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From Chaos to Creation

Rev. Jeremy J. Schultz
The Baptism of our Lord
January 11, 2009

Our discussion on the Baptism of our Lord today does not begin where you might suppose - in the waters of the Jordan River. But rather it begins in the nothingness of the universe as it waited for God to speak. Genesis 1 gives us the account of God's creative work. But it's something even more than that. What we see here is the ordering of everything by God from chaos into creation. From disorder into order. From waste and void and nothingness into life and being and existence. This is what God has done - He has taken what was chaotic and dark and has brought it into order and light. This past week I had a friend share with me the Top 10 pictures that have been taken by the Hubble Telescope since 1990. Just marvel with me for a moment what it means when God says, "Let there be light."

So from the farthest reaches of light to the tiniest piece of genetic material in each of the trillions of cells that make up your body – God has called forth a marvelous creation from out of utter chaos…and has brought not only light, but the light of life in His Son. Colossians 1:16 says, "For by Him (that is Jesus) all things were created...all things were created by Him and for Him." It was all for Him. It was all for His glory that men might know Him and love Him. And that He might be their head and receive their worship and praise.

When we think of God ordering all of this and bringing it from chaos to creation, it helps for us to see this as our story too! In other words, that we confess that Adam and Eve weren't the only ones tempted in the Garden of Eden. We were tempted too. And we failed to trust in God. We were the ones who wanted to be rulers of all that pertains to us. We were the ones who ate the forbidden fruit. It wasn't just them, it was us. "For as in Adam, all died - so in Christ, will all be made alive." With just a few words, "Did God really say?..." the devil tried to undo all that God had done. He tried to twist the perfect creation and turn it into something that looked a little more like him - a world wrenched with disobedience, bent with thoughts only of themselves, men and women whose lives will ultimately end up in death. And he did a pretty good job of it!

In Luther's explanation of the First Article of the Apostle's Creed, he says, "I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that he has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears and all my members, my reason and all my senses." This is true. Our loving Father has done all these wonderful things for us. But as fallen creatures in this world, we could almost add a little something about what the devil does. "I believe that the devil has tried to destroy me and all creatures; that he has given me cancer and my heart attack; he has given my eyes a lust for pornography, my ears a love for gossip, and all my members he has plagued with wicked actions. My reason has been plagued by madness and my senses slowly fail as this body of mine sinks closer and closer to death." Luther never wrote that creed, but as people who have been created by God, we must admit that the devil has twisted us into things that God never intended.

What happened to God’s creation is so sad. How sad that His beautiful creation, His perfect people have been twisted and turned so much! And that’s why Jesus has come!

Jesus came out to the Jordan River where John was baptizing and He was baptized too. But it was not for His sins that Jesus submitted to baptism - He didn't have any! Rather, it was for us. It was for our offenses. Just as Jesus assumed our human flesh so He continued to seek maximum identification with the people that He came to save and it was that desire that ultimately drove Him to the cross. From the start, Jesus was numbered with the transgressors. He stood in the waist deep water with them. He stood there with you!

Remember - this is our story. This is God the Father taking the chaos of our sinful lives and bringing about order and newness of life. St. Paul says in our Epistle lesson, "All of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death. We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." This is our story - the story of God re-creating us in His image - in our baptisms and restoring us in His life. Because St. Paul goes onto say, "If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection." From chaos to creation through the waters of Holy Baptism! That’s how far God has brought you.

At a craft show, an elderly gentleman sat on a chair surrounded by dead branches. All around him were piles of dead, dried up, spindly branches, and right in front of him was a small bowl of water. And what he did was amazing. He took these branches, soaked them in the water, pulled them out, and began to bend them, to reshape them, to twist and mold them into different shapes - into new creations. He gave them new life. He reshaped things that looked like their use was long over and gave them new lives one could only imagine. And that's what God has done with you!

He has soaked you in the water of your baptism to make you new. In baptism, you have been reborn. Your bodies are now remade. Your bodies won't just be filled with cancer; they will be filled with Jesus Christ who promises you an Easter resurrection. Your souls don't have to lust anymore, then can now long for a life lived in Him. Your ears are made new. They will be used to hear God's Word and the salvation He has won. And even your senses, though they slow and fail as death approaches, will nevertheless tingle on the day of resurrection as all believers in Christ will rise from the dust of death to eternal life.

A 10 year old boy had a request of his pastor. "I'd like to be baptized" he said. "We were learning about Jesus' baptism in Sunday School. The teacher asked the class who was baptized and all the other kids raised their hands. I want to be baptized too." "Cameron," the pastor said, "Do you really want to be baptized because everyone else is?" "No," he replied. "I want to be baptized because it means I belong to God." The pastor was touched by his understanding. "Well then," he said, "how about this Sunday?" "But do I have to get baptized in front of all those people? Jesus was baptized by his cousin in a river." "Well, Cameron, you have a point said the pastor. But if you were baptized by your cousin in a river, how would the church recognize it?" And he looked to grab a big book for a teachable moment when the boy responded. "I guess they'd recognize it by my new way of living." The pastor put the book back - utterly amazed at the child’s understanding!

In Holy Baptism, God has brought you from sinful chaos into a forgiven new creation. It's something that the devil cannot undo. He has tried. But he has failed. You are new. You are forgiven because of Christ. Amen.