Epiphany 1C Sermon: Through the Waters

Preached on Isaiah 43:1-7
The Baptism of Our Lord
The First Sunday after the Epiphany
10 January AD 2016

Title: Through the Waters (MP3 Audio)

Summary: Jesus entered the baptismal flood in order to take our sins upon Himself. He continues to stand in the waters, forgiving, renewing, and restoring us. When He is with us, no deluge, no tsunami, no storm — whether actual or figurative — can sweep us away.

Likewise, the Christ endured a “baptism by fire,” suffering temptation, torture, and hellish abandonment by His own Father that He might quench hell’s blaze and keep His people safe.

Entering the Jordan, the Son declared war on sin, death, and Devil and announced Himself as our Savior. After hearing His Father call out to honor Him, Jesus began calling sinners to Himself that they might receive forgiveness, life, and salvation.

Now, no matter what floods swell in our lives, He is with us in the waters. Whatever fiery trials await us, they can never consume us, for he stands with us just as did the Fourth Man with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3).

Text: But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

“I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.

“Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Isaiah 43:1-7

Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Audio: Click to hear the MP3 of Through the Waters.

NB: For some reason, a few people have had problems trying to play the inline audio if Windows Media is their default MP3 player. If this occurs, you can either change to QuickTime or another default browser player, copy and paste the link directly into a selected player, or download it to your computer, where it seems to work regardless of which player. Several folks have suggested VLC Player from VideoLAN.

Other Readings: Psalm 29; Romans 6:1-11; Luke 3:15-22