Acts 8:14-17, Psalm 29, and Luke 3:15-22
Do you remember the first time you were baptized? There are probably many people who were baptized, some while they were students, others when they were adults. Baptism is one of two sacred ceremonies recognized in the Reformed Church tradition. The other Sacrament, as you well know, is Holy Communion. Many people are eager for baptism. To be baptized, you may have the opportunity to receive education and review the essential aspects of faith related to God, the Bible, and the church. Baptism, in our church tradition, basically means entering the church. So, as a confident believer, you become a church community member. Through this, you will have responsibility, service, and the right to participate in various events and church operations within the church. In this way, we become one faith community that serves God and does missionary work to the world.
When reading the Bible today, we can see two impressive scenes related to baptism. The first is the scene of Jesus being baptized in Luke. “As he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” These are lovely and impressive words. However, this verse happened much before John’s imprisonment in verse 20. Luke recorded the baptism of Jesus after recording John’s imprisonment because he intended to show that John the Baptist’s ministry was now over. Jesus’ public time was beginning in earnest. In Mark 1:10, which parallels the Gospel of Luke, the heaven being torn open is intentionally expressed to show God’s supernatural work. The Greek word for opening is significantly often used to express God’s power and revelation, such as Jesus healing the blind and opening their eyes (Matthew 9:30; 20:33), and the opening of the tombs when Jesus died. (Matthew 27:52), and was also used to describe the angel of the Lord opening the prison door when the apostles were imprisoned (Acts 5:19; 16:27). In this respect, Luke uses the fact that the heavens were opened in the text to foretell that God’s incredible power and new revelation will soon appear.
Also, when we compare Matthew 3:16 and Mark 1:10, parallel to this verse, we can see that the situation in which the heavens are opened is also described somewhat differently. Matthew and Mark express it like this: “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went out of the water. At that moment, heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove.” On the other hand, Luke describes the heavens as opening when Jesus was baptized and prayed. The key difference is that Matthew and Mark do not record Jesus praying, and Luke does not record him coming by water. Through this, we can see that Luke is deeply interested in the ‘prayer’ offered by Jesus. In other words, Luke describes it as an event that directly connects prayer and the supernatural phenomenon of the heavens opening. God resumes revelation and communication with the Israelites, which had been cut off for about 400 years since the prophet Malachi, through the sight of opening the heavens. And Luke emphasizes the fact that this was possible because Jesus’ prayer preceded it. In this way, prayer breaks down barriers in relationships. It makes fellowship with God possible. That prayer sparks God’s revelation and salvation. And we are all saved through the prayers and mission of Jesus Christ. We were baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire. So we can forgive those who cannot be forgiven and love those who are difficult to love. Even though we, too, may experience difficulties in life, we have the courage to help those who are less fortunate than us. All of this is because the Holy Spirit works in our hearts even when we are not aware of it. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we can do great and marvelous things like Jesus. We have thus become new people, new personalities. And we live to remember the love of Christ and spread it to those who do not know it. But before we are baptized, we have inertia. So we all have no choice but to make an effort. Without this training, it is difficult to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. I find it challenging to live by taking care of myself, and it is even harder to have the will to help others.
The mysterious thing is that there is a gift for those who receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and try to live as new people. “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” God gives strength to His people who keep His laws and honor Him. God blesses his people with peace, too. Through his poetry, David expressed God’s children’s lives by glorifying God and wearing holy clothes. This is a good introduction to the life of a believer in the light of the gospel. People living in modern society gradually lose expressions of holiness, grace, and glory. However, according to the grace we received through Jesus Christ, we form a church community, serve each other with love, and have a mission for our neighbors. All of this is ‘Soli Deo gloria’, an essential aspect of a Christian who lives for the glory of God. This is the appearance of the people wearing holy clothes. Therefore, I boldly ask you for a moment. Close your eyes and remember the baptism you received. And let us meditate on the time when God invited us to live anew as His people. Also, let us live with new faith daily by confirming baptism again before the Lord. God’s grace will renew our lives and many souls.