A Life-Changing Experience

Have you ever had a life changing experience? Perhaps it was when you met the person who would become your spouse or the birth of a child. Maybe it was a job change that opened up new opportunities. It could be that you traveled somewhere that made such a lasting impression on you that you could hardly wait to go there again.

Last Sunday, we celebrated the Epiphany of our Lord and the life changing journey of the Magi who were led by the star to worship Jesus, the Savior of the nations who had come. That is a journey that will never be replicated. This weekend, we will hear about Jesus, now about 30 years of age, going to be baptized by John. And, when you think about it, that was a life changing experience... for you and me.

Remember how John didn't want to baptize Jesus but wanted Jesus to baptize him. Why? Because John's baptism was a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4). John knew he was the sinner, not Jesus. So why did Jesus want to be baptized? There He was totally identifying Himself with us. But more than that, by attaching Himself to Baptism, He was making it a life changing event. That's why before He ascended to heaven He instructed His followers to continue to baptize, but now in the name of the Triune God. That would be a means through which Jesus would connect Himself and the forgiveness He accomplished to those who would follow Him. That's why we describe Baptism as a means of grace. It is a way that God the Holy Spirit uses to bring us to faith and receive the wondrous undeserved love of God -- truly a life changing experience. Pastor Schmidt