It is the message of the cross that we proclaim – of the cross and the resurrection; yet for many of us proclaiming the message is difficult.

We know what the message is – but we find it difficult to express it to others- to get others to really feel and sense the importance of it, sometimes, even to get others to listen to us.

It is about this last – about getting others to listen to us, I want to speak of today and I want to do so by looking at one of the great riddles of Jesus’ life – the riddle of his baptism.

Theologians, scholars, and just plain folk like you and me are puzzled as to why Jesus was baptized.

Jesus himself tells us he was baptized to “fulfil all righteousness”, but that term is never explained by him, and there is nothing else in the passage to help us understand why Jesus, who was sinless, received, at John’s hands, a baptism for the repentance of sins.

What theologians and Bible scholars are all agreed on however, is the fact the baptism of Jesus by John at the Jordan marked the beginning of his ministry – it was his debut as it were – his coming out ceremony -and that at the end of it he received the approval of God, who speaks from heaven, and says: “this is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

There is no question that the baptism of Jesus was a significant event, a turning point in his life and through him – a turning point in our own lives.

So what does the baptism of Jesus show us? How does understanding it lead us to being more able to communicate the Gospel to others – to be able to get others to listen to us?

The answer is contained in the reason that Jesus gave for his baptism when John says to him – in verse 14 of today’s reading:

“I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” and Jesus responds, “let it be so, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.”

Righteousness is an interesting word.

It is found 232 times in the bible – and in close to half of these occurrences it refers to the righteousness of God – to his love and his justice, to his saving activities and purposes.

In other words, contrary to the popular understanding, the word “righteousness” does not primarily refer to someone who is living a good life, rather it refers to a state in which the way of redemption is actively offered or illustrated by someone.

To be righteous is not just to be good – it is to be in the right kind of relationship with God and with others – to be a relationship which brings salvation, which brings wholeness, which brings the good news of God’s love, to others.

Righteousness is something active – not simply a description of one’s moral state.

There are three points I would like make to today.   (Yep – I do occasionally give an oldfashioned three point sermon.)

First – the baptism of Jesus shows us Jesus truly did not count equality with God a thing to beg rasped – to be held on to. His baptism, there in the muddy old Jordan – shows that he identifies with us and with our sins – and not only with God and God’s perfection.

Jesus did not need to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins – all agree about this – but he chose this path – he chose to be seen with us – as one of us – because in this way – so Jesus says – righteousness is fulfilled.

Pause for a moment and think about this with me.

Each one of us here has had pronounced upon us the forgiveness and acceptance of God, we need not have anything more to do with thinking about ourselves as sinners.

In fact, according to the bible, we can think of ourselves as chosen by

God, as being selected by him for glory. Yet, think some more with me -in our communication with others – with those who have not yet really listened to the word of God’s love – would this be helpful?

Second – Jesus shows us in his baptism that it is important to go beyond ourselves when seeking to do the work of God – he shows us we should turn to God and seek God’s help when we are trying to point the way to God to others.

Jesus seeks John out at the Jordan river – it is no accident that he is there.

Jesus deliberately goes to a place where God’s power and love were being proclaimed and he asks for that power and that love to be poured out upon him in a special act – an act performed by a special man – a man who was filled with God’s spirit.

It is then, and only then, after this has been done, that Jesus goes on to help others.

We often forget this in our attempt to communicate to others the love of

God.

We want to tell the story of Jesus, we want to share the salvation of God, but we ignore, neglect, or just plain downgrade the resources of our faith.

We speak to others – but we do not prepare ourselves to speak:

– we do not pray for God’s help,

– we do not pause to ask ourselves what Jesus would have said or done in this circumstance,.

– we do not call upon God’s power to assist us in touching their hearts.

Further, when we speak with others we all too often do not offer them anything special;

– we do not show them anything different than that which they already have.

– we do not offer anything that they have not already been offered.

Too often we offer common sense, pop psychology, and the wisdom we receive from self-help books — instead of the way of God that is found in the bible and in our traditions.

My friends, the gospel we seek to communicate, the saving message we want to share, the righteousness we are called to fulfil with Jesus, is not something that is based on a “self help” model.

Salvation is something that ultimately comes from beyond us.

Righteousness is something that is given to us by God, given as gift through the very Jesus whose baptism we are looking at today.

When Jesus wanted to make a beginning, he turned to a spiritual resource.

When he wanted to fulfil all righteousness, he turned to a spiritual man speaking spiritual words. When he wanted to communicate a spiritual message he was first baptized in a spiritual river – the river Jordan through which Israel had passed to enter the Holy Land.

Jesus turned to these things, and he also pointed them out to others – which leads me to the last point.

Third – Jesus in his baptism reminds us that we need to set the example.

Jesus was, above all things, authentic in his communications.

When he spoke of being able to help us carry our burdens

– he had already experienced the same trials and tribulations as we do,

When he spoke of how trusting in God could help one overcome anxiety,

– he had already trusted in God for his daily bread, his physical safety,and his spiritual power.

People listened to Jesus

– not just because he understood and identified with him,

– and not just because he pointed out the way to God but also because he lived his own message.

He didn’t just tell others to turn to God

– he himself sought out God blessings: at the Jordan and in lonely places away from others

– and regularly in places of worship – the synagogues on the Sabbath each week and at the temple at Passover Time.

He didn’t just tell others to pray for people,

– he himself prayed for them.

– as he did for the disciples before going out to the Garden of Gethsemane.

He didn’t just tell others to forgive each other,

– he himself forgave them

– even from the cross when he was in the midst of his agony.

He didn’t just tell others how important it was to heal others

– he himself did healings.

He spat on the clay and anointed a beggars eyes.

He reached out and touched the lepers.

He laid his hands upon the sick and anointed them with his prayers.

Jesus did everything he asked others to do.

And he was respected for this,

And he was heard by many because of it.

My friends – not everyone will listen to us.

No matter how good we are, how righteous we are, there will be some who will take offense at us – as they did at Jesus. But the message of Jesus to us is that we ought to be trying as he did.

And when we do when we humble ourselves – like Jesus – and identify with others, when we tell others about the source of saving power and go to it and accept it for ourselves then God will be well pleased with us.

And his Spirit will indeed be seen to rest upon us as it did upon Jesus.