Being Delivered from Sin

“God, who is rich in mercy and love, gives us a new birth into a living hope through the sacrament of baptism. By water and the Word God delivers us from sin and death and raises us to new life in Jesus Christ.”

[Beginning of the Rite of Baptism in the Lutheran hymnal.]

Dear Friends,

Last Sunday (Easter Sunday), we had four baptisms and I said the above words as part of the baptismal rite in the service. It was a day celebrating the resurrection of our Lord. It was a day celebrating baptism and the new life it offers. It was a day of celebration.

In the lead up to the baptisms, I shared my Easter message as part of the children’s time. As I was doing the work of figuring out how to talk about Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection with “younger minds,” I struck on a question that I had to spend some time trying to answer for myself… Why do people do mean things?

The context, of course, was the story of the mean things that the people did to Jesus:

• They arrested him.

• They labeled him a liar or blasphemer.

• They spat on him.

• They mocked him.

• They hit, slapped and flogged him.

• They stripped him.

• They nailed him to the cross.

• They crucified him.

Now, we may not have done those mean things but—if we’re honest—we’ve all done some mean things to other people… Something we did. Something we didn’t do. Something we said. Something we didn’t say. Anything that we have done that in some way diminished or hurt someone else I would classify as a “mean thing.”

Why did those people do those mean things to Jesus?

Why do WE do mean things to others?

A few of the answers that I found for myself were:

• Because they deserved it (they had done something to me or someone else I cared about).

• Because I wanted to get back at them.

• Because it felt unfair.

• Because I was hurting and I wanted them to hurt.

• Because they should have known better and needed to be “taught.”

Your list might be very different from mine, but when I really inquire into what is “underneath” each of my justifications, what I find is that they all in their own way seem to have the possibility of making me feel better. Somehow, in some way, by doing or saying this mean thing to them, I think that my life would somehow be better. Martin Luther would say that this sole focus on oneself is the root of sin.

The folks that were “mean” to Jesus felt that their lives would be better. Either the status quo would continue, they’d look good in the eyes of their peers, or their belief system would remain intact.

As far as I can tell, Jesus didn’t do any mean things in return. He just took it. He endured the suffering. He continued to love them. Because of his love for them and his willingness to NOT respond in kind, we gather on Sundays to celebrate his resurrection and the new life it provides.

When we are mean, however, we are giving into the false idea that life will be better us. To LOVE is to trust that by loving, life will be better for ALL. Jesus’ death and resurrection is the proof that Love wins.

In baptism, we are delivered from sin… One of the ways that we are delivered is that we discover that we are claimed by a God who is love and who assures us that love is the access to life.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

            He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

Pastor Phil