What’s it like to be locked out?
Have you ever been locked out, perhaps from your house or car? How did it feel when the way was opened? Once, in my university days, I forgot my house keys. I returned home in the early afternoon but everyone was out and they’d locked the house. I was locked out! I had to wait a couple of hours in the backyard for Mum to come home. Being locked out can mean being outside and alone, exposed to the elements.
In our gospel reading (Luke 3:15–22) we witness Jesus being baptized. Except, in Luke’s gospel, the baptism itself doesn’t seem like such a big deal. There’s no mention of the Jordon or even Jesus coming up out of the water. Luke simply says, ‘When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove.’ (Luke 3:21–23).
To me, the emphasis seems to be that ‘heaven was opened.’ Jesus has opened heaven. Or perhaps, more precisely, God the Father has opened heaven on behalf of his beloved Son with whom he is pleased. The way has been opened for you through Jesus. But what does it mean that heaven has been opened? And how might this change your day to day life? Let’s explore.
(1) Heaven is opened for the cleansed/purified/refined
In Scripture, heaven is described as God’s dwelling place. Heaven is his home and sanctuary (Psalm 102:19; John 14:2). Scripture also tells us that God is holy. He is separate and distinct from creation, and stands above creation in heaven. Holiness means that God is free from any kind of blemish; he is perfect and pure in every way. So heaven is locked off to anyone who is less than perfect. The door is locked for anyone who is blemished or dirty or stained i.e. sinful. It’s only open to those who are clean and pure, like God himself.
It’s a bit like my kids. My kids love to play in the mud. But the first time we did this here at the Walla manse, after they were finished, they ran in the door to the bathroom before we could stop them, leaving a path of muddy footprints from the back door to the shower. So now we lock the backdoor when they start playing in the mud. Then when they’re finished, I hose them clean and towel them dry before unlocking and opening the door.
I think this picture, hosing off mud before the door is opened, helps us understand our gospel reading. The door to heaven is open to those who are clean. God speaks saying that Jesus is clean, saying, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22).
We, on the other hand, are a different story. One way to describe “sin” is to that we are blemished and dirty. It’s like we’re covered in mud and the door is locked. Scripture tells us that even from conception, before we’ve been born and done anything, we are sinful. Yet in our baptism, God washes us clean. We are washed clean with water. David says it like this, ‘Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.’ (Psalm 51:1–2). Like having a bath, this cleansing is something that is repeated every day. Every day God invites you to return to your baptism and be washed clean again. In the absolution you just heard God speak to you the words of forgiveness linked with your baptism, “I declare your sins forgiven, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Challenge: how will you be washed clean day to day this coming week? Perhaps you could daily pray the Lord’s Prayer, and ask God, “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.”
John tells us the baptism of Jesus is greater than just being washed clean with water. “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:16).
“Spirit” just means “breath” or “wind.” So in your baptism you are baptized with the Holy Spirit, a holy wind, a wind which purifies you and makes you holy. Think about a head of wheat. Last year I visited a farmer and he showed me his crop. He picked a head of wheat, rubbed it in his hands, and gently blew. The chaff — the husks — just blew away but the wheat kernels remained in his hand. This is the picture God uses to teach us about baptism with the Holy Spirit. God purifies his church, he purifies you. He blows away the chaff, the useless parts, the parts that are not special or set apart. But the kernel, the set apart people (you!) remain.
The meaning of “fire” is a little uncertain. I think what’s spoken about here is a refining fire. Precious metals, like gold, are placed in the fire to refine them, and remove impurities. These impurities bubble to the top and are scrapped off. It’s not a very pleasant process though, being heated up in the fire, melted and the crusty bits scrapped off. Perhaps you’ve experienced this refining process through fire in your own life?
Each of these processes happened once and for all in your baptism: you were washed clean in the waters, you were purified by a holy wind, you were refined like precious gold. Yet each is still happening, the process continues. You are washed clean each day as you pray to receive God’s forgiveness. You are continually being purified as the Holy wind gusts through your life, blowing away the chaff. You are refined as you walk through various fires and trials. As you are cleansed, purified, and refined, heaven is opened to you.
(2) Heaven is opened for us to have relationship with God
Heaven being opened implies having a relationship with God. Imagine trying to have a relationship with someone through a closed door?! You would have to shout, you wouldn’t be able to see them — a deep relationship would be impossible. There is a connection between heaven being opened and having a relationship with God.
This connection is prayer. ‘As Jesus was praying heaven was opened’ (Luke 3:21). Heaven is open to Jesus — the beloved Son has a direct relationship with his heavenly Father. And because of your baptism which washes clean, purifies, and refines, heaven is open to you and you too are invited to have a direct relationship with God. The door is open to talk and listen with God. To be in his presence. To grow in love and understanding.
Later in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus will teach his disciples about prayer. He teaches what we call the Lord’s Prayer. Immediately afterwards, he tells a parable how prayer is like a friend knocking on a locked door asking for food. Jesus concludes the parable saying, ‘Knock and the door will be opened to you’ (Luke 11:9).
Your baptism, which links you to Jesus, means that the door to heaven has been opened to you. God invites you, through prayer in Jesus’ name, to be in relationship with him. So knock, and ask for what you need, for the door will be opened. Heaven has been opened to you.
Blessing
May God continue to cleanse, purify, and refine you through your baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire. May you continue to knock on heaven’s door in prayer as you grow in your relationship with God. Amen.
