Walter’s Baptism

Jubliate, The Fourth Sunday of Easter               26-April-2026

(Walter Lyle Hornbuckle’s Baptism)

Sermon Text: John 16:16-23

Sermon Theme: “Baptismal Victory As We Face “Little Whiles” in Life” 1.Jesus’ Comforting Words Are Nonsense to Fallen Reason.(vs.16-18) 2. The Only Path to True Joy Is Christ’s Cross! (vs.19-20) 3. We Born From Above To Joyful Life in Jesus! (vs.21-23) by Rev Nathan J Rusert 

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I.N.R.I. Alleluia! Christ Is Risen! …Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Alleluia. Sing out the honor of His name; make His praise glorious. Alleluia. (Psalm 66:1-2) Today shout forth victory! As Joshua first met Walter in the Old Testament. Remember? It is recorded in Joshua 5. Listen! “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, "Are You for us or for our adversaries?" So He said, "No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?"” (Joshua 5:13-14) The name “Walter” is German for “commander of the army.” Jesus The Eternal Commander of the Lord’s Army - the true ‘Walter,’ met with Joshua before the children of Israel faced battle with the mighty enemy in the fortress of Jericho. The Lord alone won the victory for them bringing down the walls of Jericho with a shout of triumph. History records: “Then the Commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, "Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so.” (Joshua 5:15)

      You stand on holy ground. Every Sunday as you invoke the Name of the only living God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He makes your sanctuary “holy ground.” Baby Walter and his family stood on “holy ground” at the baptismal font. You heard the voice of your crucified and risen King Jesus promising, “I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Little Walter, by nature a child of wrath chained to darkness and enslaved by the prince of the power of the air, is now delivered from darkness into the wonderful Light of the Lord, declared a citizen of heaven, a son of God the Father, a stranger and alien to our present fallen world. He was “holified” by the Holy Spirit enlightening him in the true faith that believes in Jesus Christ his Lord and continually comes to him.

      You stand on holy ground. Poor miserable sinners we confessed ourselves to be - then from the mouth of your pastor, as from the mouth of the Crucified and Risen Commander of the Lord’s Army - you heard cross won - empty tomb certified victory applied to you, “I forgive you all your sins!” “This is most certainly true!” You are holified, washed forgiven of all your sins in the living blood of Jesus. Forgiveness spoken is Easter reality.

      The Christian lives joyfully even in this present evil age! We live joyfully under the cross. We live joyfully as strangers and exiles in this world - our God has not forgotten us. He calls us by name - just as He calls out and cares for all the stars in heaven. He cares for you. Learn the shout of victory found in the living scars of the Commander of the Army of the Lord - Jesus! Baptismal Victory As We Face “Little Whiles” in Life” 1.Jesus’ Comforting Words Are Nonsense to Fallen Reason.(vs.16-18) 2. The Only Path to True Joy Is Christ’s Cross! (vs.19-20) 3. We Born From Above To Joyful Life in Jesus! (vs.21-23)

1. History records, “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask."” (Mark 10:35) The disciples were journeying to Jerusalem for the final Passover. For the third time on their journey, Jesus of Nazareth told them; “"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."” (Mark 10:33-34) This wouldn’t be the first time that students weren’t paying attention to their Teacher, nor the last. James and John wanted to be seated at Jesus’ left and right hands when He entered His Kingdom. Our Lord’s Kingdom isn’t of this world. The Teacher seeks to teach, ““But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." So Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared."” (Mark 10:38-40)

     The other disciples were indignant. Like all of us children of Adam, they lust to be #1. Jesus’ Words of the cross are nonsense to sin corrupted reason. Today’s Gospel lesson records Jesus’ Words spoken as they journey towards the Garden of Gethsemane. The Last Passover meal ended soon to find its fulfillment in the Lamb of God taking away the world’s sin by His lone sacrifice. Listen to Jesus! “"A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."” (John 16:16

   We live in the 8th day of creation, the first day of the new creation, the reality of Easter. The disciples were living in the darkness of Good Friday. History records:John 16:17-18 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, "What is this that He says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, 'because I go to the Father'?" [18] They said therefore, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is saying." Good Friday with the scourging pain, abandonment, crucifixion makes no sense. The cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.

      Jesus tells us that we will face “little whiles” in life. We don’t understand. If Jesus died and rose for us. Why does suffering come? Why does it seem we are forgotten and forsaken?

    If God has placed His name upon me in baptism. Why does it seem I am forgotten? Forsaken? That my complaints aren’t heard? The “little whiles” make no sense to my fallen thinking. “We do not know what He is saying…” We heard Him speak to us this morning, “I baptize…” “I forgive…” We hear His Words, but like the disciples we don’t know what He is saying. The problem is our fallen sin corrupted thinking. Instead of clinging only to Jesus’ Word, we twist His Word to be about us, not about His gifts to us.

     Repent! Stop trusting your thinking…it is totally corrupted by sin. Learn to listen only to Jesus’ Word - never your own reason or strength. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ! (Rom. 10:17).

II. 1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,

St. Peter was certain he’d die with Jesus - never deny Him. We learn from him the weakness of our flesh. A little slave girl asks a simple question - Peter will not confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God….He denies, compromises the truth to save his skin.   Fleshly lusts war against the soul. We are engaged in spiritual warfare.

