May 17, 2026
John 17:1-11
Theme: The Meaning of Baptism
According to Merriam-Webster, baptism is a Christian sacrament involving the ritual use of water to admit an individual into the Christian community. It is defined as a ceremony of initiation, purification, or naming, often involving sprinkling, pouring, or immersion in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, marking the beginning of a new life in Christ and entry into the Christian community. It is about belonging, identity, and God’s grace.
Baptism was Jesus’ command. After the resurrection, Jesus commanded his followers to baptize all nations (Matthew 28:19). This is where Christian baptism begins.
Today we will welcome two people into the household of God through the waters of Holy Baptism. We will receive the dearly loved ones with gratitude for the richness of faith traditions that shape their life.
As they will be baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we trust that the God of our forefathers who has been faithful through every generation-will continue to keep them, guide them, and surround them with love.
With open hearts and open arms, we welcome them into the Body of Christ, and welcome their families with deep respect, joy, and gratitude.
Before we make the promises of the Baptismal Covenant, I want to speak gently and clearly about what these vows mean to believers.
The Baptismal Covenant is not a rejection of a different faith story. It is a commitment to the way of Jesus, who himself was faithful to His tradition. Every promise in the covenant reflects values cherished by different faith traditions:
- Renouncing evil – not rejecting any faith tradition, but rejecting anything that harms God’s people.
- Turning to Jesus Christ – embracing the Christian path of love, mercy, and reconciliation.
- Continuing in the apostles’ teaching – committing to Christian formation and worship.
- Seeking and serving Christ in all persons – a promise deeply aligned with societal ethics of justice and compassion.
- Striving for justice and peace – echoing the prophetic tradition shared by most of the faith traditions.
For the parents, and godparents these vows mean raising children within the Christian community, teaching them the story of Jesus, and helping them grow in faith.
For the congregation, these vows mean surrounding them with love, honoring their heritage, and supporting their spiritual journey with humility and grace.
The Gospel from John 17, which is often called Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. Jesus lifts his eyes to heaven and prays:
“Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.” v.11
The prayer expresses God’s relationship with humanity, and our relationship with one another. Jesus is praying not only for his disciples long ago, but also for us. And on this baptism day, that prayer becomes very powerful. That prayer invites us to look at baptism in different ways.
1. Baptism as Belonging
When we bring someone to the waters of baptism, we are not simply performing a ritual. We are proclaiming that this person belongs- the person belongs to God, belongs to a community of believers, belongs to a story that began long before any of us were born.
In Jewish tradition, belonging is expressed through covenant—God’s faithful promise to be with God’s people. In Christian baptism, we understand ourselves as entering that same stream of divine covenant and faithfulness. The God who made covenant with Israel is the God who meets us in the waters of baptism today.
2. Baptism as Calling
Jesus also prays, “I have made your name known to them.” v.6. To know God’s name is to be entrusted with God’s mission. For the beloved ones being baptized today, this is the beginning of a lifelong calling: to bear God’s light, to walk in God’s compassion, to live with courage and mercy in a world that desperately needs God’s love. And for all of us witnessing this baptism, it is a reminder that our calling does not end with our own baptism. We are renewed today-renewed in purpose, renewed in hope, renewed in the work of healing and reconciliation.
3. Baptism as Unity
Jesus’ final petition is “that they may be one.” v. 11c Not identical. Not uniform. But that we may be one-bound together in love.
This unity is not something we create; it is something God gives. And today, with all our friends present here and online, we glimpse that unity in a beautiful way. We do not erase our differences. We honor them. We do not pretend we believe all the same things. We respect one another’s paths. But we stand together in the conviction that the Holy One calls us to justice, compassion, and peace and a bove all to love each other. In a world fractured by fear and suspicion, this kind of unity is a witness. A witness that God’s love is wider than our divisions and deeper than our disagreements. Finally, for the loved ones being baptized today, and for all of us who remember our own baptismal covenant, hear this good news: The God who brought Israel through the waters, and the God whom Jesus calls “Holy Father,” is the God who walks with us into this pilgrim journey by His grace.