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<DIV><FONT size=4>It is possible to argue that Jesus' willingness to be baptized
by John was an example of the first type of compromise. Jesus certainly didn't
need a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. That's why John
initially refused. Nor did his baptism preempt the forgiveness that is ours in
the baptism of his death. Still, for our sake, passing through the waters in
fulfillment of Exodus typology is a very powerful image of the dawning of the
new age. If an image, rather than substance, then we could say it was an example
of "all things to all men." Jesus payment of the temple tax in Matthew 17:24-27,
is a perfect example of this type of compromise.<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.lectionarystudies.com/studyg/sunday1ag.html">http://www.lectionarystudies.com/studyg/sunday1ag.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Bryan Findlayson</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV><FONT size=4>
<DIV>The church would look different if we lived out the revolutionary
implications of baptism. The next time I baptize someone, I will ask that
person, "Are you really ready for this revolution? It may just cost<B> </B>you
your life!"</DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2252">http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2252</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>Brad Ronnell Braxton, 2002</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV><FONT size=4><FONT
face=TimesNewRoman>
<DIV align=left>The baptism of Jesus the sinless one stands him in solidarity
with the repentant ones,</DIV>
<DIV align=left>those who came “confessing their sins” to be baptized by John
“with water for repentance.” The</DIV>
<DIV align=left>sinless one stands with them but he will effect their salvation
(“he will save his people from their</DIV>
<DIV align=left>sins,” Matt 1:21). But Jesus also stands in solidarity with the
Baptizer himself. “For John came to</DIV>
<DIV align=left>you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him,
but the tax collectors and harlots</DIV>
<DIV>believed him; and even when you saw it, you did not afterward repent and
believe” (Matt 21:32).</DIV></FONT></FONT>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www2.luthersem.edu/word&world/Archives/9-4_Ministry/9-4_Mork.pdf">http://www2.luthersem.edu/word&world/Archives/9-4_Ministry/9-4_Mork.pdf</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4><FONT face=TimesNewRoman>
<DIV>Carol Mork, 1989</DIV>
<DIV>- - - - -</DIV></FONT></FONT></FONT>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>With his baptism Jesus openly and decisively declared that he
stands shoulder to shoulder with me in my fears and anxieties. He intentionally
takes sides with people in their neediness, and declares that God is biased in
their favor: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with
our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we
are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with
confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of
need” (Hebrews 4:15–16, NIV).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.journeywithjesus.net/Essays/20080107JJ.shtml">http://www.journeywithjesus.net/Essays/20080107JJ.shtml</A></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Dan Clendenin, 2008 </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>
<P><STRONG>-"With you I am well pleased." </STRONG>God is well pleased with
Jesus. One of the most important realities of life is to know that God is well
pleased not only with Jesus, but with us as well. God delights in Jesus and also
delights in us. God delights in our God given uniqueness, even though we are
sinful by nature. To know that God is pleased with us transforms our lives. We
are pleased when someone declares that they are pleased with us, and we assume
that Jesus was pleased when he heard that God was pleased with
him.</P></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_b_baptism_of_jesus.htm">http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_b_baptism_of_jesus.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Edward F. Markquart</FONT><FONT face=Arial><BR>- - - -
-</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>By stepping into the Jordan River with John, Jesus signs his
own death certificate. The church would look so different if we truly lived out
the revolutionary implications of baptism. Unfortunately, throughout Christian
history, believers often have spent more time fighting over the mode of baptism
(e.g., immersion, sprinkling, in the name of the Trinity, or in Jesus’ name
only) than fathoming the depths of its meaning. The next time I baptize someone,
I will be sure to ask that person, “Are you really ready for this revolution? It
may just cost you your life!” <BR><BR><A
href="http://www.theafricanamericanlectionary.org/PopupLectionaryReading.asp?LRID=6">http://www.theafricanamericanlectionary.org/PopupLectionaryReading.asp?LRID=6</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Brad R. Braxton, 2008</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><STRONG>- - - -
-</STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><STRONG><FONT size=4></FONT></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>When we say that Jesus is God's son, going about the family
business, we are saying not only that Jesus is like God; we are saying that God
is like Jesus</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.sarahlaughed.net/lectionary/2005/01/first_sunday_af.html">http://www.sarahlaughed.net/lectionary/2005/01/first_sunday_af.html</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT size=4>Sarah Dylan Breuer</FONT> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>