I want to talk today about something that’s missing, something that’s important but we often overlook – and something that I think we can’t do without.
So, firstly, what’s missing. If you pick up your reading sheets, the sharp-eyed amongst you may notice that the compilers of the Lectionary left out some verses part way through our Gospel reading. They come between John talking about the ‘unquenchable fire’ and the bit where it says when all the people, including Jesus, were baptised.
Perhaps those who choose the Lectionary verses had our best interests at heart and their editing was to avoid our confusion, but the rather important bit that they omitted is about John the Baptist being arrested and locked up in prison…
Which rather begs the question, who was doing the baptising, if John is already tucked-away behind bars? If John was in prison, then who baptised Jesus?
Out of the picture
Now Luke doesn’t say that John didn’t do it – but neither does he say that he did. We’re left to wonder what’s going on. Luke had spent most of the preceding chapters weaving together the stories of John and Jesus from before either of them were born. And now, he apparently wants to separate them and paints John out of the picture at the time of Jesus’ baptism.
It’s as if John has done his warm-up act but that’s done now and it’s time to show Jesus in his different role and ministry. John was a continuity point with the Old Testament, whilst Jesus came to fulfil it. I think perhaps that Luke intends that we focus on Jesus and the relationship to his Father and the action of the Holy Spirit – and on nothing else.
For despite there being mention of a crowd, it seems like a very intimate moment. The Holy Spirit descended in bodily form and a voice from heaven says: ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’
Empowerment
The Spirit is especially important to Luke. It’s the Spirit that leads Jesus into the desert and empowers Jesus’ ministry (4:1 and 4:14). Jesus rejoices in the Spirit and talks of the Spirt being conferred by prayer (10:12 and 11:13). Luke ends his Gospel with Jesus promising to send the Spirit (24:47-49) – and of course in Acts we have the Spirt at work at Pentecost.
We tend to connect baptism with forgiveness for sin. But here it’s more a moment of empowerment for who Jesus is called to be. It comes before his ministry and the time in the wilderness. Jesus apparently needs to hear those words “you are my son, my beloved”. Most of us here have been baptised. Our own baptism reminds us that we are forgiven – but perhaps we also need to be reminded that we are beloved too. Something to draw on when we are struggling in our own wilderness. But more of that later.
Naming
Secondly, the thing that’s important but we often overlook it – and that is naming. Jesus is named ‘Son’ by his Father. Earlier the angel says that he should be named Jesus, which in Hebrew is ‘Yeshua’ meaning ‘salvation’.
In the Bible, names signify calling or destiny – not just identity. Names gave a clue to someone’s character and nature. For instance, ‘Moses’ meant ‘to draw out’ – he was drawn out of the Nile and he drew the people out of Egypt. Abram’s name was changed to ‘Abraham’ meaning ‘father of a multitude’. Jacob meant ‘supplanter’ who cheated his way into his brother’s inheritance and later tricked his father-in-law. He later was renamed ‘Israel’ meaning ‘strives with God’ after he wrestled all night with a mysterious man who then blessed him and departed. Simon becomes ‘Peter’ meaning ‘the rock’ on which the church would be built. The changes gave meaning to the past as well as a promise for the future.
God’s name was considered so holy that it wasn’t spoken aloud and even today many practicing Jews will not pronounce or write it. One of the worst curses was to wish for the name of an enemy to be erased, blotted out (Psalm 109).
Named by God
We, too, are named by God. In our passage from Isaiah, it says this: ‘I have called you by your name, you are mine’. Whilst we are called to work together in community, we are individually known by God. In some Christian traditions, a symbolic new name is taken when being baptised or confirmed, to signify new identity even if that name isn’t used in daily life. Members of religious orders such as nuns and monks, take on new names which become the only ones that they use.
Just like Abraham, Israel and Peter, we too may undergo a refining process at times in our lives, and it may involve great struggles. However, unlike our biblical predecessors we don’t tend to change our first names, our Christian names, as a result, but God gives just as much meaning to our past and promises for our futures.
Ironically, perhaps, it’s called a ‘Christian name’ because it was the name given to you at baptism, back in a time when everyone was baptised.
My name ‘Ian’ means ‘God is gracious’. How God intends to use me to show that I don’t know – I may only know when looking back at the end of this life or in the next.
Beloved
Thirdly, something I think we can’t do without. In Luke, God confirms the relationship with his Son. In Isaiah, God confirms the relationship with his people. Jesus is called ‘beloved’ by his Father. In Isaiah, God says to his people: ‘You are precious in my sight, and I love you. Do not fear I am with you’. How often are we told that we are precious, valuable, worth something, loved?
These wonderful words are spoken to a people in exile who had to chose between a less-than-perfect but stable life away from their homeland versus going back to the rubble of their former homes. The same God who created the world and the human race, who brought Israel and Judah together, promises to be with the people as they face dangers and obstacles in the future. Not that dangers and obstacles won’t happen – but that God will be present when they do.
We are precious in God’s sight and God loves us. God will be with us too as we face difficulties and challenges. Just like the children of Israel back then, we shouldn’t be bound by fear now, for God is with us.
Formed, loved, called, enabled
This passage also tells us that we are redeemed. God pays the price to take us out of whatever bondage or captivity that we are in and will restore us.
We are formed, loved, called and enabled to do the work that we’ve been given to do. Whatever conflict or controversy maybe happening with the church at large, here, in this place, God is present. God’s affirmation of Jesus didn’t protect him from harm. We too may face danger, but God is with us, empowering us in whatever we’re being charged to do.
In the next chapter of Luke, Jesus goes into the desert for that time of testing, still wet from the water of baptism and with Beloved still ringing in his ears. With whatever we have before us, we would do well to have that name echoing in our ears too —with the knowledge that we, too, are the beloved of God.
This is a poem called ‘Beloved Is Where We Begin’ by Jan Richardson
If you would enter
into the wilderness,
do not begin
without a blessing.
Do not leave
without hearing
who you are:
Beloved,
named by the One
who has travelled this path
before you.
Do not go
without letting it echo
in your ears,
and if you find
it is hard
to let it into your heart,
do not despair.
That is what
this journey is for.
I cannot promise
this blessing will free you
from danger,
from fear,
from hunger
or thirst,
from the scorching
of sun
or the fall
of the night.
But I can tell you
that on this path
there will be help.
I can tell you
that on this way
there will be rest.
I can tell you
that you will know
the strange graces
that come to our aid
only on a road
such as this,
that fly to meet us
bearing comfort
and strength,
that come alongside us
for no other cause
than to lean themselves
toward our ear
and with their
curious insistence
whisper our name:
Beloved.
Beloved.
Beloved. Amen.
‘My Beloved’ was delivered by Ian Banks at St Margaret’s, Heywood, on Sunday 12th January 2025. It was based on Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 and Isaiah 43:1-7