Sermon Archives

January 10, 2010
Pastor Dan Selbo

"It All Comes Back To Jesus"
Luke 3:15-22

            Dear friends, Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus.

            Before turning to our text, let me start by saying to those of you who were gone (over the Christmas break), “Merry Christmas,” and to those of you were gone last weekend, “Happy New Year.” And to all of you, it’s good to be back with you here this morning.

            I took that last week off (between Christmas and New Year’s) and spent time with family here in San Jose. Mary and I did something we hadn’t done for a long time. We went to the movies. Actually, we went to see three movies in the course of just over a week (a new record for us), bringing our 2009 movie attendance # (for the year) to 3! We played a round of golf, made it to the beach, and generally had a relaxing time with our kids. And (to top it all off) both of us stayed up until midnight (on New Year’s Eve). Now we were in our pajamas (when it struck), but we made it.

            Anyone make any resolutions for this new year? One of the things I (personally) like about the new year (and a new calendar) and how it overlaps with the Church year (and the Church calendar) is the fact the you can make your resolutions (for the new year and its calendar) in January, and then (come February), on the Church calendar, you can give them up for Lent (and not even feel guilty)!

            I came back into the office on Monday (this past week), caught up a number of emails. And then (on Tuesday) I had the privilege of joining with the three-year-old classes in our preschool for their monthly chapel time (with one of the pastors). The topic was Christmas (and the New Year) and the story of the wise men who followed the star until they found Jesus.

            Now, it’s always an adventure (talking with three-year olds), because you never know where the lesson might lead. I began (that day) with the story of Christmas and I asked them whose birthday it was that we celebrated? And before anyone could give an answer, one of the kids said, “I had a birthday last month!’ (And then another one said) “I had a birthday, too!…And I had a birthday…And I had a birthday.” And so I thanked them for telling me. (I was glad they had birthdays.) And then I brought the lesson back to Jesus.

            And then it was the wise men. I brought in a banner with the wise men riding on camels, and I said they probably rode on those camels for quite a while before they got to where they were going. (And then one boy said), “I saw a camel at the zoo!” (And another said) “And I saw an elephant…And I saw a giraffe. And I saw a penguin.” (And on it went). And so I told them that seeing animals can be fun. And then I brought the lesson back to Jesus.

            And then (finally) it was the star that led them to where they would find him. I said it was a bright light in the sky that led them to Christ. And they followed that light until they found Jesus. (And it was the same thing.) One boy said, “My dad fixed a light at our house.” (And another said) “And my dad fixed our car…And my dad fixed our bathroom. (And on it went.) And so I told them they were lucky to have dads who could fix so many things. And then I brought the lesson back to Jesus.

            And that’s when it struck me (how easy in life) it can happen (for all of us), that we get distracted and off track in what we’re doing. Whether it’s for a new year, for understanding the Bible, for knowing what to do in life, (for those three-year olds), or for us, it’s the same thing. It all needs to come back to Jesus.

            Let’s turn to our story. The story we read today (from Luke’s gospel) was the story of Jesus’ baptism and of how John pointed the people away from himself and toward Christ. (And it’s a simple story.) And it’s one that deals with some simple (and basic) truths about life.

            “Luke says, “The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might be the Christ.” But John said, “One more powerful than I is coming, the thongs on whose sandals I’m not worthy to untie. He will baptize you (he said) with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

            Among other things, today’s story, (as much as anything) is a story about identity. It’s a story about self-understanding and self-image in life. And it’s a story about remembering who we are (as children of God) and of what that identity (for our lives) might mean as we live them out.

            Now, (in the story), it’s obvious that John knew who he was. He had a great crowd of people following him and wondering if he were not the promised Messiah. (And for good reason.) After all, it had been more than 400 years since the last prophet had been sent by God. And the people were expectant. And they were hope-filled. And they were longing to hear a word of promise.

            But John knew his identity. He knew who he was and what his life on this earth was all about. And so instead of pretending to be someone he wasn’t, he pointed the people to Jesus. Instead of pretending to be something he wasn’t, he fixed their minds and their hearts on Christ.

            Now, let me ask you a question. But do you know who you are (in life)? Do you know who you (really are) in life? And is who you (really are in life) driving what you’re doing in life?

            This past week, I came across an article about Nathaniel Hawthorne. You remember him. He was one of the great novelists and short story writers from the 1800’s. It was talking about some of the stories he had written (the Scarlet Letter being one of the more famous), as well as about some of the ideas (he had for stories) that never made it onto paper.

            It turns out he had a little notebook in which he would jot down ideas for stories as they came to him. One of the entries he wrote was for a short story (as he put it) “in which the principal character simply never appears; (a story in which the principal character simply never appears).”

            Now, I don’t know what Nathaniel Hawthorne had in mind (when he jotted down that idea). It could have made for an interesting story. But I’ve often wondered if that’s not the story of far too many people’s lives. They go through life doing all kinds of things. (And they’re busy, and their lives are filled.) But their true identity (the person they were created to be) never quite makes it to the surface, because they never fully understand who they really are.

            Do you know who you are? Do you know who you really are? That’s what the story (today) is about. It’s about identity. It’s about our identity. And it’s a story about Jesus and his identity, (as the Son of God), because that’s where our identity is found.

            Now, I know this is basic. But it’s important. (The beginning of a new year, resolved to make this year different?) We need to know who we are. (Before anything else in life), you need to know your identity. You need to understand who you are and why you’re here. And who you are is a child of God. And why you’re here is to live in him and through him and for him.

