January 12, 2014
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Baptism of the Lord Sunday
Sermon Series on
“The Names of God”
Sermon 2 of
series-
“The Sacred
Names of God: Yeshua/Mashiach”
Matthew 1:18-21
Psalm 2
Mark 1:14-20
Matthew 3:13-17
(All Scripture is from The Names of God Bible)
“Hello My Name is . . . Yeshua/Mashiach”
(Start
pouring the water) Water. . . it has so many implications and meanings. It can
be life giving and life taking. Water has so much power. When it is held back,
we can enjoy a leisurely trip down the river. When it is held back, we can have
water to drink from our faucets at home. When it is held back, we can enjoy
fishing at our favorite fishing hole. But when it is let loose. . . then. . . then
we can see its awesome power. When it is let loose we see the devastation of a
flood in all its might. When it is let loose we see how a rain storm can ravage
a village. How can something that is so life giving be so devastating? It is
definitely a force to be reckoned with. . .
There
are many stories in the bible about water, some good and some not so good. Out
of the water God created the dry land in the Book of Genesis. Through water,
the Israelites were saved from the Egyptian’s in the Exodus story. Out of a
rock Moses was able to find life giving water for a thirsty nation. Through the
waters of the Jordon River the Israelites entered into the new land. But. . . but.
. . out of water there came a flood that wiped away almost all of humanity in
Noah’s day. Out of water the Israelites enemies, the Egyptians, were drowned in
the Red Sea. There are many more stories about water in the bible. It has an
important place in God’s grand design. Water is a holy and powerful thing.
Water. . . at times we can’t live with it but more often we can’t live without
it.
Let
us pray:
Almighty God, the life
you birthed in us by baptism into Jesus Christ will never die. Your justice
never fails. Your mercy is everlasting. Your healing river flows. Your Spirit
blows where you will. We cannot stop you, God! But sometimes we try. We try to
block the flow, we redirect the winds of the Spirit, or we walk so far away
from the life-giving Stream that we do not hear its sound, and we forget its
power. We parch ourselves. We are dry and thirsty, O God. Come, refresh us!
Come upon us, Holy Spirit! Come upon these waters. Let these waters be to us
drops of your mercy. Let these waters remind us of your righteousness and
justice. Let these waters renew in us the resurrection power of Jesus. Let
these waters make us long for your coming reign. Most Holy God, Father! Full of
Truth and Grace! Glory to you! Jesus Christ, Savior, Lord! Glory to you! Spirit
of fire, Spirit over the waters, Spirit of holiness! Glory to you! Eternal God,
One in Three and Three in One! All glory is yours, now and forever. Amen!
Today
is Baptism of the Lord Sunday in the Christian calendar. It is a day when we
remember that baptism that changed all other baptisms to come. It is a day that
through water a new era emerged. Through water we are saved. Through water we
are adopted. Through water we are claimed. And through water we are freed. But
what was so special about that baptism?
The
Scripture from Matthew this morning shows us why it was so different.
John
knew who Jesus was and that He would bring about a new baptism. It would not be
a baptism that just cleanses you with water from your sins but a baptism above
all baptisms. This baptism would be one that has never been seen before. . . A
baptism of the Spirit and fire. . . A baptism that God comes and lives within
the baptized person through the Spirit. . . a baptism that would change all
other baptisms. But as I read the passage, the most exciting piece for me is
the part when the voice says “You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love,
pride of my life.” Yeshua changed everything. . . you see. . . as we are
baptized. . . we who follow Yeshua. . . the Christ. . . even to this day . . . God
still proclaims “You are my son. . . you
are my daughter, you are chosen and marked. . . I have claimed you and you are
mine. . . the pride of my life. . . through this water I have marked you with
the seal of my Spirit.”
Who
was this man called Jesus. . . this Yeshua who would become Christ the Messiah.
. . Mashiach ((ms-SHEE-ach)? When we look at the name Yeshua it is not special.
As a matter of fact it was a very common name. . . Barabbas’s first name was
Yeshua. . . They chose this Jesus to set
free and Jesus of Nazareth to be put to death. This Yeshua. . . Jesus. . . came
to save humanity from sin and death not in the way Barabbas did by insurrection
but by showing humanity how to live a new life of gentleness and peace. This
Yeshua was different. . . when Jesus was baptized by John. . . He changed all
baptisms to come after Him. Think about a life without this Jesus. . . without
a savior. Can you imagine a world without a savior. . . how dark it would be
without Yeshua. . . without His light shining in a world of darkness and sin. .
