Rooted in Jesus
Baptism and Communion
February 1, 2009
David Brubacher
Texts: John 15:1-11
Psalm 111
The “sermon” this morning includes all the things you have already seen, heard and song. Baptism and Communion will follow as further parts of the “sermon.” Living as I do in the middle of the vineyards of the Niagara Peninsula I offer a few reflections on John 15, Jesus the True Vine, as pertaining to Baptism and Communion.
Several years ago our neighbours built a new fence. A wild grape vine was growing on the old fence. Before removing the old fence they cut the vine at its roots and before long the leaves began to whither. I think of this image when I hear the words of Jesus, “apart from me you can do nothing.”
Baptism is an act that symbolizes a choice to be rooted in Jesus. In meeting with Laura and David in preparation for their baptism I was inspired to hear how clearly they stated that baptism for them was an outer expression of an internal decision to believe in Jesus as Saviour and Lord and to follow him in life.
The water of Baptism is a symbol of our cleansing from sin by the grace of God made known in Jesus. Pouring water into the bowl also symbolizes the pouring out of the Holy Spirit to empower us for a life of service in God’s Kingdom.
In Baptism you will see Laura and David kneel and then receive a hand inviting them to stand in the new life that is ours in Jesus. There may be various ways of understanding and articulating what is being symbolized in these actions. Kneeling can be seen as a symbol of dying with Christ, and standing as being raised to new life in Jesus. Personally I believe that Jesus died a physical death and three days later was raised to new life. My lifelong convictions to these ends were affirmed as I stood nearby the places where Jesus died and rose again.
But how is that dying and living in new life manifested in our lives beyond some level of mystical experience? God desires for us to strive toward the best of our created being. God knows and accepts that are not perfect. God’s grace comes to us in abundance. In striving towards our best we push beyond momentary desires. If I was to become an accomplished musician I would need to make some life changes. I would need to die to my love of sitting and doing crossword puzzles and create time to practice.
Ultimately a grape vine exists to produce grapes. This time every year eighty percent of last year’s growth is cut off the vine so that the vine remains healthy and produces a good harvest. The branches the children had here this morning were cut from the vines on my friend’s farm. They will die but the vine will live.
I have often shuttered at the image of pruning in John 15. It seems so violent. Maybe it’s because I heard the story of the branches cut off and gathered to be burned as a sign of the final judgment. Yes in some vineyards branches are gathered and burned. But think the central point of John 15 it is about being rooted in Jesus the true vine and being part of the larger purpose for which we have been created – bringing honour and glory to God on earth.
I say that based on another observation of viniculture. The year 2007 was an excellent vintage producing some great wines. But the necessary hot and dry climate in the latter half of the season was extremely stressful for the vines. Vines would die if they produced a vintage of that quality every year. In life we have moments when we give one hundred and ten percent, achieving near brilliance. We don’t arrive at those moments without dying to some other parts of ourselves.
An equally important observation is that my friends don’t expect a vintage of that quality every year. By God’s grace we are not expected to give one hundred and ten percent all the time. But we have been created so that when we give attention to whom God is, and whom God has created us to be, that we have the capacity to bring honour and glory to God in a life of service.
But we cannot do that alone. Apart from needing God’s grace – the empowering of God’s spirit – we also need others who will support and encourage us in life. I think it is significant that both Laura and David are choosing baptism at the time in their lives when they are embarking upon their chosen careers. I hear them confessing their allegiance to God. In choosing faith partners they are also inviting us to journey with them in a life of faith and service.
Walking together in faith and service to God is what we celebrate in Communion. In some respects Communion is a reenactment of Baptism. In the broken bread and crushed grapes we remind ourselves of being individually and collectively rooted in the death and resurrection of Jesus. We come to the table as a community. While we strive toward the best of what God has created us to be, we are not perfect. We need God’s grace. Communion is also a reaching out to the grace of God that enables us to be community.
Come now, watch, listen, and participate as the sermon continues in the acts of baptism and communion. There is a spring of faith flowing among us. Amen!