            That’s what happened when you were baptized. (You became God’s child.) And when you became God’s child, he made some promises to you that define what your life is all about. (Basic stuff, but it’s important). He promised that your sins would be forgiven. He promised that he’d be with you in all of life. And he promised that when your life (on this earth comes to an end) that there will be a place for you in his kingdom.

            Now, I don’t know how it is you look at your life (how it is you approach your life), but the promises God made to you (when you were baptized) are meant to define your identity (and how it is you come at life). Because how it is you come at life can make all the difference in life. No matter what circumstances you face. No matter what challenges (the year ahead) might bring. The identity you’ve been given is meant to shape and form your life. And it all comes back to Jesus. It all comes back to the relationship (with God) we have in Christ.

            Maybe you remember the story from the 1980 Winter Olympics (we’re about to start the Olympics again), in which the U. S. hockey team beat the Russians. It was an incredible story, (so much so) that there was even a movie made to remember the event.

            During the final game, (if you remember), the United States was skating against Finland. And during the game, the ABC cameras (and commentators) started following a number of personal stories. One of those stories was about Jim Craig and his father and about how his mother’s recent death had brought them closer than ever. Jim was in action (on the ice) and his dad was cheering (in the stands). And the cameras kept going back and forth as they told the story.

            When the U. S. team won the game, the celebration was unbelievable. Players were hugging, fans were cheering, but Jim Craig was just standing on the edge of the ice looking for his dad.

            And then, finally, their eyes met (and the cameras were on them) and the two embraced and they cried. And they remembered the years of practice, and the discipline it took. And they remembered the woman they both loved (as a mother, and as a wife). And it was a moment (for Jim Craig) that wasn’t complete without his father.

            In the story today, it was the same kind of moment for Jesus. Luke tells us that when Jesus was baptized, “The heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove, and a voice came from the heavens declaring Jesus to be the Son of God, and the one with whom the Father was pleased.” And it was a special moment for Jesus, one that reminded him of his identity and that helped shape what his life (on this earth) was all about.

            Now, it was different with us (when we were baptized). But in a similar way, that’s exactly what happened. (Every child needs to hear his Father’s voice.) And that’s what happened to you. God declared you to be his child. He gave you his Holy Spirit. And (in so doing), he gave you an identity that was meant to define your life.

            And so, how do you define your life? How do you understand your identity in life? Because, (just like Jesus), the success of your life, the (ultimate purpose of your life), whether or not (2010) will be a better year than the one gone by, will all depend upon how closely your life comes (in the year ahead) to living out the identity (in Jesus) you’ve been given.

            It all comes back to Jesus. It all finds its meaning and purpose in Christ. This past week, I did a bit of reflecting on what’s happened here (at St. Timothy’s) in this past year, as well as in the first decade of this new century. And I also began to think about the next ten years and what will happen in this place (and in our lives) between now and the year 2020. And I tried to do so in relation to the identity we’ve been given in Jesus, and whether or not (what we’ve done) is a result of who we are.

            Now, that’s not an easy question to answer, because so much of what happens in people’s lives and in congregations (and the difference it makes) is hard to capture. But a lot’s happened here at St. Timothy’s (in the past ten years). And much of what we can capture grows out of our identity.

            Think back with me, for a moment, on some of the things that have happened since Y2K. In the year 2000, we held our first Saturday night service over in the fellowship hall. I wasn’t sure (when it started) if it would last, but now (for ten years) it has. In 2002, we added a third Sunday morning service to our schedule (and that, too) has proved to be a blessing. Since the year 2000, we purchased the Carter Avenue property. We completed two major building projects. And we’re now going on three years into the implementation of our 2020 Vision. Along with all of that, we baptized 314 people. We confirmed 363. We married 56 couples. And we celebrated the lives of 111 of God’s children who were called eternally home.

            It’s good to look back (from time to time) and to reflect upon the life-changing work that has taken place. It’s also important to look ahead, and to ask (whether or not) the things we have planned (for the future) are the things God (in Jesus) has called us to do.

            And so, this past week, I also shared with our Church Council some of the statistics (from this past decade) and challenged them to begin asking some of the tough questions. The good news is that we continue to be a strong and an alive and a dynamic congregation. We continue to be one of the strongest and most alive Lutheran congregations in Northern California. And for that we have Jesus to thank (because this place belongs to him) and the work that is happening is to his glory alone. And that’s the good news.

            The flip side is that we’re basically not much different (in terms of size and worship attendance) than we were in the year 2000. It’s gone up and down. But ten years later, (in terms of #’s) we’re not much different.

            Now, we’re not in the numbers game (and that’s not what drives what we do), so don’t get the wrong impression. But we are the people of God. That’s the identity we’ve been given. And it’s that identity (that we’ve been given) that drives everything we’re about.

            And so I challenged our Church Council to take a step back (from what we’ve done) and to ask the tough questions about what we’re doing. Because we’re not in the business of always doing the same things. We’re in the business of speaking the name of Jesus and of always finding new ways of calling people to faith in him.

            Before closing, allow me one final note (and maybe you noticed.) But right in the middle of the story today, we hear the news that this John (who understood his identity) and who did everything he could to live it out, was locked up by Herod and thrown in prison. After all he’d done for Jesus, that’s where he ended up.

            Now, I’m not saying that the same will happen to us (if we live out our lives for Jesus). Odds are pretty good that it won’t. But if we’re afraid of what our identity might bring, (and hold back in our witness (to Jesus) in any way (and for any reason), then odds are pretty good that we still don’t understand who we are.

            My friends, you and I are children of God. Our lives belong to him. And the success of your life (the success of our lives together) will be directly tied to how faithfully we live out the identity (in Jesus) we’ve been given. Amen.