Baptism by Fire - Sermon for the 10th Sunday after Pentecost

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
August 17^th, A+D 2025
Our Savior’s and Our Redeemer Lutheran Churches
Hill City and Custer, SD
Baptism by Fire – Luke 12:49-50

Sermon Audio Available HERE 

   Our Lord declares: “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! ^[50] I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!”  What does this mean?

    Both our Epistle and our Gospel readings today are quite long.  Our Hebrews chapter 11 reading is long, and full of good works, a Hebrew Hall of Heroes, a list of faithful Israelites, whose trust in the promises of the LORD led them to do great things in salvation history… by faith Abraham, by faith Moses, by faith Rahab, and on and on.  

    Our Luke reading is also long, and stressful to hear.  Why does our loving Savior have to say such unsettling things?  Jesus gives instruction and warnings for His servants, for the way the Apostles and the pastors and teachers who would follow them, were to fulfill their calling.  They were to serve God’s people, and be ever watchful for the return of their Lord, the Son of Man, who will come at an hour that no one expects.  Setting standards and expectations, especially for those called into leadership, is good and right.  Definitely good news for God’s people, as Christ expects the servants of His Church to care well for the household of faith.  Perhaps a bit stressful for the men called into the office of public ministry, but oh well.     

   Then it gets worse.  Casting fire on the earth?  A Baptism able to create anguish in the heart of the Son of God?  How bad must that Baptism be to make the eternal Son be distressed?  Finally, Jesus goes on to say that His completion of His course would bring division, not unity, pitting family members against each other.  A “Baptism by Fire” which causes family division:  This is the Gospel of the Lord?!?

   Baptism by Fire.  Did you know that this expression came from the mouth of Jesus?  Today, as it has in our common English usage for a long time, a Baptism by Fire means an intense, highly difficult testing or exposure to danger, especially early on in someone’s service in some position of responsibility.  We most often use it with dangerous professions, in military or law enforcement contexts, as the newly minted Marine or the rookie cop is thrust into battle, and the quality of his training, and most especially of his character, is revealed in a brief moment.  Baptism by Fire.  Not a very “churchy” saying, I think most would say. 

   But Jesus says it, right there in Luke 12: “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! ^[50] I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!”  This is the Gospel of the Lord?!?  Yes, it is.

   As I studied today’s texts, I knew I would be focusing on this passage.  So I went looking on the interwebs for a “baptism by fire” picture that we could use on the bulletin.  And I discovered something odd.  When I searched on “Jesus’ Baptism by Fire,” none of the top results made any connection to the Cross of Jesus.  Instead, the Christian commentators focused on John the Baptist’s words about Jesus, just before baptizing Him:  “One comes after me whose sandal I am not worthy to stoop down and tie.  I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire.”  Now, there is certainly a connection between

A: John the Baptist’s words,

B: Jesus casting fire on the earth and being baptized with a baptism that gave Him distress, and

C: Christian Baptism, which is a baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. 

     But Jesus in our Gospel reading is not talking about the Baptism He would instruct His Apostles to administer to all nations.  Jesus baptism by fire is His looming Cross. 

   Sadly, virtually all of the web pages and images I saw when I searched on “Jesus’ Baptism by Fire” skipped right over the Cross, trying in various ways to explain Jesus’ promised “baptism with fire and the Holy Spirit”.  But they try to explain it without connection to Jesus’ word about “casting fire on the earth” and a “baptism to be baptized with,” so they can’t get it right.   

   The Cross of Jesus and His Resurrection on the third day is the pivotal event of the entire Scripture; it is the most important thing that has happened in all of history.  Certainly we want to know the meaning and significance of John the Baptist’s promise that Jesus’ would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.  But nowhere does the Bible describe the Baptism that Jesus gives the Apostles to do to all nations as a fiery trial, a frightening experience.  From Pentecost to the Ethiopian eunuch to the Philippian jailer’s house, to the letters to Ephesus, Colossae, Galatia and Rome, Christian Baptism is described as an entry rite, a joyous incorporation into the family of God, a union with Christ and the Holy Spirit, an adoption of a forgiven sinner by God the Father. 

