Baptized- Mark 1:4-11 - Baptism of Christ- 1-7-24

 

 Sermon podcast from the Baptism of Christ Sunday, 1-7-24  worship service - Peace Memorial Church, UCC in Palos Park, IL. Mark 1:4-11

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"Baptized" sermon podcast

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Moments - Mark 1:4-11 - Baptism of Christ - 1-10-21

 

 

Sermon podcast from Baptism of Christ Sunday - 1-10-21 online worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Mark 1:4-11

Video sermon preview

"Moments" podcast

The whole online worship service

Baptized

This week's Bible reflection (Bugs) was a fun way to begin today's sermon at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.
"Baptized" podcast

Bugs

John the baptizer was an outdoorsy-type. I love the rugged description of him in this week’s reading from Mark 1:4-11. Camel’s hair clothing (it’s all the rage, you know) with a leather belt (not purchased from a designer).

He sounds like the Old Testament prophet he is often compared to, and even identified with, Elijah. In 2 Kings 2:8, Elijah is described like this: "A hairy man, with a leather belt around his waist."


It’s possible that John was presenting himself as the new Elijah – the one that was here to begin the restoration of all things. It’s also possible that he lived the rugged life as a curiosity to get more people to come and investigate this strange wilderness man.


He had a diet that sounds like a challenge on that old TV show Fear Factor.

“Who wants to go see the guy that eats bugs and honey? This should be fun!”

OK -- Locusts and wild honey. Still -Ew.

And while the curious were there to see the side show, they heard a message they couldn’t forget.

Return to God – be baptized – be forgiven.

Without the benefit of any of the temple priests for mediation.

Oh my. Let the trouble begin.

Baptized

This week's Bible reflection (Locusts and Wild Honey) is about John the Baptizer.  And guess what?  Jesus makes an appearance in the extended version -- Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL.
"Baptized" text
"Baptized" podcast 

Locusts and Wild Honey

John the baptizer was an outdoorsy-type. I love the rugged description of him in this week’s reading from Mark 1:4-11. Camel’s hair clothing (it’s all the rage, you know) with a leather belt (not purchased from a designer).

He sounds like the Old Testament prophet he is often compared to, and even identified with, Elijah. In 2 Kings 2:8, Elijah is described like this:  "A hairy man, with a leather belt around his waist."

It’s possible that John was presenting himself as the new Elijah – the one that was here to begin the restoration of all things. It’s also possible that he lived the rugged life as a curiosity to get more people to come and investigate this strange wilderness man. 

He had a diet that sounds Fear Factor-ey. (I’m so glad that TV show is back. You may disagree . . .)

“Who wants to go see the guy that eats locusts and wild honey? This should be fun!”

And while the curios were there to see the side show, they heard a message they couldn’t forget.

Return to God – be baptized – be forgiven.

Without the benefit of any of the temple priests for mediation.

Oh my. Let the trouble begin.

God’s troubling the waters.

When the Spirit say move

Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc.  It really covers the verse after the end of this week's Bible reading from Mark 1:4-11.

When I was a teenager, we used to sing a song in youth group.  Do you remember “When the Spirit say move?”

 When the Spirit says move, you gotta move (unh- unh) 
 When the Spirit says move, you gotta move (unh- unh)  
 When the Spirit says move, you gotta move, Oh Lord
 When the Spirit says move, you gotta move (unh) move (unh) move (unh- unh) 

(Song continues with different things to do -- Shout, Clap, SCREAM, Stop.

I liked the song (and still do) mostly because you get to jump around and clap and shout and scream and when you say stop -- you stop.

But there is a little bit more going on, if you look for it.

• The Spirit of God -- the one that created everything from a formless void -- is the one that says move.
• The mighty wind that said "Let there be light" (and there was light) is the one that says clap.  
• And the driving force that sent Jesus into the wilderness is the one that says SCREAM! 

OK – I made that up – But I did it to describe that God’s Spirit does what the Spirit wants to do. It's not a gentle prodding. A mighty wind does not prod gently. It pushes and moves things powerfully.  And God's Holy Spirit – as described just after the last verse of this week’s Bible reading from Mark 1:4-11, (Do you like how I’m not talking about the baptism of Jesus at all, but rather something that happened just after?) drove Jesus into the Desert to be tempted for 40 days.  I believe the Spirit is still moving.

And I think that sometimes, maybe even often, that mighty wind can be disturbing and scary.

Then again, all of life can be disturbing and scary. I think the difference between life driven by me and life driven by God’s Spirit is in the strength, the endurance, the comfort and the love.  With God’s Spirit driving, all the strength, endurance, comfort and love come from God.

So it’s a strengthening, growing, comforting and loving disturbing and scary. 

What are your thoughts?