Read the Lectionary Texts

I’ve been thinking lately about baptism. Specifically, the baptism of Jesus.

The story, of course, is that John – the world’s first Baptist – is doing what Baptists do – baptizing people in the Jordan River. Have any of you been baptized as an adult? How about in a river? Anyone here ever been baptized in the Jordan River? I have. And it was COLD!

Well, John is out by the Jordan River baptizing. Jesus comes along and asks to be baptized. So John plunges Jesus into the frigid cold waters of the Jordan. And as Jesus comes up out of the water, something strange happens. The heavens seem to open up, and a dove descends. It lands on Jesus’ shoulder – a sign of the Holy Spirit. And then comes a voice. A voice from heaven.

Do you remember what the voice from heaven said?

“This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

Years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a “bris” ceremony. The name derives from the Hebrew word “berith” which means “covenant.” For a male Jewish child, this is the ceremony in which he is circumcised and made part of the covenant of Israel – the berith. And one of the truly wonderful elements of the service is that, after appropriate blessings are offered by the grandparents on both sides, the parents of the child give him his name. And the name is always one of special meaning – expressing ancient Jewish traditions as well as contemporary family relationships. The naming of the child is always very special, and the name itself has deep significance.

So it is interesting to me that, when Jesus was circumcised eight days after his birth, Joseph and Mary gave him the name “Jesus” as the angel had instructed them. But thirty years later, when Jesus came to the Jordan to be baptized, God himself got into the act. As with many of our baptismal traditions today, God used that occasion to name his child.

Do you remember what it was?

It was “Beloved.”

God named him, “The Beloved.” 

Do you know what the word “beloved” means? It means “dearly loved”. That’s the name God gave Jesus.

And here’s what I think is so special about this name. When you and I were baptized – some of us as children with waters from a font, some as adults by immersion in a tank, some of us even in the Jordan River itself – when we were baptized, we were baptized into the name of Jesus.

You took upon yourself the NAME of Jesus.

Do you see? The spiritual name God has given you…is…what? 

“Beloved”.

In fact, some of you may at one time or another have attended a wedding and heard the congregation welcomed this way, “DEARLY BELOVED, we are gathered together here in the sight of God  and in the presence of these witnesses to join together…”

Why did the minister call you that?

Why did he call you “Beloved”?

Because that is what God calls you!

That is your name!

Beloved.

Dearly Loved.

And so when those moments of life come along that make you question your value, or fill you with self doubt, or make you wonder if who you are, what you have done, how you have doubted, or even how you have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God disqualifies you from God’s acceptance and love, I hope you’ll remember the most important thing about you.

Your NAME.

The name God gave you.

The Beloved.

Dearly Beloved.