Piero Baptism Sermon

Baptism of Christ

I am sure that all of us will have photographs which have been taken at a baptism – very likely it will be a posed shot with the minister holding the baby and the parents and godparents standing around the font. There are some churches which routinely take a photograph of every baptism and make a kind of collage of the church family which they put on display.

I wonder, though, if you may have a photograph taken actually at the moment of baptism?  Perhaps we ought to discourage the act of raising one’s mobile phone to do such at this special moment. But assuming it did take place, such a photograph could be quite revealing – the expression on the child’s face, the faces of family and friends gathered around. Surprise, happiness, laughter, concern, indifference, the act of bawling one’s head off – all sorts of emotions – the camera never lies, so they say! Their expressions, posture and body language would indicate, in some way, what they were thinking about and experiencing at that most special and precious moment of grace. 

Imagine a photograph taken at the baptism of Jesus – of course we don’t have one – but who would you imagine in the scene and what do you imagine is happening? We don’t of course have a photograph but we do have written accounts - three of them in fact! Written by the evangelists Matthew, Mark & Luke. Based on these written accounts, we have many paintings over the centuries of Christian art which depict each particular artist’s imagination of the scene. One very famous painting, and one of my favourites, is by Piero della Francesca. It dates from around 1445. Originally it formed part of an altar piece panel at the Priory of St. John the Baptist in Sansepolcro in Umbria, in Central Italy but it is now in a museum. Some of you may have seen it in the National Gallery. If not, you may have noticed a copy of the painting when you came into church this morning. If you didn’t you might like to see it on the way out.

There was a piece about it in the Independent this week by Tom Lubbock. He talks of its  ‘rich and complex patterning’ and points out the particular significance of the walnut tree which frames the scene, a symbol of the crucifixion in much of medieval art. Baptism anticipates of life in Christ which continues through Christian discipleship and our pilgrimage through life, from the cradle to the grave and beyond, with the promise of eternal life for those who believe in him.

Another art critic describes the piece of work as possessing a “majestic stillness”. You know sometimes how something happens and for a brief moment it is as if time has stopped because a particular event or experience somehow has such great significance. (For example, I remember having this kind of feeling at the horror of 9/11 when the planes crashed into the twin towers in New York). We may try to describe such experiences by saying it was as if “the world stood still!”

 

Piero della Francesca’s painting does have that air about it.

As you look at it you are drawn into the fact that something of tremendous importance is taking place here. As I look at it, I notice that the painting seems to be in two halves with Christ in the centre. Jesus stands with his hands together in an attitude of prayer. John the Baptist stands on his right with his arm lifted above Jesus’ head in the action of pouring the water of baptism. In the background we can see the pool of water and people gathered around watching. There is even one person getting undressed preparing for his own baptism – his clothing over his head and completely oblivious to what is going on. This manifestation of the glory of God taking place right in front of his nose! How true this to the reality of life - so often we fail to recognise the presence of God with us. And yet we are in constant preparation for what we are called to do, to strip ourselves and be prepared to take the plunge with Christ.

 

On the left of Jesus we see three figures – if you look closely you will notice that they are not human but in fact angels – inhabitants of the heavenly realm but very much part of this profound spiritual act. They are sheltering (as is Jesus) under a huge tree – perhaps reminding us of the tree of life in the Garden of Eden – symbolising the precious gift of life offered by God to Adam and Eve which was rejected by their disobedience. Perhaps pointing forward also to the consequences of costly discipleship, following the way of the Cross. Through faith in Christ, eternal life is restored to all of us and to us is given this promise to those who trust in Him. Today we renew our vows before God in this solemn service.

The sign of the anointing of the Holy Spirit which follows baptism is the hovering of a dove with outspread wings above the head of Jesus. Here, in the person of Jesus Christ is the meeting of earth and heaven. The two halves of the picture are seamlessly woven into one.

I am reminded here of the Transfiguration which, no doubt, we will consider in few weeks time in the Lenten season. On the mountain top, Peter, James and John were mesmorised within an intense spiritual experience seeing Jesus in a completely new and glorious way – his clothes dazzling white and in conversation with Moses and Elijah. The Baptism of Jesus too is such a timeless spiritual moment. We experience such moments in our own lives – perhaps not very often – but they are part of our experience – sometimes we recognise them instantly, sometimes we only recognise them as such many years after the event. But they are experiences which are significant to the outworking of our personal faith shaping the people God would have us be. And we must be prepared not only to give thanks but also to be transformed by them into the likeness of Christ.

But within the majestic stillness of this painting there seems to be something missing. Where is the voice of God? How do you paint the sound of a voice? Well, of course, you can’t! However, I wonder if perhaps the voice of God is the signal to move on:

This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.

Here is the moment of truth. The stillness of the painting draws our attention to stop and ponder upon the wonder of God’s glory being revealed in Christ through the power of the Spirit. But the voice disturbs us from the comfort of dwelling for too long upon this moment of grace. The voice acknowledges the truth of Christ’s anointing but it is also a commissioning for ministry - now get on with it! In all of the three gospel accounts, we are not told that anyone else hears the “theophany” (voice) at the Baptism of Jesus – these words are personal to him – they mark the beginning of his ministry. But we know the consequences as Jesus embarks faithfully on his Father’s business, announcing the good news, teaching and healing, and treading the road to Calvary.

At the Transfiguration, however, we are told that the voice of God is heard by the disciples:

This is my beloved Son – listen to him!

Here it is they who are being commissioned. Once again the voice marked the end of the timeless moment for these disciples who wanted to make tents and stay on the mountain to bask in the glory of Christ. The glimpse of glory was to be sufficient - it was time to move on. 

This week, spend a little time in quiet recalling some timeless moments throughout your life and your experience of fait, perhaps in times of worship, or reading the Bible, or in music and art, or on the mountain tops and in the beauty of God’s world, something said or done by a Christian friend. It could even be your Baptism if you were baptized as an adult or your confirmation. And as we start out on a new year, give thanks for those precious moments of anointing and strengthening through the power of the Holy Spirit. Recognise them as gifts – sense the assurance of God’s love and acceptance upon you, rest in his grace and then listen to his voice and move on as you prepare to be strengthened and go out from church today to the ministry God is calling you to - at home, at work, at school or university – wherever you are and whatever you are doing – because all of it is the work that God has apportioned to you to be done to his praise and glory. And be prepared to be transformed.

 

 Time for quiet reflection…

 

Prayer

Blessed are you, Lord our God,

You have created the heavens and earth.

Blessed are you, Jesus Christ,

You came among us and were baptized of John.

Blessed are you, holy and life-giving Spirit,

You descend as the dove and you fill us with life.

Blessed are you, Holy Three.

In you we live and move and have our being. Amen.