   Fiery trials certainly come to Baptized Believers.  Much like our list of Hebrew Heroes in our Epistle, Christians are frequently called to endure severe testing as they walk in the way of Jesus.  And it is precisely Jesus’ Baptism by fire on the Cross that empowers and makes possible all that the good the Christian does in his or her life.  So we should not skip over the Cross.    

   When folks try to understand “Baptism by Fire” without factoring in the true source of the phrase, we shouldn’t be surprised that the interpretations go off the rails.  Since they skipped over the most important event between John the Baptist’s preaching and the launching of the Christian Church on Pentecost, the explanations I saw on the Internet went all over the place.  Mostly they focused on a baptism by fire as some kind of testing of the Christian, an opportunity for the Christian to shine, to prove their mettle under duress, much like the military uses the phrase today.  And yes, of course, the baptized people of God do go through great trials and testing, and by faith in Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit, you can do great things.  But again, not to beat a dead horse, this focus skips over the most important part. 

   Satan loves when we do this.  He tried to dissuade Jesus of Nazareth from finishing His course and submitting to the Cross.  Failing in this effort, the evil one now spends most of his energy trying to keep Christians from focusing on the death of Jesus.  He has to, because on the Cross, Christ took away all his ammunition to accuse, frighten and enslave sinners.  Satan’s power lies in the fact that we are sinners, and so he can accuse us and make us believe that God must reject us.  Jesus reversed this reality, on Calvary, receiving the full punishment deserved by our sin, and the sin of the whole world.  The Devil doesn’t want anyone to know that his accusations are empty, because Jesus has paid the debt of human sin, 100%.  He doesn’t want anyone to believe this Good News, because this Gospel sets sinners free, in Christ Jesus. 

   So, every time a trendy church planter decides that the new church building shouldn’t display a Cross, because that might be off-putting to some people, the demons cheer.  Even more, when teachers and preachers decide to avoid talking about the stain of sin and the shed blood of Jesus, which alone can wash that stain away, then God’s people are deprived of what they truly need.  When the Church’s message becomes one of self-improvement and our best life now, or even love for the neighbor without mention of the Son of God who loved us best, by dying for us, then saving faith is threatened.  Whenever churches make something other than Cross of Christ the center of their message, Satan will then do all he can to help that ministry grow. 

   Satan will encourage Cross-less Christianity, because, despite claiming the name Christian and putting on some of the trappings that society associates with the Church, any preacher or congregation that fails to keep Jesus’ Baptism by Fire front and center is leading people away from salvation. 

   Which is just the opposite of what the New Testament writers do.  Like the writer of the letter to the Hebrews.  He spends forty verses extolling the faith and works of the saints of ancient Israel, but to what purpose?  To send off his hearers to focus on seeking out their own spiritual challenges to conquer?  No, not at all, just the opposite.  After finishing his litany of Israelite faithful doers of great deeds, he says this: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ^[2] fixing our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  ^[3] Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 

   To say it another way, take a look, every day, at the Baptism by Fire that Jesus endured, for us and for our salvation.  For the wonderful news hidden under the horror of Good Friday is the power of God unto salvation, for all who believe.  Indeed, it is the great work that Jesus completed on the Cross that empowers and makes Christian Baptism joyful, the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, where we get credit for the fire that Jesus passed through.  It is also the source and power of Christian good works, but let’s keep first things first.  Fix your eyes on the crucified Jesus, for salvation, which will renew your heart.  And then yes, you will also find good works of faith prepared for you to walk in.  But always walk with your eyes fixed on Christ Crucified, for He is the only source of life and love that endures.   

