On this Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus and the gift of baptism itself. As Jesus emerges from the Jordan River after being immersed by the prophet John, a voice from heaven declares, “This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17, NRSV).Since our African ancestors came to the shores of the Atlantic, they have been marked with the designation of being “less than human.” The Portugese began the practice of what is referred as carimbo which is the branding of a slave with a hot iron, leaving a mark in red on the shoulder, the breast, or the upper arm indicating that they were the chattel property of the king of Portugal and eventual master.
Baptism for many enslaved persons of African descent was an initiation rite for them to receive the mark of the Spirit that superseded the mark given to them by their masters as property. Although there have been many studies that negate the Christianization of those who were enslaved, there are those who saw the ritual of baptism as an empowerment tool that shaped the universal idea of sin, notwithstanding the derogatory mark whites attributed to skin color using Genesis 4:15” there was a mark that God put on Cain after he killed his brother Abel. In eighteenth-century America and Europe, whites commonly assumed that Cain’s “mark” was black sin. With the corresponding curse that Cain received, the belief that the mark was black sin caused many to believe that all people of black sin were cursed. Many used the mark of Cain as an excuse for the slave trade and discrimination against people with black skin.
Consider this mark found on Alton Sterling was shot and killed during a confrontation with two police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he was selling music and movies on discs. The mark of many who live outside the confines of those who are “wealthy” or “privileged” in living the utopian dream of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
According to Genesis chapter 4 because of the murder of his brother Abel Cain was given a mark. Usually having a mark is a negative reality in most interpretations but the literal language has the preposition ל (to or for) indicating that this mark was given to him as a means of security that he might not be slain. Although, he was banished from Eden such as found in the New Testament history of Judas in light of baptism and original sin humanity as represented by Cain is given a second chance. God decides to preserve his life as found in Lutheran theological understanding that he would be simil iustus et peccatur-similtaneously righteous but yet sinner in living outside “the Lord’s presence,” just as Jonah who fled the Lord’s presence is restored (Jonah 1:3, 10).
Cain’s residence was in “the land of Nod, east of Eden,” implies that he is further removed from the garden than Adam. “Nod” is a play on the word nād, meaning “wanderer,” where we get the word nomad which refers to the sentence against Cain in 4:11–12, 14. Scripture does not speak again of “Nod,” and no specific locale is known. It may be that Nod is simply meant to say that wherever Cain sojourned could be called the “land of the Wanderer.” Mathews, K. A. (1996). Genesis 1-11:26 (Vol. 1A, pp. 277–279). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
With the reality of God’s Spirit that comes to us in baptism, we can culturally express ourselves openly, unapologetically and fulfill the great Commission—going out into the world bringing good news. Once baptized with the Spirit, Christ’s example motivates us to get our hands dirty changing the world. As persons of African descent we can follow Christ example even in the muddiness and murkiness of oppression, because we know with certainty we are stakeholders of the kingdom marked with the Spirit of Christ. We all have the mark of Cain as John the Baptist pronounced the whole people of Israel impure. Jesus Himself, although sinless and holy, was included in this general declaration of God’s affirmation to not only him but the whole world shows God’s grace is sufficient even when we have been displaced and separated.