We continue through these days
of the coronavirus lock down with all the restrictions on the freedoms we
normally take for granted. This means of course we are unable to assemble for
public worship. But I've noticed how some ministers have really taken to the
internet, keeping in touch with their congregations by posting video recordings
of their daily reflections. Others are now providing regular Sunday services
through a tool known as Zoom, which as most of us know, is basically a form of
video conferencing over the internet. For various reasons Zoom is not an option
for all congregations, but I think that a prepared video may be a good
alternative. It's what I've decided to do.
The only thing is, one has to
talk into a camera, so to speak. When I'm doing this, I'm reminded of those
days before mobile phones, when telephone answering machines came into popular
use. And I remember that a lot of people when met with a recorded invitation to
leave a voice message would simply put the phone down and perhaps call again
later. I think we can understand this because as people would say at the time,
there seemed to be something awkward about talking down a phone to someone who
isn't there. Ideally, one would like to leave a short breezy message but there
is also the danger that it might degenerate and record as a pointless ramble,
or even worse!
Alas! I soon discovered that
before the camera, I was prone to the 'telephone answering machine syndrome'
myself and came to realise that I have very little talent for such relaxed
spontaneity. After some experimenting, it became obvious to me that I would
have to rely on a script. Perhaps the best thing I can say about those scripts
is, at least I've written them myself which I admit is not much of a
recommendation!
Now, to help me get over the
'telephone answering machine syndrome' I thought I would ask my wife Sue, if
she would read my Lenten reflection of 31st March 2020, in which I stated that Lent begins with
John the Baptist. I asked her to offer me some questions that I thought I could
work on. In the event, she kindly provided a number of very interesting
questions. But I have found that the
first question she asked has been enough to keep me busy.
Her question is as follows:
Why does Lent start with
John the Baptist? I thought that Lent was the period of forty days and forty
nights when Jesus was in the wilderness.
I can only say, well you've
got me there Sue, you are right, except in my mind at least, I do find it
helpful to see the trials of Jesus in the wilderness set in the context of his
baptism by John at the River Jordan. In this story, John appears on the scene
with all the fire and the passion of the prophets of old as announced in the pages
of the gospel:
'In the prophet of Isaiah,
it stands written: 'Here is my herald whom I sent on ahead of you, and he will
prepare your way. A voice crying aloud in the wilderness, “Prepare a way for
the Lord; clear a straight path for him”.
(Mark 1:2-3)
This dramatic opening promises
a great deal. As the story moves on, we discover that we are not going to be
disappointed not just in terms of literary drama but because in its unfolding
message, we may be thrilled to realise that the life of Jesus is a paradigm for
the religious life; it's a personal message pointing towards one's own
spiritual potential and destiny. Jesus said:
I have set you an example
that you should do as I have done for you (John13:15)
John baptised others at the
River Jordan for the forgiveness of sin. Of Jesus, he said to others, 'I have
baptised you with water; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit. Now, when
Jesus asked John to baptise him, we know that John did not feel it was
necessary. In any case, John didn't feel that it was his place to Baptise Jesus
and he had already declared that he felt that he wasn't worthy enough even to
untie his sandals. But we have these words of Jesus who replied, 'Let it be
done to fulfil all righteousness.' The righteousness Jesus speaks about it is
this: There were many, at that time, at the River Jordan receiving baptism for
the forgiveness of sin but Jesus took his place in the queue with everyone else
seeking no preferment thereby fulfilling all righteousness We may remember that
Jesus' said:
For whoever exalts himself
will be humbled; and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
(Matthew 23:12)
And so, Jesus was baptised in
the waters of the River Jordan. and as he came up out of the water, we are told
that the Spirit of God descended upon on him as a dove and a voice from heaven
was heard to say, 'This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.' In this
transcendent moment the blessing of God rested upon him as he received the Holy
Spirit.
For a young man, it is
reasoned that there should come important and significant moment perhaps at the
time of graduation or marriage in which he should be acknowledged as a man in
his own right and thus receive the approval or blessing of his father; 'This is
my beloved son in whom I am well pleased'. In the old fairy tales, we see this
happening as a young man sets out into the world to make his fortune. Thus, the
story begins with a blessing and departure. Who knows what adventures, dangers
and opportunities any young person may encounter in their journey of life
whether they be man or woman? Inevitably, there will be testing times, times of
trial, difficulties which must be faced, but the good wishes and the approval
of a father, important as they are, are not enough. In the end one must stand
on one's own two feet to deal with the challenges of life with faith, with
courage and personal strength.
At the River Jordan, Jesus
received his baptism and his blessing from God the Father, the Spirit of God
descending upon him as a dove. In a different story a son received his blessing
- an inheritance from his father - only to squander it in a far-off country and
then, found himself in want. St Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians
(10) warned the early Church that the blessings of baptism could also be
squandered. He pointed to those who were baptised into the fellowship of Moses
and yet failed he said the desert was strewn with their corpses.
Immediately following his
extraordinary baptism, Jesus was led or driven into the wilderness by the
Spirit of God where he remained for forty days to face the hunger, the hardship
and the temptations of the world, the temptations of Satan. The days of Lent
therefore represent the days of Jesus' trial in the wilderness but for me, his
baptism at the River Jordan is an integral part of that story.
In this letter to the
Corinthians Paul wrote:
If
you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what
others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be
more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so
that you can endure.
1 Corinthians 12-13
In closing I would say that in
our own wilderness days in the days of trial that our faith will surely help us
to endure. At his weakest point in the austerity and harshness of the desert
Jesus kept faith with God. We can imagine that he would have gathered strength and
would have been sustained by his memory of that transcendent moment at his
baptism.
