January 10, 2013
The Baptism of Our Lord
First Sunday after Epiphany

In the Name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

We begin our worship service with the words of the Triune Invocation, “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” Why do we do that? If you go to a Japanese Shinto shrine, there is a bell at the entrance. Worshipers ring the bell before they pray and give their offering. It was told to me that they ring the bell in order to wake up the god that lives in that shrine. But we Christians do not have to do that. The Psalm says, “He neither sleeps nor slumbers.” [Psalm 121:4 “Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”] It is not like we have to dial God’s telephone number or type in his email address before we worship. We do not have to say the Triune Name in order that the correct god will listen to our worship, as if there were other gods.

Rather than to wake up God, these words wake us up! The worship leader says these words to remind the worshipers whom we are worshiping. We are worshiping the Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier who has created, redeemed and made us holy. This will be the theme of the next hour of worship. This is the power and the authority of our worship. In these words, we know we are in the presence of the Almighty God who is with us. This hour is sacred time, it is holy.

When we respond and say “amen” to these words, it is a confession of our faith.

These are the words that were spoken at our Baptism. The pastor makes the sign of the holy cross upon the brow and upon the heart in token of our redemption. Then in the Baptism itself says, “I baptize you in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” And so these words at the beginning of the service should remind us of our Baptism, and each time when we say “amen” we are renewing our Baptism vow. “Amen. I am a child of God.” We are only baptized once, but the power of Baptism is eternal, it is always present in our lives. And it is useful. I am going to paraphrase Martin Luther. Our Christian life is like traveling on a ship. There is smooth sailing and there is rough water. Sometimes in the storms of life, we fall overboard. We get wet. And when we are wet, we remember our Baptism and swim back to the boat and the Lord reaches out His Hand to take us back in, just like he took Peter back in the boat. Baptism is the promise that God will reach out again to us and bring us back into his love and salvation. Baptism is more than only a sign of my confession of faith. It is more than a promise that I will live my life faithful to God. Baptism is the promise of God. It is the promise of Salvation. Mark 16:16, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” This is the assurance of Salvation.

Sometimes people cross themselves at the words of the Triune Name. It is a confession of faith and a reminder of the cross that was drawn over our hearts at Baptism. It is not a magic sign to ward off evil. Although, it can be a prayer asking for the protection of God in the face of danger and evil, a prayer without words perhaps.

At the beginning of their sermons, many, maybe most Lutheran Preachers speak this blessing of St. Paul, I Timothy 1:2: “Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.” I am not sure where I picked up the habit, but at the beginning of every sermon I say these words: “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” Sometimes I almost feel uncomfortable saying those words because they put a big burden of responsibility on me. Let me explain.

To do something “in the name of someone else,” means that we are doing something as if we were that other person, and that we have the authority to speak or act for that person. Our actions are the same as if that other person did it themselves. Sometimes that is called “power of attorney.” A policeman arrests someone “in the name of the law.” An ambassador speaks “in the name of the president” as if the president is actually standing there speaking himself.

So, to begin my sermons “in the Name of the Triune God” puts a huge responsibility upon me to speak as if God Himself were speaking these words. As if it were the Holy Spirit preaching. I pray that I am faithful in doing that. And I pray that through my words that you will hear the Word of God; the Word that speaks to your heart. Those words can be harsh or comforting; words of warning or of peace; words that upset us or words that excite us; words of sorrow or of joy.

So, what does God want to say to us? He wants to tell us all that He has done for us “in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” That means creation, redemption, and sanctification. That is the whole of God’s Law and Gospel. The focus of God’s Message, the center of God’s Message is the Cross of Jesus Christ. And so if I preach the Cross, then I have confidence when I stand in the pulpit.

On this day in the Church Year we read the Gospel story of the Baptism of Jesus. And so today is a good time to remember ourown Baptisms. We were baptized “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” And that means that we live our whole lives “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” That gives us authority to live as children of God. That gives us authority to speak the Word of God, first in prayer and also in advice and confrontation and encouragement. God promises in our Baptism that we are His child. And that means he will give us all the blessings of God, “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” And here we find love, peace, forgiveness, reconciliation, hope.

Baptism life means that we are wet. We are constantly falling overboard. But the life of faith makes us good swimmers. Jesus is our Lifeguard. We may even help rescue someone who is drowning and bring them to the Lord in the saving water of Baptism.

Amen.

“Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church

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