Mark 1: 1-13

As we begin this new year, it would be a good time to talk
about personal identity and spiritual  integrity.

How shall we chart our course for the days ahead?

The best way we can do this is to take a fresh look
at the starting point of Jesus' own pilgrimage -- His earthly ministry.
After Jesus is baptized, He goes away into the wilderness for a while.
After a period of time, He reemerges to begin His ministry.

We could say that His baptism was His inaugural.
It is here that He accepts His  mission.
He confirms His identity.
He sets His direction.

There are  some valuable lessons and directions
that we can gain from Jesus' experience as we prepare for the new year.

The essential question of life is  here.

Though this is not a baptism of repentance for Jesus,
it is  certainly a turn toward the future for Him.
It is the decision about life's meaning and direction.

The challenge we face is to put life to some greater purpose
-- great goals -- spiritual values -- and important  relationships.
For Jesus, the experience of baptism and the retreat into the  wilderness
were days of facing forward.
He determinedly followed the Father's  purpose for His life.

It may be that this is the invitation that you and  I need
to hear and heed in this coming year.
Perhaps, this is the essential  decision that we must make.
The essential decision is what and who will  reside at the center of our life.

There will be many choices we will be  required to make.
We can live for things, for power, for self-interest, for pleasures,
or for the expectations of people,
but none of these will make our life meaningful.

None of these will fulfill our needs.
Only a right  relationship with God can do that.

The important lesson of Nazareth is  also here. (Verse 9)

"Nazareth... of Galilee" was so small that Mark  thought it necessary
to identify the province as well.

But Jesus was from  Nazareth, and His life
had been forged in that little village -- in the  carpenter's shop
-- by His family -- and by His hometown synagogue.

"Can  any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Nathaniel asked,
and Philip said, "Come and see." (John 1: 46)

Surprise!

That is the lesson of  Nazareth.
Never underestimate what God can do with an insignificant,
ordinary person, church, or city.

When you put your life in the hands of God --  watch out!
He might do something special with your life.
He might do  something out of the ordinary, as He did with an ordinary Nazareth.

Years  ago in a shantytown near Johannesburg South Africa,
a young school teacher saw a  white man tip his hat to a black woman.

He'd never seen that sort of gesture from a white man.

That woman was the young school teacher's mother,
and the white man was a white clergyman named, Huddleson.

The school teacher and the clergyman developed a  friendship.
In time, the young school teacher also entered the ministry.
He became a bishop in 1976, and became a voice against apartheid.

In 1984, Bishop Desmond Tutu received the Nobel Peace Prize.

But it all started in a shantytown with a passing gesture of courtesy and respect.

The  important lesson of Nazareth is that God can use us
where we've been, where we are, and who we are.
God will shape our identity and our service in  Christ.

The creative power of God is also seen here.

The Spirit descended "upon Him like a dove." (Verse 10)

Jesus saw the heavens open.
He heard the voice.
He knew that whatever He had to do,
the Father would provide the strength and the resources to do it.

The dove not only symbolizes God's Spirit in bringing purity and peace,
but it reminds us of the second verse in the Bible, where we read:
"The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters."

Hovering, brooding, creating, bringing to birth something of significance.

As we open our lives to the presence and  power of the Holy Spirit,
we receive the grace to do what God has for us to do on our pilgrimage on earth.

One last point -- the first sign of integrity  is here.

The wilderness came after the baptism.
The first sign of  integrity will always be struggle.

The struggle for Jesus didn't end after 40 or 80 or 120 days.
The struggle for Jesus would last for His entire life on earth.
It would last through the years to His tears in Gethsemane
and to His cry from the cross.

For us, as for Jesus, the testing will come early, late, and at all points in between.

The temptation will be to settle for lesser gods and secondary goals.
The temptation will be to abuse our freedom in Christ by irresponsibility,
and lapsing back into guilt as life's primary motive.
The temptation will be to settle for love as emotional and  general
rather than as concrete and specific.

The fact is we will go from  Jordan to the wilderness.
We will go from the mountaintop to the  valley.
We will go from the sure to the uncertain.

Jesus never said that the Christian life will be easy.
He did not say, "Believe and life will  be simple."
He knew better.

Faith will help us in making life bearable.
Faith will give life depth.
Faith will help make some meaning out of life.

We must start taking one step -- then another -- then  another.

Frederick Buechner has said:
"We always answer with our  feet.
We get up and start following. Or we did not."

Maybe, we just plant our feet squarely on the ground,
and pretend we did not hear.
Or, we  move them, but in another direction.

But, if we decide to follow Christ, we  follow with our feet.

This may lead some to this church.
This may lead  some to a low, rent housing project.
This may lead some to hospitals or to nursing homes.
This may lead some to schools.
This may lead some to a new faithfulness toChrist.
This may lead some to a deeper study of God’s Word.
This may lead some to a new profession.
This may lead some to one who is dying without  Jesus.

Jesus calls us, "If any will come after Me..."

Let's follow Christ throughout the new year!

Let's keep following Christ come what  may!

Sermon by Dr. Harold L. White
Email Dr. White at hleewhite@aol.com