Matthew 3:11-17

Matthew 3:11-17
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Baptism: a public declaration of an inner decision.
For the past couple of weeks Willow Creek Chicago, the church we attend in the city, has been talking about baptism. There has been announcements about the baptism service, classes to attend if you were interested and invitations to those who haven't been baptized, but have a relationship with Jesus. To be honest, I was baptized last October at MSU and I hadn't thought much about it.
Last week, Jon, the pastor at Willow, mentioned the service next week saying it was a baptism service and that anyone was invited to come and be baptized as a public declaration of their relationship with Jesus even if they had never attended a class or went to a meeting. I knew some people from project were thinking about it and some had gone to classes and some had made a decision to be baptized this Sunday, today. Beyond that I hadn't thought much about it, I was so happy for the 4 people from our project getting baptized and I was excited I could experience it from the stage where I would be interpreting for Rebekah, the deaf girl who attends church, but that was about it.
God, however, had a much bigger plan.
Things started out normally, I went to church, went to a production meeting and got ready for service to start. The service went as planned, worship, video, message... then something I had been waiting for all summer happened.
The message this week was of course about baptism and Jon used this passage, Matthew 3:11-17. Usually, since she is 13, Rebekah doesn't understand the message as it is spoken, so I have to stop and clarify some things, she usually says she understands and we continue. Today, Jon was talking about why Jesus had to be baptized and what happened after Jesus was baptized by John the baptist, I asked her if she understood and she said no so I stopped to clarify that after Jesus was baptized He was sent to the desert to be tempted by the devil for 40 days without food and water. She asked me why, why did he have to go to the desert? I told her because he had to experience temptation and sin. She asked why. This led to me explaining her why Jesus came to the world, why He died on the cross and what that meant. He came for us, He came to give us eternal life and to be with us forever, and by Jesus, who is perfect, taking our sin and dying on the cross for it, He took the death we deserve and gave us life. By Jesus taking our sin, He made us perfect. He did all this because He loves us and wanted to have a personal relationship with us, He wants to be with us forever. I got to share the Gospel with her, in ASL. As some of you know by reading my other posts, I have wanted to share the Gospel with her and with other deaf people, but was terrified and felt completely unable to, like I didn't have enough skills and couldn't get through it in ASL. Well, God used me today and gave me the opportunity to share the Gospel with Rebekah, in her first language, in a way she understood.
I was completely OK with that. Overjoyed at that. But, God, like I said had a much bigger plan.
After the message, Jon invited those who were getting baptized to come up on stage and then worship started again. Jon mentioned one more time that even if you have never gone to a class or attended a meeting on baptism, but felt called to get baptized, you were welcome to come up on stage. Willow had clothes to get baptized in and wanted anyone who wanted to get baptized to come up and declare that they loved Jesus and wanted to get baptized.
So worship started and out of the corner of my eye I see 2 women that I am on project with start to cry uncontrollably. I look behind me and see my roommate walk on stage to join the 4 that had decided to get baptized. Then, 2 more, and 2 more and 3 more and 3 more and 1 other person and some more. In total, 20 people from project were on stage changed and ready to be baptized. 20 of my brothers and sisters in Christ were publicly declaring their love for the Lord and that they were changed because of their relationship with Jesus.
I was overwhelmed, I could barely sign. I was in shock. But like I said, God had a bigger plan, even still.
Rebekah had been thinking about baptism and during the service today was questioning whether or not she should go up. Her mom told her that it was her decision and she would know if it was right. Next thing I knew Rebekah was handing her mom her hearing aids and heading up on stage. Her mom looked at me and told me to follow her and help her.
I walked on stage and helped her find clothes and find the changing room. Next thing I new she was in the tub and Jon called her mom up to help. Rebekah said she loved Jesus, knew she had a relationship with Him and knew that He loved her and wanted to be baptized. She was dunked under the water and when she came out the entire church was applauding, in ASL.
It was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
I still haven't comprehended all that happened, I still haven't taken it all in.
What an amazing experience. God used me, not only to share His love, but to help Rebekah declare her love for Him. Wow.
God was moving in that place.
Not only did 20 of my friends get baptized in one of the most beautiful way I have ever seen, but a girl who I met 5 weeks ago was baptized with my help because of God's gift. She was baptized by water and the Spirit and in ASL, her first language, the way God made her.
God is bigger than any of us can imagine. God is more beautiful than any of us can imagine. God is AMAZING!
That was probably one of the most incredible experiences of my life, something I hope to never forget, something that showed God's love, God's power and His beauty.
Wow. I am still in awe of God and His power to change lives.