Isaiah 43:1-7; Romans 6:1-11; Luke 3:15-22

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Many people will act differently with different groups of people. For instance, we tend to have a different persona for when we are at work versus when we are at home. We act differently among friends than we do at church. Many of us, I would assume, do this because we all have a desire or urge to be accepted as part of a group. There’s nothing wrong with this as it’s natural that we relate to different people in a different way. 

However, sometimes we worry that with having so many different personas, that we’re not being truly authentic to ourselves. When who we are is dependent on who we are with, we can often face imposter syndrome. This happens when we worry about being “discovered” or “found out” as a fake or fraud. Our identity is bound up in fulfilling a set of expectations for a group of people.

As Christians, I think we can sometimes suffer from this same imposter syndrome. The world thinks of us as holy, perfect people when we know that we’re not. We often try to uphold this persona even when we know that we’ll never match it. Rather, we’re imposters. Sinful people claiming to be holy. 

But our Gospel lesson for this week shows us a different picture. Jesus comes to John to be baptized. While all the other gospels offer more words for such event, Luke remains brief. “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened…” Luke 3:21. Jesus’ baptism isn’t given many more words than “Jesus was baptized.” You see, in a way, Jesus was the true “imposter.” He came to be someone that he never was. John baptized people for repentance of their sins. But Jesus also was baptized. Why?

As Jesus comes to be baptized, it’s far more than a ceremonial event. It begins his ministry, yet, it’s much more than just the start of something new. Jesus is baptized so that he may become like us. “God made him to be sin who knew no sin.” Jesus is the true imposter… and that’s a good thing! In his baptism, Jesus partakes of our sins, becomes even the sin-bearer who will cleanse the people of their sins. Jesus becomes our imposter so that he may take our sins and death upon the cross. But there’s yet more. For once Jesus is baptized, the heavens are opened and God’s voice proclaims from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased,” Luke 3:22. Because of Jesus’ baptism, because he was made to be like us, God now makes us to be like him through baptism. When we are baptized, the heavens are opened and God speaks the same words over you, “You are my beloved child, with you I am well pleased!” Thus, we say, when you have doubts, when you feel like an imposter, look to your baptism and hear again God’s word over you. You are a beloved child of God!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!