    Christian Baptism flows from the Cross and joins sinners to the Crucified One.  “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life, (Romans 6)   For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise, (Galatians 3). 

   Paul in Colossians 2 exhorts us not to be fooled by earthly philosophy, “for in [Christ Jesus] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; ¹⁰ and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.  ¹¹ In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised [Jesus] from the dead.

   ¹³ And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with [Christ], having forgiven you all your sins, ¹⁴ by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in [Jesus].                      

Satan definitely does not want you hearing and believing that. 

   As St. Peter said at Pentecost, and in his first letter, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Acts 2), and, more simply, “Baptism now saves you,” (1 Peter 3). 

   I could go on, and on.  For the Holy Spirit has inspired many, many good words about Baptism.  God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who created the universe through His powerful Word, has ordained that the victory won by Jesus through His death on the Cross be delivered to sinners through the washing of water with the Word.  And what Word is that?  The Word of grace, mercy and hidden power that Jesus declared at the end of Matthew:  “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  The power of Baptism is the most precious and holy Word that there is, the Holy Name of God, revealed through the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.  He is God in human flesh, who was baptized for us, first in the Jordan River, where He identified with and stepped into the role of the sinner.  And Jesus was finally and eternally baptized by fire, for us, receiving the fire of the God’s wrath against human sin, our sin.  Jesus hung under that unimaginable fire, the very fire of Hell, to extinguish that fire in His own Body.  Now, by our union with Him, sinners like you and me can be safe in God’s loving family, both today, and forever and ever. 

   This is the wonderful surprise that Satan most wants you to miss.  A fiery trial was required to reconcile us sinners to God, but none of us could have withstood it.  We have no strength to endure the punishment we deserve, no hope of paying the full price and coming out on the other side, right with God.  This had to be done, but was impossible for us.  So, in love, Jesus stepped into that fire, for us.  Jesus was baptized with the wrath of God’s just anger against human sin, so that we don’t have to be.  Now, risen from the dead and vindicated by the Father as the Beloved Son who has done all things well, Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth, authority which He instills in Holy Baptism.  By Baptism His victory becomes our victory, His life is our new life, His Father is Our Father. 

   Why then, do Christians so often struggle to receive the Cross and Holy Baptism for what God says they are?  Why instead do we argue and divide ourselves based on our various understandings?  Well, part of it is our tendency to think too highly of our reason, to even come close to worshiping our ability to make sense of everything, including God’s ways.  The Bible from start to finish proclaims a God who is infinitely greater and wiser and stronger than we can understand.  His ways and thoughts are not like our ways and thoughts.  And yet too often Christians demand that God’s ways conform to our logic.  Baptism doesn’t seem like much.  Whether we sprinkle just a little water or dunk you in the ocean, all we are really doing is saying a few words while applying one of the most common elements on earth.  How can that forgive sins?  How can water do such great things?  How can Baptism save, or be the rebirth from on high of a sinner?  It doesn’t seem logical to us.  But this is what God says, what God promises, in His mighty Word. 

   Baptism sometimes seems unreasonable to us, and so we are prone to re-interpreting it.  The Cross is not just unreasonable, it is also terribly uncomfortable, and frightening.  What the Cross says about us, about the seriousness of sin, does not always make for a comfortable and pleasant Sunday morning gathering.  And so we, preachers and hearers alike, are prone to look away.  The sinner who remains in each of us hates hearing how Jesus suffered, because of me, because of you.  We are tempted to look away, to fix our eyes on anything else.  And when we do, Satan smiles. 

   But the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.  The Lord God, by grace, through the Word of Christ, once again fixes our eyes on Jesus, hanging on the Cross, suffering there, in love, for us.  The risen and ascended Christ says fear not, I have been baptized by fire, for you, and it is my great joy to present you to my Father, as His forgiven and beloved child.  Stay close to me, and I will bring you through every fiery trial.  You are safe in my nail-scarred hands, today, and forever and ever, Amen.