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Week:02, Season:1,
2012
Posted on Saturday by PCT
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After Baptism
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Scripture：《
Mark 1:4-9
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Mark 1:4-9
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
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Why be baptised？
I remember at one of the memorial service held in Kaohsiung arena, a joint baptism had been arranged.. Somehow I found that there was one thing which happened at the event which was quite disturbing. It was when the ceremony secretary announced the start of the baptism that the camera turned to the minister and one of the people to be baptised. As soon as the camera turned to them, the actions of both of them became unnatural like performing in front of the camera. This image has made me reflect on the difference between this baptism and John’s baptism.
Starting from 2010, the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan has promoted the event “One-leads-One, Doubling Movement” and is expected to achieve its evangelical goal in five years. One of the objectives of this movement is to expect that each church under a presbytery can achieve a certain number of baptised people as a gift to God and also celebrate evangelism in Taiwan during the past 150 years. Let us reflect on the attitude which ministers and church workers should have and on the efforts that the baptised person should make. Above all, we shall bear in mind that church should never baptise people just for satisfying the numbers game.
John the Baptist was a man who was very different from the religious leaders of the time, including the clothes he wore, the food he ate, and the message he preached. The Jewish leaders preached in the holy city Jerusalem whereas John the Baptist chose to preach in the wilderness or desert. While all of the leaders were competing for higher religious position and wearing well-designed clothes to attract people, it was only John’s simple life style and clear message which guided people closer to God. John the Baptist gave people clear instructions on how to confess their sins and receive forgiveness. He taught people that after being baptised, it was more important is to live life as a real Christian. John wanted all those who he baptised to know that there is a greater one coming after Him, “the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie” and this holy one will baptise people with the Holy Spirit.
Why did John the Baptised not preach in Jerusalem but the wilderness？ It is suggested that the preaching taught in Jerusalem was to protect the privilege of the priests, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law at that time. Thus John chose to call people to turn to God in the wilderness and especially to preach to those who are forgotten and ignored by the society, who had no chance to enrich themselves by education. It was through John that these people had the opportunity to receive the message of “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near (Matthew 3:2).”
Baptised with water
The baptism way of John the Baptist was familiar to Jewish people as this was an essential and common service to them. By this means, why should some people be excluded and not allowed to enter the holy city and receive the baptism given by a certified priest？ It is for this reason that God sent John the Baptist as the pioneer to preach the message of “repent and believe in the Gospel; receive baptism and forgiveness from God.” It is clearly claimed that the purpose of baptism is to receive forgiveness and salvation from God. For it can also be suggested that the reason why so many people came to receive the baptism given by John implied that the baptism in the holy temple was dominated by a small number of people. Jesus was one of the crowds who received John’s baptism. The scripture recorded that after Jesus was baptised, the heavens opened and a voice and a wonder appeared. The voice is the invitation from God to those who are willing to become His children. The voice shows that God unconditionally accepts the purity of a person after baptism.
In the description in the gospel, wilderness is a key place. We often read about wilderness in the Bible, for example, Moses spent his second 40 years and the last 40 years in the wilderness with sheep and the people of Israel; Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness after he was baptised. The wilderness is a place for people to reflect, to be calm and to purify their minds. What has been fulfilled by God was related to the wilderness so is the wilderness a place for preparing ourselves ready for something？ This preparation takes personal desire on the need to improve and practice faith and the courage to face oneself. This preparation takes time for us to accept our imperfections and limitations. To do this we need the help and inspiration of God and indeed we long for clear guidance for our life. This preparation is greatly different from those tools used by the modern generation to express themselves, such as face book or blog. It is because the only way to know someone truly is to go back to the common sense: to live with someone and to work with someone to get to know this person.
The baptism given by John the Baptist is a baptism leading people to God. John confessed, he is only preparing the road for Jesus. He also preached to people that receiving baptism is not the end but the start of returning to God. John pointed out that the one coming after him was the greater one and that he himself was not worthy to serve such a powerful one. Although John considered that he did not deserve to be a servant to God, he still followed what Jesus requested and Jesus received John’s baptism with other people. At that moment, people all saw the heavens open and the Holy Spirit descend like a dove upon Jesus. They heard a voice from heaven saying, “This is my beloved son.” This image witnesses to the sanctity and holiness of Jesus. This image shows that people should be baptised with the attitude of respect and obedience to God.
Baptised with the Holy Spirit
The debate about who should be baptised by whom has disagreement amongst theologians. The liturgy and the process of baptising people also shows different points of view held by each Christian denomination in Taiwan. Somehow we fail to understand and discuss deeply whether the baptised person receives it with an earnest, respectful and obedient attitude. Perhaps, we have all lost the focus on the true meaning of baptism by over-emphasising it as an essential requirement of becoming a Christian. It is only when we understand how Jesus has been baptised that we can understand the invitation of “baptised with the Holy Spirit” by John.
The commandments about baptism in the New Testament are all based on the premise of repent and believe in God. This can be seen from John the Baptist to Peter for what they have told all reflects, “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) Jesus also mentioned this teaching about baptism, saying, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to …””(Matthew 28:19-20) Therefore, the meaning of baptism is that people repent sincerely and give their life to Jesus. The baptised belong to God’s kingdom. This is like the purifying process t from not believing to fully believing in God; from disobedient to entirely obedient, all this takes time to achieve. Our faith is feasible, as the words from God are not only the sustenance for our mind but can be put into practice in every moment in our lives.
The faith of Presbyterian Church is to confess our recognition of the place we live and connect with. Therefore, each church is working hard with God according to its own position. Each baptised brother and sister should face the difficulties they face at the moment as we all receive salvation from Jesus. Let us remember that every Holy Communion is an invitation from Jesus for us to practice love and justice for Him. Receiving the Holy Communion is not that we gain an amulet to keep us from bad luck but to confess once again that we are willing to contribute our body and mind for building the kingdom of God.
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For discussion：
1. What effort should each church make for in the “One-leads-One, Doubling Movement” led by Presbyterian Church in Taiwan？
2. What is your personal opinion of baptism？ What do you think you should do after baptism？
Please pray for：
1. Pray for those who live in Taiwan but do not recognise this country. Pray that our faith can become a localised faith which lives out the fragrant breath of life for people.
2. Pray for a ministry that leads people to understand the true meaning of baptism
Prayer：
Something you can do：
1. Pray for “One-leads-One, Doubling Movement” and encourage your Christian fellowship (retired people’s group, women’s group, men’s group, youth group, etc.) to join the missionary work. You can find out from the PCT evangelical missionary committee or call to the developing churches in the rural areas to enquire which ministry work can be helped by your local church, such as donation, offering time and prayer.
2. Please find a person you would like to spend one year with to support his/her doubt in faith or problems in life. Pray that this person can receive God and be baptised in the future.
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