The American HeritageŽ Dictionary defines inauguration as a formal induction into office or a formal beginning or introduction. This is the time of year that we see many inaugurations in our country. Our new governor was inaugurated less than two weeks ago. Since Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1937, the President of the United States has always been inaugurated on January 20th after being elected. The presidential inauguration is quite the important day. The Chief Justice of the United States swears in the President as he takes the oath of office. With this oath, the President promises to carry out his duties and mission as the leader of the country.

These inaugurations have been filled with many interesting facts and events. The first one to be televised was Harry Truman's in 1949. John F. Kennedy was the youngest president to be inaugurated. William H. Harrison spoke for two hours at his inauguration in the rain. He got pneumonia and died soon after. These ceremonies also mark the beginning of some great presidencies, such Washington's, Lincoln's, and Reagan's.

But all of these inaugurations pale in comparison to the Inauguration Day that took place near the Jordan River almost 2000 years ago. For that day God's own Son would be inaugurated into his mission. That day on the Judean countryside, Jesus would begin his earthly ministry and make his way eventually to the cross. This morning let us focus on this most important inauguration, looking at the participants, the events, and the mission to be carried out.

First of all, let consider the participants. In the beginning of the lesson we hear about John the Baptist. John was a cousin of the Lord Jesus. And as you will recall, John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ. He was the one the prophets told of who would prepare the hearts of the people for the coming of the Messiah. John was one who preached the message of repentance. He was the one who gave the assurance of forgiveness through Baptism.

Then there were the people whom John was preaching to. They were sinners. The law told them that they were condemned for their sin against God. The told them they deserved God's wrath. The law preached by John the Baptist moved them to repent of their sins. They did repent and John baptized them in the Jordan River. The Word of God and the water gave them the forgiveness of their sins that thousands of years of the priests' sacrifices had also brought. They were assured that God had removed their guilt. The punishment that should have been theirs was removed from. They needed this gospel message and John gave it to them. The baptism they received from John eliminated their shame.

Those sinners were no different from the sinners that are here today in this church. As sinners, we stand before the Ruler of the universe and bring nothing but the guilt and shame of our sin. We need to hear the law also. It is the same law that John preached. It is the same law that condemns. It is the same law that moves us to repent of our sins before God. But just as those sinners standing on the banks of the Jordan needed to hear the gospel, we also need to hear it. We need the forgiveness of sins that God's Word tells us about. We need the assurance that our guilt has been erased. We receive this amazing gift through baptism. Through the Word and the water, we have been given forgiveness. Let us give thanks daily that God has washed our sins away.

Besides John the Baptist and the sinners, Jesus was there on that most important inauguration day. He was there as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesies. Christ was the reality of the Messiah in every way. Jesus was true God in order to live perfectly. He was true man in order to bear the sin of the world. He was there to be just a Savior to the Jews, but rather a savior for the Jews and Gentiles both. He would pay for the sins of those listening to the words of John the Baptist and he would pay the price of sin for us here today also.

There were two other significant participants in the inauguration that day. The first came to the inauguration in a voice from heaven. It was God the Father. He was looking down from the heavenly realms and I will talk more about his role that day in a little bit. The other participant was the Holy Spirit. The words of Mark talk about the Spirit in this way, "As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove." With the voice of the Father, the Spirit in the form of a dove, and Jesus coming out of the water, the entire Trinity was present that day. This proves that this was a most significant day.

As with our inaugurations today, this inauguration of Jesus was a very important day and culminated in a very important event. At our modern day presidential inaugurations, the president is sworn into his office and officially begins his duties as leader of the country. Jesus' inauguration into his office was no different. It marked the beginning of his ministry. However Jesus did not put his hand on scroll, raise his right hand, and swear to be the savior. Rather Jesus was baptized.

Why was Jesus baptized? Our baptisms give us forgiveness of sins. Jesus was sinless. What good would a baptism do for the perfect Son of God? Was Jesus receiving the same baptism that we receive? John's baptism of the sinners was the same. It used the Word and water. It gave the forgiveness of sins. And its power came from God. However Jesus baptism was a little different. He didn't need the forgiveness of sins. Jesus was baptized in order to identify with us sinners. Through his baptism he was saying that he would willingly bear the load of sin for the world. He would become sin for us in order to save us from our sin.

Is this hard to understand? Yes, there is no doubt about it. Even John the Baptist, Jesus' cousin and the forerunner of the Messiah, shied away from baptizing Jesus. Matthew's account of Jesus' baptism tells us this, "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?"

Yet it was God's will that Jesus be baptized. That is confirmed for us in the words spoken by the voice from heaven, God the Father. With all three persons of the Trinity present these words came from God, "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." God blessed those watching the inauguration of Jesus that day. For they watched the Son of God, saw the Spirit of God, and heard the voice of God. We too are blessed because we witness this great day through the Word of God.

Each president or person inaugurated is being formally inducted into office. With the office of president of the United States of America comes a terrific amount of responsibility. Jesus also had a tremendous amount of responsibility. He is our prophet, priest, and king. Many who have been inaugurated have failed in their responsibilities. But Jesus carried his duties flawlessly. And thus we have been saved.

It is fitting to use terms common to the Epiphany season to describe the mission that Jesus was embarking on. Epiphany typically is celebrated the 6th of January in the Christian church. It marks the visit of the Magi from the East to worship Jesus. The season of Epiphany reveals Christ, the Son of God. It reveals him in two ways specifically. These two ways give evidence of the mission that Christ would carry out. The first is that Jesus would be a light to the gentiles. Jesus Christ would bring all nations out of darkness into the light of salvation. The second way is that Jesus Christ would be the glory of his people Israel. Jesus would be the Messiah that promised from the Garden of Eden and throughout the history of the Old Testament. He would be the one whom John the Baptist preached about. This was Jesus commission by the Father. This was the role he was to fill. And he was successful.

This is what we have learned from that most important day. We are reminded that we are sinners and need to repent. We have been convinced that we receive salvation because of the success of Jesus. We are taught to take this message to all nations, baptizing them and preaching this saving message. May we not gloss over this very significant day in the life of Jesus. It was his formal induction into his ministry here on earth. It was his inauguration day.