Briefly, before we go deeper into the sermon today, let’s revisit what a sacrament is. A sacrament is a means of grace, a way that God shows and makes real his mercy and love for us, but what’s more, a sacrament is something we do, or perhaps better put, something God does, where this grace shows up—because God promises it. We are literally commanded to keep the sacraments. That is, to do these things, by command of Jesus, the one who embodies God’s grace. And so a sacrament isn’t simply a ritual, but an almost inexpressible act that brings God to us and us to God, and it finds its validity in God’s Word. Keep this in mind as we go forward.
Let us pray. May only God’s Word be spoken and may only God’s Word be heard; in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“Today the River Jordan lacks its biblical proportions,” writes the BBC, “but some 200,000 visitors still flock to the traditional spot for Christian baptisms in Jordan in a typical year.” Nestled amidst the wilderness near the lowest point on Earth, al-Maghtas, also known as the baptism site or “Bethany Beyond the Jordan,” is the traditional site of Jesus’ baptism. It’s even recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located there are ruins of Roman and Byzantine churches, a monastery, and baptismal pools.
In 2023, the country of Jordan unveiled an ambitious plan to draw at least a million Christians to the site of Jesus’ baptism by 2030. The government is launching this initiative to commemorate what many see as the 2000th anniversary of Jesus’ baptism—and they’re backing up this endeavor with an investment of $100 million. They really want to see people “flock,” as the BBC says, to the site—and we can be sure that’s not just about helping pious Christians experience a holy site. Big bucks are to be cashed in on for any such occasion—ask Germany, who made a whole decade-long celebration for the Reformation in 2017, calling it the “Luther-Dekade.”
Flock—that word stuck out to me in the article. “Some 200,000 visitors still ‘flock’ to the traditional spot for Christian baptisms in Jordan in a typical year.” An interesting word, to be sure. At its most basic level, the word means to gather, to collect, congregate, assemble, come together, and so on. It also has a different, more specific meaning, the way the BBC used it in their article—to stream in, go in large numbers, swarm, surge, seethe, spill, crowd, or herd.” Flock, herd…words used with sheep…You know how I love words, and so this made me think, particularly in the context of baptism, about what it means for us who congregate, who assemble, who flock together as God’s sheep, as the herd of God, if you will…
All baptized people down through history have been referred to in many different ways—the church, the body of Christ, the family of God, the communion of saints, and, yes, as a flock. The psalmist sings in Psalm 100, “we are God’s people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Calling ourselves, the baptized, sheep is something we’ve been doing even since before Jesus himself was baptized. The idea that God is our shepherd is an old one, and one that’s tied up in our relationship with him. In fact, one of the most iconic, perhaps favorite passages from the Bible delves deeply into what this relationship means, and today, it was our responsive reading—Psalm 23.
Psalm 23 has been considered and considered countless times down through the ages, and today we’re going to consider ourselves—from a baptismal perspective, particularly as it comes to bear our life as God’s people, and the sheep of his pasture, and Jesus as our Good Shepherd. If you want, take out your bulletin, and follow along as we go verse-by-verse through this beloved psalm and explore what God’s revealing to us about our relationship with him with these iconic words.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes us lie down in green pastures.” This opening line is a profound confession of personal faith and intimacy with God. At our baptism, we declare that God isn’t just any shepherd, but we say he’s my shepherd, intimately connected to each of us. Baptism marks the beginning of a lifelong journey with my God, who assumes the role of shepherd, guiding and providing for his flock—of which I am a sheep. This relationship goes beyond mere affiliation. It fosters a deep sense of belonging and security in us and among us—like a sheep feels belonging and security among the flock. Just as a shepherd tends to the needs of his sheep, so too does my God nurture and sustain me.
In baptism, I confess my faith in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, affirming trust, confidence, belief, reliance, and certainty in my God, not simply any god. The imagery of green pastures evokes the pristine beauty of Eden. It points to our return to a state of harmony with God and what he’s made. Just as Adam and Eve walked in communion with God in Eden, so too do we walk in a newness of life with him through baptism. Baptized into Jesus’s death and resurrection, we find restoration and fulfillment in the care of our shepherd.
“He leads me beside still waters; he restores me soul.” This verse holds the central baptismal promise in the psalm. It’s evocative and encapsulates the essence of what baptism is about. Just as the shepherd leads his flock to water for refreshment, so too does God lead us to the waters of baptism for renewal—not only in spirit, but in mind and body as well. The calm waters reflect the peace and tranquility that baptism grants us. Our sin—whatever separates us from God, whatever robs us of the tranquility, of the serenity of holding fast to his promise that nothing separates us from him, that he loves us for who we are—that is washed away in baptism.
