Share in Jesus' Cup & Baptism
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Dear Greg & Rhonda, Colin & Laura, Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Why
Intro: Want to get these kids a head start in life - why not baptize them into the name of NHL OHL and Minor Hockey Leage - ie $5 bill… It’s play off time - and 5 daysof the week…; Or maybe academic head start - jump start - 3R’s so many educational choices ; regular life kind of person - life, liberty, pursuit of happiness = American Dream. In so many ways, child centered homes - alwayws comparing, feeling guilty, what they were, how ell behave, what sucess they have! Try to provide everything: instant gratification, best holidays, live for fun and comfort and liesure…
Intro: Want to get these kids a head start in life - whynot baptize them into the anmeofthe NHL< OHL and Minor Hockey Leage - ie $5 bill… It’s play off time - and 5 daysof the week…; Or maybe academic headstart - jump start - 3R’s so many educaitonal choices ; regular life kind of person - life, liberty, pursuit of hoappiness = Aercian Dream = child centred homes - hardly work, instant gratitifation, best holidays, live for fun and comfort and liesure…
James and John no push overs, niether was their mother Salome. Family wealthy enough hirded servants for their fish boats. Mother in Luke we read - bleiveing jesus bringing ot the Amrecain dream, but the Jewish dream - kngdom of gloryon earthnow - no more suffering, politica power, mitliary material rches… influence.
What do we and our youth ‘immerse’ ourselves in?
= want the best for your kids… for yourself- realize Mark’s gospel is with Peter’s preaching - climax is their failure and confusion, like Peter
= want the best for your kids… for yourself- realize Mark’s gospel is with Peter’s preaching - climax is their failure and confusion, like Peter
= want the best for your kids… for yourself- realize Mark’s gospel is with Peter’s preaching - climax is their failure and confusion, like Peter
Application: what is the kingdom of me I am looking for, living for…
A) Jesus’ Cross is a Wrench in the Works in ‘Kingdom of Me’
3 predictions in Mark, these events are not made up, historical realities, Mark testifying Jesus self-awareness -sharing so you won’t think life is just about Kingdom of Me - happnestance, .. Sovereign over circumstances, can’t understand it without the Cross and Resurrection
First prediction 8:31-33 comes only when the Apostles finally really recognize who Jesus is by faith - see He is the Christ, World Saviour, Son of David, yet also Son of God. And right way Jesus teaches them of the suffering of the Christ, that most missed in the OT. And Christ coupled with this teaching: Wow we feel this intuitively - gain whole world - lose soul … save life lose it - get most in the world but feel so empty , incomplete … but some how lose it for jesus, gospel = find ne wlife…
Second prediction, now after realize Christ, taking them further North. Probably first Mount Hermon - not only see He is the Christ but see Christ in His glory -Mt of Transfiguration. Galilee Capernaum Map- so absorbed in whose most important, who gets glory - and listen to his prediction this time: 9:30-31; and the teaching that went along with it Do you get that getting the new life, getting Jesus and the gospel - not about become in the greatest - And look at this big symbolic act jesus does with teaching of his death, and about who really gets Christ and new life in Him: He stands a little child in the middle of the circle. Picture yourself in that circle - takes that little toddler into his arms - and remember children least position in that soceity… And look at his words:
“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
Of course God is present in Jesus in special way, but God is also one Father who sent His Son to us, and Jesus is revealing God to us in fullest way - so to receive Jesus is to receive God. And what does it mean to receive these children in Jesu name this morning? It means to receive Jesus, to receive the One who sent Him? Are we, have you?
