THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
December 16, 2002
I entitled my sermon last Sunday, "Forget the Baby!" Some of my hearers’ thought that was quite harsh and made them think that I felt that babies are unimportant, that only when they grow up can you get to know them. This of course was not the intent. I have the deepest concern that the nurture of a child, even before birth not be neglected. That the brain being developed in the early days is profoundly influenced by tender loving care. Further, that quality time with them, even if there is no visible response give that baby the best chance to maximize their growth into the adult world.
Rather, the purpose of the title was to fix our attention on the grown up Jesus, even at this time of the year when the adulation is for the baby Jesus. It has been said that, "all the world loves a baby," but when they grow up, that’s different.
That was certainly true of Jesus. As he confounded his elders in the temple at age 12, to his baptism at the hands of John, and his public ministry he was misunderstood at first, then despised and rejected and then crucified. He just wasn’t what the people expected in a Messiah. He had it all wrong. So despite all he said and did, they couldn’t believe that the way to be first is to be last. That’s why we need to forget the baby and focus on the man Jesus. He is our Lord and savior. He is the one who challenged us to count the cost, yet to follow him. So it is that Peter, in his first recorded public proclamation at Pentecost as found in Acts 2:37, was asked by his hearers who had been challenged to the depths of their being by his message "what should we do?" His reply, "repent and be baptized…so that your sins may be forgiven and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
It’s this grown up baby who asks us to use the gift of the Holy Spirit to make God’s difference in the world where we live. When we call him our Lord, this is what we say we are going to do. It’s a task that we accomplish only because of the grace of our God and his power.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
201 Oak St.
Mauston, WI 53948-1333 608-8474555
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