Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost: Gospel, Luke 4:1-14                  

Luke 4:1-14

Baptism is an entrance. Baptism is a purposeful prelude. Have you ever looked at Holy Baptism that way? Oh, the magnificent treasures brought to us in our baptism. Now I know there may be those reading this who do not see Holy Baptism in the same way I do. As Lutherans do. But bear with me that upon the baptism of Jesus a door is opened. I would contend that the same door is opened as we “acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins,” as the ancient Nicene Creed states. Entering eternal life brings us to battle. We are living, all of God’s Christians, in combat-we are an occupying force and our Commander is ever near.

In our gospel reading for the week, we see Jesus taking direct blows from the one who will eventually mock as God the Son is raised on a Roman cross. But God the Son has good training. Training that will put away every foe-during testing and temptation, through murderous threats and death itself. And guess what? The infinite power that Jesus exhibits in His very real struggle against His enemy (and ours) is the very same power gifted to all those buried in baptism and raised to newness of life (Romans 6).

Baptism is the entrance to life and to a fight. The fight is real. It is something we taste and see. But so is our Lord (Psalm 34:8). And He has won the victory. For you. For us. Amen!