Order out of Chaos

Mark 1:4-11

Me collecting water for Holy Baptism from the Pere Marquette River

Have you experienced the presence of God this week? Its a powerful thing to experience. To know; to have a personal experience of the divine is a gift from God. Its a gift that cannot be earned. It just happens. I suspect that it happens more often than we realize. I think that we aren't paying enough attention to the happenings in the world right round us. Because God is in it all. God is blessing us constantly with His presence. If you have faith in God, if you trust in God, then your eyes are the aperture through which God see the world. Your loving hand is the hand that God used to comfort your neighbor. The food you brought in from your pantry to feed the hungry is the manna from heaven. And the ground on which you walk is holy because God is present inside you.

12 years ago I opened myself to be used by God and God let me know that he would indeed use me. So I became a pastor.

A simple “yes” to God can change things. It's not about understanding, its about trusting. We as creatures of the earth are filled with fear. Fear of losing what we have, whether its losing our security, losing those that we love or losing our lives. But Jesus said, “Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.” Jesus wasn't talking about being careless with life. He was talking about not having undue attachment to temporary things. When you say, “yes” to God, God will bless even this temporary life and guide you into eternal life.

In Baptism we say, “yes” to God. Our scripture lesson today is about Jesus' baptism. We don't know much about Jesus' years growing up and young adulthood. There are about 18 years of his life that the scriptures are silent abut from about age 12 to age 30. This story is the end of that silent period. Jesus went to his cousin John who lived the life of an ascetic. John purpose was to prepare the people for the Holy One of God. And Jesus was that “One.” Jesus, for whatever reason, chose this moment to say “yes” to the mission that he came to accomplish. And when the baptism was complete there was confirmation by the Heavenly Father. The voice that said “You are my beloved son, with you I am well pleased.”

Don't you know that we are all Gods sons and daughters? Jesus was the first. He lived, died and was resurrected at a particular place in a particular time. I've seen pictures, perhaps some of you have gone personally to the place that is believed to be the place where Jesus was baptized. There are hand rails. And walking paths. It used to be in the wilderness but now it it has been tamed. It was out where there was chaos, but now there is order. People make pilgrimages to go to that spot. Tourists, I imagine regularly make visits to that spot because it is indeed a special spot. It is a spot where we can say God did something. God intervened. God got involved. Because of all this we call that spot and others like it Holy sites. And since that is the place where Jesus lived that land is called the Holy Land. But let me tell you something,

This very place is the Holy Land. This very hill at the corner of Kinney and Morton is the Holy Mountain. The Holy River that sustains this land is the Pere Marquette River. This is the Temple of God. God is eternal. Time and space cease to matter when the grace of God comes down and touches us. God who is eternal is in this place and this is the only place in the world for this moment. In the presence of the eternal god we are not merely in a brick building at the corner of Morton and Kinney but we are present in the heavenly court of God.

Not reasonable?

God is not limited by space and time. For a while God took on human flesh in the form of Jesus Christ. He came to offer salvation, to show us “The Way.” God's grace and glory fills the earth. The Glory of God is in this place.

Name and claim the place we are in for God.

God lives in us and has called us to go into the world. God has claimed us as his own.

God is in the place where we experience Him. This water (Jar in my hand) was taken from the water of our “Holy River” the Pere Marquette. We find God where we are. We worship God where we are. Jesus presence on earth was first revealed in a far off land, however through the Holy spirit living in us Jesus presence sets apart any place where his Name is proclaimed.

We join with Jesus so that we can be claimed by the father. We need not be ashamed about who we are and what we do here. Not only do we need not be ashamed but we need to proclaim it. Not only do we need to proclaim it, we need to proclaim it with boldness. And not only a bold proclamation that we belong to God; Not only a bold proclamation that we love and worship God; Not only a bold proclamation that we are ever seeking a deeper relationship and understanding of God but take owner ship of that membership in the family of God. With all your thoughts words and deeds as much as humanly possible say, “this is a life dedicated to God.” We say,
“My house, will be a house dedicated to God.” This Church is not only our gathering place but it is for us The Holy Temple of God. This land is indeed the Holy Land.

In Baptism we say, “Yes” to God. In baptism we experience a second birth a spiritual birth.

Chaos is the unordered world around us God is the order. God provides the purpose and direction. With out God there is only chaos.

The Water of baptism both the represents the chaos and the grace or the love of God. We willingly step into the waters of baptism so that we an trust the order the love and the grace of God through Jesus Christ.

“When nothing existed but chaos, God swept across the dark waters and brought forth light. In the days of Noah God saved those on the ark through water. After the flood God set in the clouds a rainbow.”

Jesus, like each one of us, were nurtured in the waters of the womb of our mothers. God gave us form. Put in us gifts, skills, talents that He intended for us to use to make this world a better place.

God brings us through the waters of chaos into a better place.