January 3, 2024
Today’s Reading: Titus 3:4-7
Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 63:1-14; Luke 2:21-40
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:4-5)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Merry Tenth Day of Christmas!
Merry Baptism!
You see what God does here? He’s connecting the events of Jesus’ birth and your rebirth by water and the Word. This passage from Titus 3 is typically heard in our Divine Services at Christmas, with the amazingly great Good News that “our God and Savior appeared” in the flesh. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, Christ is our God and Savior who appeared in the flesh and saved us.
But here we go again, all this talk of death, at a time we should be celebrating the birth of The Baby. right?! Why does death keep breaking into our celebration of Jesus’ birth?
God answers: “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” (Titus 3:3) Your broken and corrupt human nature is soiled with sin, and “the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) Being slaves to our passions and pleasures, we needed a holy and righteous Savior to suffer, die, and rise again. Christ Jesus was born in order to die (and rise!) for you. Thus, Christmas and its Twelve Day celebration are full of death and life, birth, rebirth, and resurrection.
The birth of Jesus publicly began His work of salvation. Later, He victoriously cried out, “It is finished,” completing that work for you at the cross. Now, the forgiveness and salvation that He already purchased and won is delivered to you in Baptism.
You and I don’t have works done in righteousness that could ever earn any salvation. We have no perfection like the Christ Child. We desperately needed the very work He did: “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:4-5)
So you see, Jesus’ death is the connecting link between His birth and your (re-)birth – “the washing of regeneration and renewal.” He did this – for you – to join you to Him through the miracle and happy gift of Baptism. So Baptism and Christmas aren’t such an unusual pair after all. Merry Baptism! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Water, blood, and Spirit crying By their witness testifying
To the One whose death defying Life has come, with life for all.
Spirit, water, blood entreating, Working faith and its completing
In the One whose death-defeating Life has come, with life for all. (LSB 597:1,5)
-Pastor Richard Heinz is pastor at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.
Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.
Study Christ’s words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.
