A New World Is Coming/Here

Rev. Jaz Bowen-Waring |

Epiphany 3 January 12, 2025

Today is Baptism of our Lord Sunday, and we’re diving into Luke’s account of Jesus’ baptism. The funny thing is, Luke doesn’t give us much about Jesus here—he gets two verses! Most of the story is focused on John the Baptist, this wild prophet who’s setting the stage for Jesus to begin his ministry. Let’s zoom out for a second and look at John. He’s not hanging out in Jerusalem, where all the political, cultural, and religious power is concentrated. He’s out by the Jordan River, living rough, speaking hard truths, and calling people to change their ways. Now, John’s not just some random guy shouting at the clouds. He’s part of this long tradition of prophets—people who speak truth to power, people who stand at the edges of the system and say, “This isn’t working anymore.” And his message? It’s big. Like, cosmic. He’s talking about a whole new world. “The mountains will be leveled. The valleys raised. The crooked paths made straight.” What’s he saying? He’s saying everything is about to change. He’s calling people to prepare their hearts, their lives, their communities. To burn away the cha—that stu that doesn’t nourish, that doesn’t bring life. To make space for something new. When people ask how they’re supposed to prepare for this new kingdom, his answer is practical: share what you have, stop exploiting others, and live justly. But John’s not just about harsh warnings—he’s pointing toward hope. He’s preparing people for Jesus, who’s bringing a new way of being, a kingdom where power is shared, and equality is the norm. Of course, the old world doesn’t like this kind of talk. Because the old? It doesn’t go quietly. The old ghts back. It resists. It lashes out. John ends up in prison, and we know how his story ends. It’s a preview of what’s coming for Jesus, too. Then we nally get to Jesus’ baptism. John’s in jail, so we don’t know exactly who baptizes him, but Jesus humbly steps into the river. Afterward, as he’s praying, something amazing happens: the heavens open, the Holy Spirit comes down as a dove, and God’s voice says, “You are my beloved; I’m so pleased with you.” Think about that—Jesus hasn’t even started his ministry yet, and God’s already arming him. This is a turning point. It’s the moment where heaven touches earth, and Jesus begins to live out this new reality that John’s been talking about. It’s a call to transformation— not just for Jesus, but for us. Fast forward to today, and we’re still caught between the old world and the new. We see the damage the old ways have done—things like climate change, wildres, and exploitation. But there’s hope. Isaiah reminds us that God is with us, even when things feel overwhelming: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…when you walk through re, you shall not be burned.” Jesus’ baptism shows us that God is in this with us. We’re called to join in the work of creating something new—to let go of what doesn’t bring life, to care for each other, and to care for the earth. We don’t have to be afraid, because God promises to walk with us every step of the way. So, let’s take the plunge. Let’s get our feet wet and our hands dirty in this work of transformation. Because this new world God is bringing? It’s worth it. Amen.