Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Thursday, 8 January 2015 - Scripture: Mark 1:4-11

Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Thursday, 8 January 2015 - Scripture: Mark 1:4-6 John the Baptizer appeared in the wild, preaching a baptism of life-change that leads to forgiveness of sins. People thronged to him from Judea and Jerusalem and, as they confessed their sins, were baptized by him in the Jordan River into a changed life. John wore a camel-hair habit, tied at the waist with a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild field honey.
7-8 As he preached he said, “The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will change your life. I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism—a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit—will change you from the inside out.”
9-11 At this time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God’s Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. Along with the Spirit, a voice: “You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.”[The Message]
At his baptism, God the Creator calls Jesus "the beloved." This is a glimpse of what God names us at our baptism. We, too, become "beloved" of God. No matter what other names you are called by others—or even by yourself—baptized into Christ you are now the beloved of God. Sometimes we are unkind to ourselves and thoughtlessly call ourselves names like stupid, silly, spazz, ugly, unfocused, unreliable, unlovable, foolish, klutz and so on. In other words, we tell ourselves that we are not good enough.
In baptism, we see ourselves in a new mirror. God holds the mirror of Jesus Christ up to us and proclaims you are beautiful, you are whole, you are worthy, you are loved. You are a beloved child of God. That is who you are. That is your true identity. No matter what. May you live out of and into that identity.
God of grace, thank you for loving us, claiming us and making us your own. Amen.
Julie M. Blum
Lead Pastor, Maple Leaf Lutheran Church
Seattle, Wash. 
Master of Divinity , 1998
Mark 1:4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
7 He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.
8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.
11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."[The Revised Standard Version]
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