Turn now to the third prediction: Now well on their way, made it to Judea, but specific predictions, going to Jerusalem predicting excactly how he’s going to die. They are bewildered but now in Mark comes the third and final prediction. But look what comes right before it: The disciples had been pushing babies away with their parents… we got big kingdom of glory stuff going on here. Just listen to jesus words:
But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
And jesus takes them into his arms and blesses them and lays his hands on them. Then v.32 his 3rd prediction. And what teaching follows - our text: What is that teaching? James and John - seeking kingdom of me of glory in this world - come asking for seats on the right and the left in a kingdom of glory. Understand they saw Jesus to Jerusalem as th Messiah coming into power and glory - not as Jesus had just told them to offer himself as a sacrifice, to be become the sacrifice at the centre of the world, to rise again - beginning the new creation! What is jesus wrench in the works? - Life isn’t first of all about your seats of glory - about your prominence and all your great efforts and accomplishments your privilege and possessions, status. No what is life all about - its what this baptism of your s and mine signifies. James and John saw Jesus going to Jerusalem to enter glory and they say we want positions like that too, baptize our life and our plans with success and riches and power. Jesus says, that’s not what life is about. You will ultimately lose it if that’s what your pursing. Big sigh of relief parents, not about having best behaved toddlers, not about making it with house white picket fence, not about kids in 101 teams lesson, programs… Life is about sharing in jesus cup and being immersed in what jesus was immersed in! which centre on drinking Jesus cup and being baptized with Jesus baptism!
which centre on drinking Jesus cup and being baptized wtih Jesus baptism!
Key Truth: We are baptized into Jesus Christ’s death & resurrection
Baptized into this story, this, journey, this reality! So that is the first lesson - there is a wrench in the works of your life and mine, and Torryn and Brinley’s - goes against the grain of our fallen human nature and of the world they grow up in - Do you recognize that wrench in your life and mine, - do you recognize - remember how fragile saw life as a gift - received Rosalyn and Keziah… Remember feeling in hospital or when you were in car accident before Brinley was born.
B. Jesus’ Kingdom isn’t about worldly success but the Cross
B. LIfe is not about our kgindoms but about Christ’s which he gives by sharing His Cup and his Baptism
Now if its kind of a nasty surprise to realize life in kingdom of self, possession, accomplishments, in this wrold without Christ - ends up with death and even worse wrath of God, - that he who striving to hold on to so much life and stuff in this world - misses out on true life. There is no question Jesus expects the answer to his question to be no. They can’t - and therfore they can’t get real glory taht way!
Here is a wonderful surprise in Mark. You’ve got jesus going to the Cross to die for them and for this world - and these two spoiled brats ar arguing abbout best seats in some poltical kingdom . It would be like - and you are arguing over. Ever feel that way with someone in this world - arguing over , meanwhile someone else giving up life for real freedom over seas. Multiply that by a thousand and you get the irony of this passage. And you would expect Jesus to harshly dont’ you get it - kneckle heads - and he does say taht about - their seat question 38a and he answers it defintively in
but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
that’s what they didn’t get, the only throne that jesus would rule from in this world was going to be a Cross, and teh only crown one of thorns, and the to who would be beside him as who ruled by suffering lvoe from the Cross - be one theif put faith and received eternal life and with him in paradise - sins forgvien life renconilced and the other who mocked and stands a symbol of those who pass them by and remain condemned in thier sins and udner the curse and wrath of God! His cup andbaptism are completely unique voluntary suffering, and he will show the path to glory is though the sufferin gof the Crosss!
But ehre is the wonderful surprise jesus goes on to ask, another two questions and they are questions livng Sasviour of the world asks of Brinely and Torryn and you and me as well:
Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
To grant who is on the rightand the left is for God the Father’s determination, but to give the life that comes from his cup and from his bpatism - taht is for all who by faith will be united to Christ. That is for Christ to give. Jesus cup and his baptism words used to describe His Cross and HIs Dath in Jerusaelm. And he and he alone can drink that cup:
So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
And though John and James don’t really get it, yet - have faith in the is Jesus and what he is doing And look at their answer: and Look at jesus accepting their answer!
To grant who is on the rightand the left is for God the Father’s determination, but to give the life that comes from his cup and from his bpatism - taht is for all who by faith will be united to Christ. And though John and James don’t really get it, yet - have faith in the is Jesus and what he is doing And look at their answer: and Look at jesus accepting their answer!
