Advent
December 6, 2020
Scripture Reading: Mark 1:1-8
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’ –Mark 1:4-8
I am not sure I fully understood what baptism was all about when I was baptized. The one thing of which I was sure was that I was making a lifetime commitment to follow Jesus Christ. To be honest, I followed Jesus from the womb because that was what one did in my home and in my community, or at least the part of it I knew. Growing up on a farm and attending a school in a town with a population of, say, 400, I knew almost everyone in one way or another. But Dr. Keller, my pastor, impressed on me that the decision to accept Christ had to be my decision, as was my commitment to serve him. I took that very seriously.
Advent observance based on Mark’s book skips the whole manger and shepherds and wise men scene and jumps right into Jesus’s ministry and mission on earth. John the baptizer did not beat around the bush. Change was needed and was coming in one more powerful than John.
Baptism was common in the Jewish tradition and was religious ablution signifying purification or consecration. John was using a well-known practice to introduce the change that was coming while maintaining the rite as a means of attaining a closer communion with God.
[Jewish] Baptism is not merely for the purpose of expiating a special transgression, as is the case chiefly in the violation of the so-called Levitical laws of purity; but it is to form a part of holy living and to prepare for the attainment of a closer communion with God*.
Let us remember that God was present at creation and will always be with us, which is a cause to celebrate and encourage us to seek closer communion with God as we grow in wisdom and truth through the example and love of Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for coming to us in human form to help us grow closer to you. Amen.
*http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/2456-baptism
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.