The Baptism of Jesus
What follows is a worship service which, I pray, you can participate in at a time(s) that are convenient to you. This 'service' will take about forty five (45) minutes.
I pray that you will feel called to ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE in this service.
The text that is in regular typeface (that is what you are reading at the moment) is to be read quietly, while the text that is in bold face (like you are reading right now) is meant to be read aloud.
Opening Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we commence our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A Call To Worship:
We meet in the name of God,
Creator of the universe,
source of true humanity,
mother and father of all. Amen.
An Assurance of Forgiveness:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
The Sentence For Today (let us say aloud):
The Lord shall give strength to his people; the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.
The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):
Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptised into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Our first reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Our second reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Gradual Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we raise out voices in praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
Listen to David speak to this gospel
or, if you prefer, you can read the sermon, below:
Sermon for The Baptism of Jesus, 11th Jan 2026
Welcome sisters and brothers and peace be with you. Take my lips O God and speak through them, take our minds O God and think through them, take our hearts O God and love through them this day. <Amen>
Today our gospel, Matthew 3:13-17, reminds us that Jesus journeyed from Galilee to the waters of the Jordan river to be baptised by John.
John tried to talk himself out of the task feeling that, instead, Jesus should baptise him.
Without doubt, John recognised that the man standing in front of him was “The One” for whom he had been preparing the way. John knew that this was the Messiah. John knew that Jesus didn’t need to be baptised. John knew that the Kingdom of God was looking him in right in the eye. <PAUSE>
So, why did Jesus think He needed to be baptised? He had never sinned; He didn’t need to repent. Yet, there he was, asking John to baptise him along with all those repentant sinners. It’s quite possible that Matthew’s first-century church had argued over this, and perhaps that is why Matthew makes a point of explaining a motive for this, seemingly, strange behaviour by the Son of God.
Jesus tells John, “Allow this to happen for the time being, to fulfil all righteousness.”
Let me paraphrase … “Trust me on this one,” Jesus says to John. “Even if it seems weird to you, just trust me. God has a plan in mind, and this is part of it.” <PAUSE>
So John becomes obedient, and baptises Jesus, and righteousness is fulfilled.
That word, “righteousness,” is absolutely full of meaning. Matthew uses it seven times in his Gospel, and each use signals a slightly different understanding of the word but on this occasion, Jesus is saying, “Come on John, Let’s do this! It’s part of God’s plan to redeem the world!” <PAUSE>
Baptism symbolises birth and rebirth throughout the Bible, and whenever this happens, “people enter the water as one thing,” (slaves out of Egypt, or wanderers entering the Promised Land), … and emerge as something entirely different”.
Jesus entered the water as ‘just another guy’, as far as the crowds around John were concerned. But when he emerged from those baptismal waters, He’d been changed for good.
Christ’s baptism marked the beginning of his public ministry on earth, but it also marked Him as God’s own Son, the Beloved, in whom God took great pleasure. <PAUSE>
When righteousness is fulfilled and Jesus comes up out of the water we have the only place in Scripture where The Holy Trinity are present, together, the Holy Spirit descending like a dove; alighting on the Son, as the voice of the Father speaks from heaven, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased .”.
This is the power, the awe, the majesty of The Baptism of Our Lord. <PAUSE>
When anyone presents herself\himself for baptism, that baptism will mark them, forever, as belonging to God.
This a visible, outward sign of an invisible, inward grace.
It’s important to remember that the Holy Spirit does this work in us; it is not some transaction we perform.
It is also important to remember that, once we are sealed with the mark of baptism, that seal is a permanent one. We belong to God, then, now and forever.
He has claimed us as his own.
You, I and all the faithful, enter the waters of baptism and emerge reborn, renewed, refreshed and spiritually clean. A sign of our resurrection into new lives in Christ.
In the waters of baptism, we remember that we are the children of God, loved by God and pleasing to God. <PAUSE>
Baptism won’t save us.
Baptism isn’t some secret initiation rite with magical properties.
Baptism is a sign to us of obedience to God - just as John became obedient.
In the waters of baptism there is the never ending grace of God and the never ending forgiveness of God
The good news is that the waters of our baptism never run out or lose their effectiveness.