And though John and James don’t really get it, yet - have faith in the is Jesus and what he is doing And look at their answer: and Look at jesus accepting their answer!
And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized,
Jesus cup and baptism maybe unique, but Jesus is calling out to you and I, to take the Cross and what He accomplished there and have a real participation by faith in what he did!
“To share someone’s cup = to share someone's fate or destiny.”
We will be one with you Jesus!
Your life, my life, Rosalyn and Keziah’s , Torryn and Brinley’s life it all depends on being united with Christ’s cup and His baptism. And Jesus when he sees any answering in faith as Jame sand John did - surprisingly doesn’t say - you don’t get my cup and bapstim, - says - yes you are untied to it!
What does it mean?
C. Accept the Meaning of the Cross by Understanding the Cup & Baptism
And here we must be careful and clear to first understand Jesus unique cup and baptism before we jump to our own, because our cup and our baptism will only be any good insofar as they are connected to His. ie. Imagine you are going on a trip overseas imopratn business - transact it have in your possession greatest treasure - checking your bags - passport and papers - lets you youhave Her majesty the Queen, Even a letter stating treasure - And the border gaurd look at you - picks up pohone something wrong - queen has been captured, Common Wealth overthrowon - now opossession of eveil axis of enemies -Your papers, only as good as Name and Seal of that Queen, Queen falls you fall. THink of what a relief to Candaians - in coutnry where seize happens - get into the conulate -They in that protected area - like on Queens soil, like Queen hereslf is there - ablosltuel security!
Well that is the frist way you must knwo Jesus cup and bpatism - becauseit must become your own, you ust become so united to his cup and bHis baptism that you are represented in them!
i. The Cup
- LIft up a cup of victory . All life and experience handed out by God as he reaches out his hand. This can be good.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
But it also can be bad. Like in our language we would say - it’s a bitter pill . Look at
For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.
For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.
When Jesus Christ went every night into the Gadren of Gethsemane, wrestling in prayer - because as we see on the last night, when his prayer recorded -w restling Father this cup of judgment of the nations, the whoel world’s sins - - no other way to save but for me to drink it for them. Think of judgment day, wrath punishment , fulness of justice neted out for evety wrong on every sinner lifek you and me - all concentrated into one cup - take this cup from me -in human nature - liek you turning away from cup of bile - shudder at full concentration of hell Of course James and John neigther undertand nor could they really be able to ddrink that cup!
Wake yourself, wake yourself, stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath, who have drunk to the dregs the bowl, the cup of staggering.
Christ alone could take that cup and not only be able to withstand it after drinking it to the dreggs and sufering the full consequences of the hell our sins deserve - but he alone truly huamna nd truly God - because o his inncence , his perfect righteouness could rise again having earned the full cup of God’s blessing!
And this is the mystery of the text: when Jesus says you don’t know what you are asking, and then asks them: This cup, this baptism which I am in the process of drinking - taking on the suffering and the sin and punishment of the world - beating death at its’ own game, wrestling victory out of Satan’s hand this present cup - you could never drink - but I will for you!
That was the wonder - turned cup of the curse for him, into a cup of blessing for us: So he says just before he goes tot he Cross: This cup ois the New Covenant of blessing and grace, and favour and victory andcelebration in my blood! The cup which we bless is it not a participation in the blood of Christ.
The cup extended by a king at a banquet to his guests, is how we come to share in it and it is overflowing.
I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord,
Outward water baptism is an entrance into coomunity of Christ’s grace, the church, one time intiation. Not magical - doesn’t work that inward grace that the outward sign rpesrents automiatcally or without faith. ou and I congretgation together with these parents - knwo what this \baptism o\and this cup represent - ledge our eves to show her !
ii. The Baptism
There is also a baptism unique to Christ that we also must understand and put our faith in!
Waht did Jesus mean buy asking the baptism with I am baptized are you able to be baptized with it?