. We are baptized in the name of Yeshua and we are saved. . . our sins are
forgiven through the waters and by His blood. But there is even better news. .
. everyone is invited to the “pool party”. . . Yeshua is Jesus the Savior.
Yeshua
is Mashiach (ma-SHEE-ach) the Messiah. . . the Christ. Jesus was known as Jesus
the Christ. . . the Messiah now we just call his name Jesus Christ. . . as if
it were His last name. . . but the two names work together because it is
through Jesus we have a Messiah. . . a champion. . . that has set us free from
all that may harm us. . . from the chaos in which we live.
Mashiach
(ma-SHEE-ach) ®Christ, Messiah.
. . Anointed One set apart for a special mission. . . There were others that the people thought was
their messiah. . . others they considered to be messiah’s. . . they were one’s
who set the people free. . . King David was one of them. But Yeshua was a
different type of Messiah. He did not take Rome by storm, He showed a more
excellent way to live life. . . He was as gentle as a lamb. . . He was the Lamb of God who would be the
Messiah to free all of humanity.
The
name Christ. . . that was given to Yeshua in Greek meant Messiah or Anointed
One. Yeshua was the Anointed One from God and was blessed by God with
authority, strength, and honor. But He was not anointed by oil as did others
who were set apart. . . Yeshua was anointed by the Holy Spirit at His baptism. And so are we He was called to heal the
rift. . . to bridge the gap. . . between God and humanity. Jesus stayed away
from the name messiah. . . the name Mashiach. . . until just before His death.
He didn’t want to take on the political role that He would have had to take
because of the name messiah. But this Mashiach solved a bigger problem than
Rome. . . this Messiah was to solve the problem of sin in the world. . . to set
free the captives of sin and death. In a hurting world in need of a Messiah,
there is hope in Yeshua the Mashiach. . . the Christ. . . the Messiah. . . the
Anointed One. . .
(Go out into the
congregation)
Today
is the Baptism of the Lord Sunday, the day when we remember not only Yeshua’s
life changing baptism but ours as well. Through water we are saved. Through
water we are redeemed. Through water we are given a new life. So when the
waters of life seem as if they are about to overtake you. . . remember your baptism. . . when you walk through the waters they will
not over take you. When you feel as if you have no one who really cares in
your life. . . remember your baptism. . .
I have claimed you and you are mine. When you feel like an outcast in this
journey of life. . . remember your
baptism. . . Through the waters of
baptism we are included in the family of God. Even when your life has taken
on the chaos of the world with no end in sight. . . remember your baptism. . . be still and know I am God. When others
treat you as an outcast and worthless. . . remember
your baptism you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You have been sealed
with love. . . you have been sealed with power. . . you have been sealed with
grace. . . you have been sealed by the Spirit. Remember your baptism. . .
Amen!
January
12, 2014
Baptism
of the Lord Sunday
(and
a time to celebrate and remember our own baptisms
Sermon Series on “The Sacred
Names of God”
Sermon 2 of “What’s In A Name. . . ”
Names
of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-
Yeshua
--> Jesus
-
Mashiach --> Christ,
Messiah
Matthew
1:18-21
Psalm
2
Mark
1:14-20
Matthew
3:13-17
(All Scripture is from The Names of God Bible)
Reception
of new members
Prayer
of Thanksgiving
children’s
sermon
-
There is only One who can save us, Jesus, the one Savior
and sermon “Hello My Name is . . . Yeshua/Mashiach”
(in the bulletin as “Hello My Name Is. . . Jesus, Christ,
Messiah“)
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
January 12, 2014
&
Epiphany Sunday
Epiphany of the Lord Sunday
Sermon Series on “The Names of God”
Sermon 1 of “What’s In A Name. . . ”
Names
of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-
Ha-Shem ->
the Name
-
Ehyeh -> I Am
Exodus 3:13-14
Leviticus 24:10-16
(All Scripture is from The Names of God Bible)
offering
– worship your holy name
Prayer
of Thanksgiving
children’s
sermon
-
different names, different meaning – one person
-
many names for God, all one God
communion
–
-
“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”
-
“Lord, You Are More Precious Than Silver”
and sermon “Our Many Faceted God”
(saved as “Hello My Name Is. . . “)
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
January 5, 2014
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted
by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009,
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at
Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)
for usage. See all 41,720+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
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