I personally don’t do new years resolutions. I can’t stand that feeling of failure so I just avoid the tradition all together. However, a few years ago a mentor of mine suggested to me and some others that instead of a resolution, we come up with a word that would be our encouragement for that year. We were to pray and ask God what our word should be and that year I came up with the word “Hope.” The year proved to be full of trials and so the “hope” that God gave me was something I clung to throughout the year.

As I was preparing for this sermon I remembered about asking God for a word, and after praying about it, the word that stood out to me this year was “fruit.” I know that the word fruit and the passage about Jesus’ baptism aren’t obviously related but if we look a little closer there is a definite connection.

 Hunter read to us so eloquently the story of the baptism of Jesus. I am sure most of us have heard or read the story before but there are three things that should be pointed out. First is the matter of why Jesus would need to be baptized. The text says it was to “fulfill all righteousness.” This was God’s way of pointing to Jesus and officially approving him as his son. This is finalized by the appearance of the dove, representative of the spirit of God dwelling with Jesus, and by God saying “this is my son…with him I am well pleased.”

Second, Jesus identifies himself with all humanity and sets an example by his baptism. He had no need to repent or be cleansed but he underwent baptism as an example for us. And third, perhaps the most important thing to note is that this baptism marked the beginning of Jesus’ ministry on earth. Immediately after this episode, Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. Then scripture tells us, he began to preach. He was baptized and approved by God so that his work on earth could begin.

 When attempting to identify the meaning of the practice of baptism, I am reminded of a verse from Galatians where Paul writes, “I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me.” (2:20). Although Paul was not speaking specifically of his baptism in this verse, he hits on exactly what baptism represents; our old selves being crucified with Christ and buried with him under the waters of baptism, and our new selves being raised out of the water to allow Christ to live though us.

John baptized in the Jordan River and some people choose lakes or ponds, but our congregation primarily uses the baptistery. If you are a more visual person, look at the baptistery behind me. You might notice that it is a rectangle and that it is deep; maybe even deep enough to be a grave? When people are “buried” in the baptistery, they are not covered with dirt like a normal grave that would mark death. Instead they are covered with water and after that are raised up again, symbolizing being buried and resurrected to eternal life just as Jesus was. It is likely no coincidence that Jesus refers to himself as the “living water.”

So then, baptism means our identification with our savior who died and was resurrected to prove he had power over death for those who would believe on him.

Now let’s look at the passage that immediately precedes the baptism of Jesus. It depicts John the Baptist dealing with the Pharisees and Sadducees. These were men more concerned with legalism, politics, and power than with salvation. As they approached John to be baptized he said to them,

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance…” The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

John knew that Jesus was coming to judge the world according to their deeds. He then instructs these men to repent and begin to produce good fruit. If they remained as trees producing no fruit for the kingdom of God, they would be cut down and thrown into the fire. John refused to baptize the Pharisees and Sadducees who had not already shown evidence of repentance.

I don’t know what your baptism experience was like. I was baptized when I was nine years old by my grandfather. I probably did it because I was afraid of going to hell. Some of us go through the routine of baptism because we have been raised in the church and we think it is the right thing to do. Some people get baptized because others who are close to them do it and they want to follow suit.

As for me, I acknowledged Christ at nine but I did not start showing evidence of repentance of my sins until I was 17. I am wondering if John the Baptist would have refused to baptize me too! After examining both the example of Jesus’ baptism and the passage immediately preceding it, two things become clear: Baptism requires repentance evidenced in our lives by what we do, and if we are following the example of Jesus, Baptism should mark the beginning of our own personal ministry.

This does not mean that we must all work in a church or as missionaries. And it does not mean that we all need to go out and get baptized again if we have not yet begun to turn our faith into action. What it does mean for us is that if we have been baptized into Christ Jesus we have a responsibility to do His work.  It is expected of us. John the Baptist was serious about “repentance that produces fruit,” and Jesus himself provided the example of Baptism marking the beginning of our own ministry. We are to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, house the homeless, visit the prisoner, and take care of the orphans and widows.

I was talking to a good friend of mine who is a youth pastor in a Baptist church in small-town Georgia. She told me that she had a student, a senior boy, who had formerly claimed that he was agnostic. He could believe that there was some higher power, but he was not ready or willing to identify what that power was. This particular student is highly intelligent and well versed in various theological and philosophical concepts so conversations with him are often deep and insightful.

A week ago my friend told me that this boy approached her and said “I talked to the pastor and I decided I want to be baptized.” He said, “I want this to be the first major decision I make as an adult so I am getting baptized on my 18th birthday.” This boy has weighed his options and has chosen to pursue the life that baptism brings. He is ready to begin his ministry as a Christian and he is choosing to mark that decision by baptism.

 At the beginning of each New Year some are excited about what is to come, and perhaps some are fearful about whatever trials and heartache there may be. Whatever our condition, the New Year provides an opportunity to start over. Earlier I mentioned asking God to help us choose a word to guide and encourage us throughout the year. Because of my baptism, I have a responsibility and because of that responsibility, my word for the year is fruit. I do not want to be the tree that is chopped down and thrown into the fire.

This year will be about what things I can do to be fruitful for the kingdom of God, not because my salvation depends on it, but because I have been baptized into Christ Jesus and I love others enough to tell them about Him. Maybe your word for the year could be fruit as well. Let’s pray.