The word is found all over the OT - in the covenants, in the Second Temple rebuilt after the exile - cup and vessels used for sprinkling and pouring - called baptisms. But in tis form (past participle) it means to submerge into any experience in the OT - so a drunken person is baptized into drunkenness, A grieving person, sub\mege dand dunkinto teh deep end of grieg. Someone in love - baptized submerged into euphoria of being in love. In common expression, to be baptized into something, is tobe completely overwhelmed by some experience, usually disaster or danger. This is how Jesus used in goign to the Cross in
I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!
Jesus is asking them can you bear to go through the terrible experience, the suffering of the Cross I am about to go through. He spells this out in
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The ransom, is the subsitionary, vicarious suffering, only Jesus could be representative for us. Here is the article of faith that Christ took upon himself into himself all our suffering, sin, guilt, shame, punishment, brokenness -
Double Imputation:
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Jesus anticipates his death on the Cross as teh fulfillment of what it means to be Messiah , Saviour o- this is his job and what we must axccepf rom him!
This is the story of the ragman - Mark’s point is that none of this suffering by chance, not dying as a victim, but as a rnasom, sustitute. In this sense noen of us everhave the same cup or baptism as Jesus - not in its nature and in its result! But that brings us to why Jesus answers them so gentlely that when they asay they are are able. You can share in my cup & bpatism. In what way could that ever become truein their life and iniours. IN what way in Brinley’s and Torryn’s?
And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”
And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized,
In waht way could that ever become truein their life and iniours. IN what way in Brinley’s and Torryn’s?
D. Share with Jesus in the Calling of Your Own Cup & Your Own Baptism
Brinley and Torryn did experience a water-baptism this mornign. Not the same thing as Jesus is speaking of here, but the sign and seal of the baptism points and promises a sharing in Christ’ cup and bapstim.
After spending time at Sick Kidsin Toronto - see heart broken comtted aprens not giving up - mariage fell apart but they are going to be there for their kid - proably the closest thing to love of Christ - I would go through that surgery for mykid - I would die in their palce - so taht they could have new and healthy life - But those paretns though they can love like that , not able to substittue themselves.
But Christ did. And he says the flip side of me vicariously suffering for you, 200 years ago, is that now by faith by teh working of y Holsy Spirit inyou - you can vicariously live through me.
That’s what jesus is offering us this mornign in his gospel, taht is what is sgin and sealed to us in our baptism - union with Christ - passort that you can actually use and it will work and it will grant you this treasure - here is the cup from the king - his death was your death to sin, yourpayment for punishment curse, , this cup seals that God teh Father has aceepted the payment - he has counted you as righteous, on this basis guaranteeed son or daighter, the heir in God’s kingdom with Christ. This baptism by faith you can I can , Torryn adn Brinnley can share -
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
This is how Jesus unique Cross, and suffering, and victory and resurrection one and, and your and mine discipleship, following Jesus, on the other, actually go together. Baptism whether received as an infant of believing parent or as and adult publically professing faith in Christ, it doesn’t give salvation - things can go horribly wrong for those who receive baptism but won’t live by faith in Christ!
But the purpose of water baptism is that we at the deepest level of our identity start to say and live by sharing in Christ's story. His death to sin, his resurrection to life - that is my death to sin - what is pictured and sign and sealed on us, it is how I seek and find forgiveness sat the Cross, it is how I hate that sin and turn from it - crucify the sinful nature. And why? - not just so I can get to heaven - but like the picture Christ was making - this is Passover time, this is time when God took His people Israel from slavery of sin, their backs were up against wall of suffering, no where to go, stuck inn life, empty with pleasures of Egypt - and he took them through the baptism of the Red Sea - and led them to new life on the other side living in fellowship with God!
And God is saying in our water baptism - look at the Cross of jesus, look at his deliverance and submerssion into all the suffering, and all the death, and even hell - and make that your story - live into His story. The Bible not only describes these most significant historical facts of Christ’s death and resurrection, but says, now you who put your faith in this Christ, you are rsen with hiim. You are the embodienmtn of his New life, a life lived unto God.