We are baptised only once because Jesus IS the living water, flowing inside of us. Once we have had a taste of that water, we will never thirst again.
As we remember The Baptism of The Lord, Christ reminds us that, through our waters of baptism :
God brought us to new life.
Christ set us free from sin and death.
Christ claimed us as His own and He knows each of us by name.
We are reborn by the power of the Spirit.
In our coming to the water - TO GOD WILL BE THE GLORY.
I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu. <AMINE>
Pause and Reflect
Just take a moment now to pause. Bow your head, close your eyes.
Allow these words of Holy Scripture and this interpretation of them today to speak to you.
An Affirmation of Our Faith
Let us affirm our faith by saying aloud, and together, "The Apostles Creed":
... and now let us pray for the Church, the World, and Ourselves, giving thanks for God's goodness.
Let us pray aloud, and together:
Mighty God, Lord of life, we thank You for the moments which have pointed toward the mystery of baptism: especially Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River, when you opened the door of heaven to proclaim him to be Your beloved son and sent the Holy Spirit down upon him. Amen.
<Longer pause for personal reflection>
In response to the call today “Lord, in Your mercy” Our response is, “hear our prayer!”
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Everlasting God we raise before you all baptised Christians throughout the world. We pray that we all may be given the grace, courage and perseverance to faithfully keep the promises that we have made.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Creator God we pray for peace and integrity in all negotiations in international relations. Hear the cries of the people of the world who have never known peace; bring healing to those suffering from the violence of terrorism and comfort those mourning the dead.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Father God, we give thanks for the presence of Christ in our homes and in our lives. Guide us in all our relationships with family and neighbours, and bless those who have guided and enriched our own lives.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Loving God, we pray for all those who suffer in body, mind or spirit. May their pain be eased and may they find the strength to endure. Comfort them with Your presence and help them to hold on to the knowledge that Your son understood the truth of human suffering.
Give the song of joy to all who are now on the road to recovery and recuperation and the song of thanks to all who helped them on that road.
We especially raise before You now all those who have asked for our prayers from around the world … those we know in New Zealand, in Singapore, in Argentina, in France, in Australia, in the US, in Canada, in Austria, in Ukraine, in China, in Germany, in the Czech Republic, in Syria and any others we now name aloud, or in the silence of our hearts, and those who are known only by You.
In Your goodness and mercy, grant them health of body, soundness of mind and peace of heart.
We thank You for those who have come through illness and are on the road to recovery and also for those facing the reality that there is little light at the end of their earthly tunnel.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Merciful God, we pray for those who are dying and those who have already completed their life here on earth; may they rest in peace and rise in glory.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
In a moment of silence we pray for ourselves, our families, friends, for all whom we love and for our personal ministries. Make the things that we choose to do worthy of the life, death, and rising again of Your Son.
We especially raise before you at this time our recently departed sister and brothers, Elisa Margaret (England) and Frederick (Germany), Marcel (France), John Phipps (NZ).
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Gracious God, as we remember our re-birth in Christ, remind us of the things that are truly important and worthwhile. Help us to live in the goodness that comes from doing what you want us to do. Help us to put aside anxiety about the future and the past, so that we might live in peace with you now, and one day at a time.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Forth in the peace of Christ we go; Christ to the world with joy we bring; Christ in our minds, Christ on our lips, Christ in our hearts, the world’s true King.
Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Remembering that we are confident to pray this day, and every day, because Jesus Christ continues to teach us:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
Let us conclude our prayers by praying together and aloud:
God of mercy,
you have given us grace to pray with one heart and one voice,
and have promised to hear the prayers
of two or three who agree in your name,
fulfil now, we pray,
the prayers and longings of your people
as may be best for us and for your kingdom.
Grant us in this world to know your truth,
and in the world to come to see your glory. Amen.
The Blessing
May The Risen Lord Christ turn His face towards each and every one of you.
May He cause His light to shine upon you, and
may He grant you His peace, and
The blessing of Almighty God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you and all of those whom you love,
on this day and forever more.
A Closing Hymn:
Let us conclude our worship today by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we unite in another hymn our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
The Dismissal
Go now, go out into the world
to love and serve The Lord.
Go in peace.
AMEN, we go in the name of Christ.
