Text: Matthew 3:1-12
Last Sunday we celebrated a baptism and next Sunday we will do it again. The sacrament of baptism goes back a long way and is not the sole property of Christians. In the first century the Jews took a bath called a mikvah in order to be ritually pure for worship. John also called people to cleanse themselves but not simply to prepare themselves for worship. John called for an inner change of heart and mind (repentance), which is to produce a pure and holy life.
The sacred ritual of baptism by water can be found dating back millennia in many places around the world, including and especially in Egypt. As a source of life, particularly along the Nile, water figured prominently in the spiritual imagery of ancient Egypt. Along with the concept of holy, living water in Egyptian religion comes its use for purification in actual baptism, with immersion into water or sprinkling of water. As for our Christians baptism, so with the Egyptians, their baptism was a ritual of purification for regeneration and a remission of sins.
Egyptologist Gerald Massey explains the two different types of Egyptian baptism and their relationship to Christian doctrine:
There was a double baptism in the ancient mysteries: the baptism by water and the baptism by spirit. This may be traced to the two lakes of heaven at the head of the celestial river in teh region of the northern pole, which were also repeated as the two lakes of purification in Amenta. The soul says, "I purify me in the southern tank, and I rest me at the northern lake." They will account for the two forms of baptism mentioned in the Gospels, John baptizes with water, Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Massey, AELW, II, 795, quoted in Christ in Egypt by D. M. Murdok, 247)
Thus, in our text today, John the Baptist says in reference to Jesus: "I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
This is quickly getting "heavy" and that seems so out of synch with the holiday spirit. Instead of being baptized with water and fire, our market economy is concerned with how much consumers will pay for Christimas gifts considering 70% or so of our economy is based upon consumer spending.
The baptism our market seeks is a baptism of greenback dollars onto the retail counters of America. What is the Christian response? Certainly we want the economy to do well because when the economy does well we do well and so does the church and the mission of Christ. Some of us give from our excess and the more excess we have the more we may give. This, too, is a "heavy" thought, whether or not consumer spending can resurrect our economy.
Beyond the baptism mentioned in our text and the baptism of dollars the market wants from the consumer this time of year we also have the baptism of the winter solstice. This is the season when the winter sun seems to die by staying at the same angle in the sky for a few days before it makes its upturn on the third day which symbolized the resurrection of the Sun God to the ancients. So this time of the year is drenched with symbolism and has been since the dawn of time.
It may come as a surprise to some to learn that the ancient Egyptians held a candlelight service on December 24 each year in celebration of the winter solstice. The service included hymns and special music. I find such facts inspiring because it connects our religious practice to times and places beyond what we even knew.
So it was in days such as these that John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." John was the one who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"
Lord knows we could use some straight paths in our society what with all the financial scandals we have endured lately. Here in Houston Enron immediately comes to mind. Being from Central Mississippi I also think of Bernie Ebbers at MCI and all the investors who lost money through that bankrupt company. Such are the ghosts of Christmas's past coming back to haunt us in these difficult days.
While we can't solve the world's economic problems there are some things we can do during this Advent season. Let's begin with this question: Are there some changes you need to make in your life? Be honest with yourself. Is there some resentment you need to let go of? A relationship you need to examine? John calls for us to look within, to search ourselves and to deal with problem areas in our lives before they get out of hand.
One thing we know about John the Baptist is that he was not trapped in the desire for approval. When you wear animal skins, eat locusts, and live alone in the desert you are not a slave to public opinon. I wonder if we have the same freedom as John the Baptist? Do you think Jesus Christ was controlled by what people thought of him or said about him? Of course not. People who are awake do not need the drug called approval.
Think about politicians. Often politicans don't see people at all. They see votes, and if you're not a help or a threat to their getting votes, they won't even notice you.
Some business people see only money. They don't see people, only business deals.
Do you want to be liberated from the need for the drug called approval? Try a little of John the Baptist's formula. Die to the need for people's approval. Savor your mind. Appreciate your work. Enjoy nature. Send the crowds away and you will be completely alone. Then love will be born in solitutde. Anthony De Mello says, "You reach the country of love by passing through the country of death." (Walking on Water, 119) Your heart will take you to a vast desert such as the one John the Baptist lived in. At first you will feel lonely. You aren't used to enjoying persons without depending on them.
At the end of the process you will be able to see people as they truly are. Then you will see that the desert is suddenly transformed into love. And music will fill your heart. You will hear a song such as "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" and you will know that you are at home in your body on this earth. Only for a short time, perhaps, but you are home none the less. Then you will be ready to celebrate Christmas.
Advent is not simply a time of preparing for Christmas. At its best it is a time of preparing for Christ. It is not Christ's birthday that matters most, really, but our birthday the day we are born into the kingdom of God as we open ourselves to the coming of the indwelling Christ. Has that happened in your life? Have you consciously prayed, "Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, be born in me today?"
John's purpose was to prepare people's hearts for the coming of the Messiah. He did it in the only way he knew how. "Repent," he cried, "for the kingdom of heaven is near." It is near for those who are willing to look within and examine their lives, for those willing to reach out with Christ's love to others, and to those who will open their hearts to the indwelling Christ. We can be truly prepared for Christmas if we put those things on our "to do" list and get them done.
May we get wet this Christmas season with the purifying baptismal waters. May our sins and our shame be washed away in the river of God's forgetfulness. May we stumble through the Jordan River intoxicated with the liberation of not needing the approval of others. May we fall at the foot of the cradle under that natal star and recognize that we are part of a procession of people that stretches back further than we knew and connects us to the dawn of humanity. Seeking and finding God. That is the task at hand. Jesus said, "Seek and ye shall find. Knock and the door shall be opened unto you." You know which door I'm talking about. It's right there in the center of your chest. It's the door to the inner chamber of your heart. That is where the rivers of God's purifying love will flow.
I love the Beatles song, "Someone's knockin' on the door. Someone's ringin' a bell. Someone's knockin' on the door. Someone's ringin' a bell. Do me a favor. Open the door. And let 'em in."
Open the door. And let 'em in.
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The Rev. Dr. Jon Burnham preached this sermon at St. John's Presbyterian Church on December 5, 2010 (Advent 2A).