And so he said to James and to John. Yes, by faith you are able to drink my cup and be baptized with my baptism. not same event, not esame effects, but you will share in the results. So that your life - not about gaining the most toys and dying with them, or about avoiding suffering . no, following Christ - life whoever to loose your life in love and service and same humility to God and to others - you will find true life. A life where your cup filled to overflowing with the grace of Christ, you won’t just drink it all up for yourself, but let it overflow into others lives through your own suffering love. He holds that as model of greatness - a life of Christ like service. That is what it means to be great through Christ.
Do you see how is worded:
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Paul is appealing to our baptisms as a basis for our faith to be worked out in suffering love and service. That is your task Gerg and Rhooada, Colin & Laura - it is a task we oinn in Covenant with your together - now even though we don’t udnerstand it all, nor certainly do your children, but we seek to make baptism real i nour lives. We accept who we are in Christ - start reckoining ourselves dead to in a nd alive to God. Come in Christ trusting never leaves us or forsake us because of who we are in Christ. But if you bring your children here - if you yousrlf present yorself for baptism here - expect to be chalenge dby God and your fellow church members here - about your lifestyle about holiness, about rsiinng agin in Christ, to erve as he served.
Water Baptism is the ground, the identity on which we stand linked to Jesus, sign and seal of the vicotry we are to find in Him . That identity - though some will refuse to live it out and bvecome covenant breakers - that identity as those claimed by God can never be erased - can’t take a blowdryer and remove sig and seal placed today - Pictuer of lvoign God from earliest days - saying I want you to experience me - this is who you become one with me in faith - union with Jesus. This inner reality, inner reality of baptism is what Paul calls putting on Christ, lead them to do so by faith:
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
That’s the challenge we have - that this new idenittyhtis union with Christ, death and resurrection - gets lived out in autheentic way. The NT uses the word baptism for both realities the water baptism, but also the inner receiving of Christ, we are baptized by water - and that is to hold befrore us, sign and seal this reality of finding our dineity and life and future and purpose in Jesus the Saviour... our home in this church family. I preadh to you as a parent of four teenagers (jsut for 3 months) - look back - say thank you God - cvoenant vows - sign and seal not just palced on as ritual - but as a tool - living reality of what baptism means - sahre in teaching that together from young\est years. Here the promises - see Lisa Smaanthan Victoria, Doeronthy leanne, jan - I see those child with Down Sydroome , With paretns giong through same struggle of raising teenagers. see here with the prayer parents of adult children stillwaiting for Lord to draw as they faihtfully lvoe at time witness, with words, buyt wait. Understand taht this water baptism will travel with you through life, Colin saw how emaing of it cma eback to you in adult hood. As adults in Christian freindship, we see that water baptism has to be accompanied by a true faith and a heart reception of Jesus in our lives. But key is that water bpatism - speaking and teaching, shoowing how they are drink the cup and sharein the baptism of Christ death and life - Every time bow in prayer withthem, pick up Word of Christ. Every time we worship, we serve, we wtiness , we truly love do somehting for his glory , love our neighbour, suffer for sake of gospel - all being baptized into union with Christ.
Always so linked the wayofthe Cross, and the lifeo f discipeship and service. Why DW always sees covenant baptism - it travels in how you as parents show them Jesus and the gsopek in your home, as you pray and teahcthem how to p\ray. This water baptism it traels as they are growing up - God’s word expalined in Sunday School, Wednesay catechism - and this water baptism - it is answered in life publically acdeepts thos rprosmiesise ad pldges to live as Christ ‘s discipe.
NT Wright - two baloons which is fuller? Both full one has more yetthe other is fulll of air too. So too with child - moement has faith - whether articulare it wwll of onot - fullnes of lvoe of God in Christ. Bpatism , infants a sign of that. It is also assurance that 100% when child responding with faith in this Jesus you show them and as you see them resond with repenantce, that God who is faithful to His promises he is at work- and as surely as he has reached down - to baptize them in the ame of Christ, as -so sruely when Hsii \Spriit works in thier heart even from youngest of years - we can trust that He who began a good work in them wil ber faithful to compoete it on the day of Christ.