The Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (feat. Pastor Vieth)

Trinity Lutheran Elkhart Homilies

This sermon on the Baptism of the Lord emphasizes Jesus’ identity as the beloved Son of God and the profound significance of His baptism. At His baptism, the heavens open, the Holy Spirit descends, and the Father declares, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." Jesus, though sinless, enters the waters not for His sake but to sanctify them for our salvation, cleansing and preparing them to wash away sin for generations to come. Despite this act of love, people often resist Jesus. Some desire a harsher, judgmental figure, while others feel unworthy of His compassion, expecting abandonment and condemnation. Both responses stem from fear and misunderstanding of Jesus’ true nature. The sermon highlights that Jesus’ baptism is a demonstration of divine love and compassion. He comes to restore the broken, free the bound, and cleanse the sinful. Through baptism, we are made beloved children of God, called to repentance, renewal, and a life of radical love and compassion for others. Jesus invites us to enter the waters of repentance, to be transformed, and to embrace our identity as God’s beloved children. In this, we find freedom, renewal, and a mission to share His love with the world.