Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany in remembrance of the gifts of the magi to Baby Jesus. We are also having a baptism today of Logan Michael Coleman, the grandson of two of our parishioners and the great grandson of another of our parishioners. So we come here today with hearts full of joy as we witness the birth of another member into the Body of Christ. I find it fitting that God would place on Logan’s heart to be baptized during this time of the year when we remember Jesus’ birth.
Jesus told his disciples to let the children come unto Him and to forbid them not for such is the kingdom of God. In the Gospel of Mark we read the following:
“People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. 14But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 15Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’ 16And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.”
Jesus came into this world as a child. He calls all of us to enter into the Kingdom of God with the trusting and open heart of a child. Logan comes here today out of his own desire to become as he put it “a child of the Light”. It is appropriate that Logan becomes a Child of the Light today. Epiphany is the Feast of Lights, because it is through the guidance of the light of a star that the magi found Baby Jesus, the Light of the World.
The Light of the world, born in a lowly stable, is the King of Kings. The wise men, that traveled from afar seeking this newborn king, brought with them gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold was given for Jesus’ sovereignty as the King of Kings. Frankincense was given in acknowledgement of Jesus as our High Priest. Myrrh, being the anointment used at burial, was given in recognition of Jesus as the Lamb of God, the Redeemer for all of humanity.
Today, Logan comes to Jesus bringing no gifts of gold, frankincense or myrrh like the magi. Instead, Logan brings a gift to Jesus that is more priceless than any of the gifts brought to Jesus by those wise men of so long ago. Logan brings Jesus the precious gift of himself. His mother, sister and grandparents will stand with him in support of his decision. Yet, it is because Logan asked to be baptized into Christ that makes this baptism so special.
In the Book of Acts, there is a wonderful story about a man who asked to be baptized. It is known as the story of ‘Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch’. It reads as follows:
“Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Get up and go towards the south* to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (This is a wilderness road.) 27So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it.’ 30So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ 31He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:
‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
33In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.’
34The eunuch asked Philip, ‘About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’ 35Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’* 38He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip* baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.”
Logan, like the eunuch did with Philip, asked to be baptized and he asked for it to be done before he got back to his home. Now I do not plan on disappearing like Philip did after I baptize Logan, but I do believe that when Logan is baptized there will be great rejoicing both here and in heaven. For today a new soul will be birthed into the Kingdom of God.
This is the day of Logan’s new birth. Through the waters of baptism, Logan will be made into a Child of the Light. His name will be written not only in the Parish Register, but more importantly in Heaven in the Book of Life. After talking with Logan about Jesus, my hope and prayer is that all the people who come here will come to know Jesus like Logan already does.
In my conversation with Logan, he sang a song for me entitled ‘What a Mighty God We Serve!’ Yes, Logan we do serve a Mighty God! Those same angels that bow before our Mighty God are rejoicing this day over your baptism. These are the angels who saw Jesus being born on earth and who saw Philip baptizing the eunuch. It is because of Jesus’ birth into the world as our King, Priest and Savior that new birth is given to all who are baptized into Christ. May this day mark for you forever the beginning of your new life in Christ. May Christ shine through you like the Star of Bethlehem to help others find their way to Jesus.
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