celebrities who are mobilising around key opportunities in 2005 to drive forward the struggle against poverty and injustice. They are urging the government and international decision makers to rise to the challenge of 2005 and for urgent and meaningful policy change on three critical and inextricably linked areas: trade, debt and aid.

Trade justice:

Fight for rules that ensure governments, particularly in poor countries, can choose the best solutions to end poverty and protect the environment. These will not always be free trade policies.

End export subsidies that damage the livelihoods of poor rural communities around the world.

Make laws that stop big business profiting at the expense of people and the environment.

Drop the debt

The unpayable debts of the world's poorest countries should be cancelled in full, by fair and transparent means. Despite grand statements from world leaders, the debt crisis is far from over. Rich countries have not delivered on the promise they made more than six years ago to cancel unpayable poor country debts. As a result, many countries still have to spend more on debt repayments than on meeting the needs of their people.

More and better aid

Donors must now deliver at least $50 billion more in aid and set a binding timetable for spending 0.7% of national income on aid. Aid must also be made to work more effectively for poor people and focus better on poor people's needs. This means more aid being spent on areas such as basic healthcare and education. Aid should no longer be tied to goods and services from the donor, so ensuring that more money is spent in the poorest countries.

We can be influential in lobbying the Prime Minister and politicians to seek

The gift of the microwave from the Baptist minister was useless to his parents until they had unwrapped it. It was useless when they didn't understand and use it.

It's like that with Jesus. What place does he occupy in our lives today ?

For some people their microwave might just sit their in their kitchen unused. There to try and impress visitors, or forgotten & seen as irrelevant. Is Jesus like that ? Thinking that if we have him there in some way this will impress God, or maybe He is irrelevant to our daily lives?

Some people might have a microwave just for emergencies. For the time when they arrive home late or unprepared and have to heat up a meal at short notice. Is Jesus just there for emergencies? Perhaps when everything else has been tried and failed ?

Others use their microwaves everyday, perhaps a number of times a day. Jesus wants to be with us all day, everyday. Alongside us as we go through the joys and difficulties of our lives. Giving his Holy Spirit so that we can become more like him everyday.

PRAY :

Lord Jesus we invite you.

Come among us to show us how to be good.

Come among us to show us how to love.

Come among us to show us how to be Christian.

Come among us to show us how to be human. Without you we are lost and lonely and do not know how to live. For living with you is eternal life. Amen.