This Year’s Tsunami
A Sermon by Brent J. Eelman
Abington Presbyterian Church
January 8, 2006

Mark 4: 1-11
    ⁴John the baptizer appeared^* in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. ⁸I have baptized you with^* water; but he will baptize you with^* the Holy Spirit.’
    9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. ¹¹And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved;^* with you I am well pleased.’* 

Today we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus. One year ago, I stood before you, with the news of the Tsunami that raged in the Indian Ocean. Hundred’s of thousands were thought dead. The devastation was terrible… entire towns literally wiped from the face of the earth. We responded to that event by giving generously. People across the country opened up their hearts and wallets to share in the disaster response and the rebuilding effort.

Eight months later, our own Gulf Coast was hit by a hurricane and the devastation was also terrible. Though the loss of life did not compare to that of the Tsunami, it was large, and the entire city of New Orleans, a center for American music and culture, was under water and evacuated.

What we witnessed in both those events was the frightening power of water. Today we want to live near water. We vacation near water. We play on the water with boats and skis, and fishing, but we are usually careful around water. We are aware of its power. The power of water has been part of the history of humanity, from floods and disasters, to the Roman aqueducts and electrical turbines.

Baptism should be understood in terms of that power. It is not merely the careful sprinkling of water on a child or adult. It is a moment that we recognize the power of Holy Spirit in human life. We recognize the claim of that spirit upon our lives. We recognize that baptism is a symbol of change.. as powerful and as awesome as a tsunami or hurricane.

When Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened, and God’s claim upon him was announced. “This is my son.” Baptism was the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Matthew, Mark and Luke began Jesus’ ministry with this event. Jesus’ vocation, his calling was announced in baptism. Our baptisms also are about vocation: the vocation or calling to discipleship. Baptism claims us as God’s own, but it also commissions us to serve. Here’s the point. It is not merely some cute little ritual that we do to kids. It is an affirmation of the power of water… to change lives… our lives.

This year’s tsunami can be as powerful and as awesome as the one that ravaged this earth a year ago. This year’s tsunami is about the power of the waters of baptism and that power is manifest in our discipleship. Today, in a few moments, during the hymn, we are invited to renew our vows of baptism by placing our hands in the baptismal bowl and take a droplet. The droplet reminds us of our baptism. It reminds us of God’s claim upon our lives. I challenge you, each and all, to respond to that claim with the power and ferocity of water. And may our baptism change not only us… but this world which God created. Amen.

*The New Revised Standard Version Bible, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 1989.

Abington Presbyterian Church, Abington, Pennsylvania,  www.apcusa.org