Moreover, baptism is our token, our bond, our sign, our proof, our lifetime warranty that we are united with Jesus in death, dying to our old selves and rising to newness of life with him, reinforcing how our shepherd guides us, his sheep, to green pastures of Eden—the paradise of life as God first envisioned it. Through baptism, we are gifted a fundamental, inherent, inalienable restoration of our relationship with God, and are reorientated to God’s design for our lives. Just as the shepherd cares for his flock, God nurtures and sustains us through the sacrament of baptism. He leads us to a place of deep peace and goodness.
“He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.” Baptism is not once and done. Baptism marks the beginning of a life lived with God and pleasing to God. It’s not a ritual but a true repentance, an alignment and constant realignment with God’s will. In baptism, God unites his name—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—with our own, marking us as his own.
As his sheep, we’re called to live out our baptismal identity, and listen to the voice of our shepherd, and what’s more, walk in paths of righteousness for the sake of Christ’s own name. Indeed, we dare call ourselves Christians! Baptism daily motivates us to live godly lives modeled on the example of Jesus. Just as God’s name points to what he does, so too does our baptismal identity compel us to reflect his love and grace in all we do. Baptism isn’t just water splashed on us; it’s a lifelong commitment to living in accordance with God’s will and bearing witness to the one who puts his name on us.
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.” Just as a shepherd’s rod and staff guide and protect his sheep from straying off the path, so too does the Word of God serve as our guiding light, keeping us steadfast in relationship with him in all facets of our lives. God’s Word, like the voice of the Good Shepherd, is a source of guidance, comfort, and protection. The Word speaks directly to our hearts, offers wisdom, encouragement, and reassurance in times of uncertainty and trial. Through the Scriptures, God unveals his love, grace, and will for us. He equips us to navigate life’s challenges with faithfulness and resilience.
Just as a shepherd’s rod and staff guide and protect his sheep from straying off the path, so too does the Word of God serve as a guardian, keeping us steadfast in holiness. The teachings and promises of Scripture equip us to discern right from wrong, to resist temptation, and to walk in the ways of righteousness. In some ways, it’s a compass to orienteer our course, to guard us against the misadventures of sin and deception, and to fortify ourselves against the allure of worldly distractions so that we draw closer to the heart of God.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” In baptism, we’re marked with the sign of the cross, the branding mark of our shepherd, and anointed with holy oil, a tangible sign of the power of the Holy Spirit. This isn’t our doing, but God’s work through the continual presence of the Holy Spirit who guides, comforts, empowers, provokes, and challenges us in every part of life. The Holy Spirit equips us with strength, wisdom, and courage to face life’s challenges. She accompanies us through the darkest valleys, providing the assurance of God’s unfailing love. The Holy Spirit fills us to overflowing with the abundance of God’s blessings so that we can face life’s complexities, and more importantly, know that God is our constant companion and advocate.
We face doubt. We face despair. We see injustice. We perpetuate and experience injustice. The Holy Spirit strengthens us to confront doubt with faith, to overcome despair with hope. She emboldens us to challenge injustice with righteousness and combat prejudice with love. She inspires us to advocate for equality and inclusion, and empowers us to work toward a more just and compassionate world. The Holy Spirit gives us the strength, fortitude, and wisdom to stand firm in our convictions, to trust in God and his promises, and to persevere through life’s trials and tribulations.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.” Baptism is our stamp, our insignia, our emblem, our seal that solemnizes, or commits and affirms beyond question, the promise of God’s unfailing goodness and mercy for us. It’s a testamental bond, a bond that declares publicly and without condition what the will of God is. The promise of baptism transcends time and space, going beyond death itself. It’s a pledge, a surety, an indemnity that ensures us that we’re forever enfolded in the loving embrace of our shepherd. Baptismal grace sustains us through every season of life, from the moment that water splashes on our forehead to the moment our earthly remains are commended to the care of our God beyond our death—when ultimately we are led to our eternal home in the house of the Lord, where we will dwell in his presence forevermore.
As Christians, as the baptized, as the sheep of God, we listen to the voice of our Good Shepherd. He provides for us. He guides us. He is good to us. He lays down his life for us, and takes it back up again—for our sake. Just as he lives, so we live because he is our Good Shepherd. We have his word, his promise and his guide, that nothing will separate us from him. Baptism reminds us, daily, that we are his people, the sheep of his pasture, a pasture that is pristine and glorious, perfect and lush, as the beauty of creation first envisioned eons ago.
Consider. Heed. Listen. Follow. Flock to the Good Shepherd, and surely—goodness and mercy shall follow you all days of your life, and beyond.
In the name in which we are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Rev'd Daniel W. Spigelmyer, Jr. 