   Our fallen reason imagines that the way to glory is a path of ease and power. We want to find joy in what we imagine, do, and feel. It is all self-deception! A spiritual lie ensnaring in unbelief!

   History records, John 16:19-20 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, "Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'? [20] Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

       Sorrow turned to joy. Weeping while the world rejoices. These riddles bogle our imagination. What do they mean?

     These mysteries make no sense unless you stand under the shadow of Christ’s cross. God the Holy Spirit through the pen of St. Peter reminds us, “when you do good and suffer for it, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.” (1Pt2:20).

       This morning you witnessed God the Holy Spirit birthing a new citizen of heaven from above in baptism. Jesus spoke His Word through your pastor, the Holy Spirit brought little spiritually dead Walter to new life believing the Words and promises of God. “He who believes and is baptized, shall be saved.” From this day forward in Walter’s life - “baptism works the forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation” and faith in the Words and promises of Jesus our God and Lord.

      Jesus called infant Walter in baptism to “take up his cross daily and follow Him.” You heard it, “Receive the sign of the holy cross, both upon your forehead, and upon your heart, to mark you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.” Every morning and every evening. Trace Christ’s cross upon your children’s foreheads and hearts. Speak God’s promise as you put His Triune Name upon them. Speak out loud The Faith, the Truth of Reality, as you confess the Apostles’ Creed with them. Then put Jesus’ living Spirit filled Word into their ears as you teach them to cry out, “Our Father, who art in heaven.”

      An infant, a toddler, may be like the disciples puzzled at the words Jesus is speaking through you to them. They might say, “I do not know what He means.” Teenagers, parents, grandparents, and adults may say the same thing - these words about the cross - “I don’t know what they mean.” “Why speak them so often? Morning, noon, and night?”

     Truth testifies, 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

True lasting joy is only found under Jesus’ cross. We do not know what Jesus is saying, until we see Him suffering for every last one of our sins upon the cross. We don’t understand that God our Father will never leave us nor forsake us, until we hear Jesus crying in agony from the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Learning the agony and separation our sin brings into the world. It is my sin He suffers fully for. It is your sin that tears the eternally only begotten Son of God from His Father’s embrace - so great was the Father’s love to save us sinners. There is no other way. No ten step method. No decisions we must make. No trying harder on our part - that can save us from the hell we deserve. It is only the flesh and blood of Jesus - crucified for our sins - that finishes our debt eternally. It is only His risen flesh and blood - still bearing the scars of our redemption that brings us peace as the Holy Spirit daily and richly forgives us all our sins within Christ’s Church - absolution.

      Rejoice! If the Son makes you free, you are free indeed! Trace the sign of the cross upon your own body daily. Speak God’s baptismal words to you. You bear His Name. You are His - He will save you. Wait on the Lord to renew your strength when suffering enters your life. Whom the Father loves He chastises. Satan will try to convince you that trials mean God doesn’t love you - he lies. Our loving triune God preserves us under our crosses - teaching us to cling to Jesus’ Words and promises alone - never to our feelings, good deeds, or trying. Hear Him! Isaiah 43:1-3 But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. [2] When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. [3] For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; “

III. How can pain, agony, drawing near to death bring joy? Jesus, our Creator, knows the agony that sin has brought upon child bearing. On the day of our rebellion, He preached Satan cursed and promised Jesus, born of a woman alone, the Head Crusher of the devil. History records, Genesis 3:16 To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you."

Sin brought pain to the woman’s special gift of childbearing. With sin began the battle between male and female - the only two genders created by God. Yet with every pregnancy the promise of the coming Messiah filled the woman with hope. Perhaps her son would be the One. The Virgin Mary would hear that good news that she was the chosen vessel to bear the God/Man - her Savior - in her womb. She became pregnant through her ears. The angel Gabriel preached God’s Word and she believes, “Let it be to me according to your word.”

      Now Jesus promises us birth from above through the agony He alone endured for us on the cross. John 16:21-23 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. [22] Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. [23] "And in that day you will ask Me nothing.

         At the end of March when you went into labor, Bekah, you weren’t looking forward to the pain of child birth. But seconds after Walter was born - the joy of the birth of your second son - made any pain fade away. Every human being born into this world is joy sent from our Creator. Not a problem to be murdered.

     On the cross Jesus would be like a mother in labor. He would experience all agony FOR US! All we deserved He suffered that He might rejoice to birth us from above in Holy Baptism. That we might be His own filled with life and joy in His Church.

     James and John were certain they could drink the cup and be baptized with the baptism that Jesus would face on the cross. They did, but only filtered through Jesus' death and resurrection victory. Today Walter has been baptized into Jesus' cross and empty tomb. Our baptism knits us into the joy of sins forgiven daily and richly by the Holy Spirit here in the Church, but it isn’t finished.

      Born from above by water and the Word - we have a life and joy that transcends the grief of the little whiles we will face in this world. Yes, we will bury our dead, but we grieve with hope. Baptism makes us citizens of Easter - we live in the 8th day of Creation. Now though the bodies of our brothers and sisters may rest in the grave - baptism assures us - it is only a little while. God the Holy Spirit will bring your baptism to completion on the Last day. “On the Last Day He will raise up me and all the dead, and give me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true” In that day no one will take your joy from you!The Commander of the Army of the Lord - Jesus has spoken - He has won the victory FOR YOU. Alleluia. Christ is Risen.   Amen.