For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

A father and mother, parents of the baby, look into the eyes of this miraculous child and wonder what the baby sees now. They also wonder what the baby will see in the years to come: will there be more happy scenes than tragic ones? Will there be fear? joy?

They hold the baby’s tiny hands, so small. “What will these hands do? Will they play a musical instrument, or will they build houses, or will they perform delicate surgery?

They take the baby’s feet and wonder where this child will travel, and how will they get there?

They look at the child’s mouth. What will those lips speak? Will they be words that change hearts and minds? Who will kiss those lips in the future? They each held the baby and wondered how the life of this baby will emerge and develop. It will not be too long before their child goes to school and starts the process of separation from parents. Will this child have a hard life? Will relationships be supportive or destructive? What are their hopes and dreams for this child? What hopes and dreams will their child have for their own life? Could it be that those were questions that your parents had about you when you were born, or that you may have had for your own children? Or could these parents have been Jesus’ parents?

Mary and Joseph held their child in their arms and wondered what the future might be for this child. I can imagine them in the stable holding his hands, feet, and wondering and pondering what the future of this miraculous child would be. Would he speak words to change and transform the lives of people? Where would he travel? Who would be his friends and who may be his enemies? Will he have a long life? How will he use his hands and feet? What may happen to his hands and feet? How could your life, your story be confused with the story of Jesus’ life? Aren’t they two different stories? Yes, but not really. It is in baptism that these stories merge. In water and the Word of God Jesus’ death and burial, which we read in Romans, is merged with ours, Jesus’ resurrection is also merged with our own. As we emerge from the waters of baptism we have a new life, a life with Christ. (Read together: “Don’t you know that all of us who have been baptized ...”)

In this text we hear of the joining together of things human and things divine. In Baptism things human are joined to things divine; water and Lila are joined to Christ. In the lord’s Supper, things human like bread and wine or grape juice, are joined to things divine, the Body and Blood of Christ. The life, suffering and death of Christ are joined to our story in Word, Baptism, Lord’s Supper. We are marked with the cross of Christ forever. As Lila and we grow in years our lives more and more resemble the one whose life is connected to ours, our Lord Jesus Christ. As Christ comes to serve and not be served; as he lives to seek and to save the lost; as Christ comes to take up the cross for us and calls us to take up the cross for others; and as he rises for the dead, we also rise to new life.

May Christ’s story continue to be confused with our story. Yes, sin continues to live in us, but the wonder is that Jesus Christ loves us, forgives us and promises to walk with us. Sin and death no longer have death-dealing power over us.

Now as we come to have a vigil at the tomb this evening, we celebrate that as Christ rose from the dead, we too rise with him. “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united in a resurrection like his.” Thanks