The Baptism of Jesus of Nazareth
(Free Version)- Year B; Genesis 1:1-5; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 1:4-11
The readings for the first Sunday After the Epiphany can be found here. If you are looking for the notes for the Feast of Epiphany I did a couple of years ago, find them here. Looking for the podcast? Find it here.
This Sunday is the first in the season of Epiphany, a season of recognizing the revelation of God to all people, everywhere. This is the season of God’s light which shines in the darkness.
In the Western Christian tradition, on the Feast of Epiphany (January 6th), we read the story of the Magi, and the star which they followed (Matthew 2:1-12). The reminder here is that God is always drawing his people, even those who are far away; and that God is always drawing us.
It may seem like Herod is in charge of the world. It may seem that oppression and violence rules things. That is holding one set of facts: the world is dark, scary, broken, not as it should be. But the incarnation of Jesus says that there is another set of facts: God did not give up on this world. He is the God who draws near. There is a new king who has been born, on the underside of power, a true Prince of Peace and Savior of the world.
In the Eastern Church, the focus of Epiphany is on the Baptism of Jesus. Both the emphasis on the Magi and the emphasis on Jesus’ baptism are themes of this season and, on the first Sunday after Epiphany, us westerners get the baptism emphasis as well.
This week, our readings speak to the revelation of Jesus for all the world. Our Old Testament reading (Genesis 1:1-5) proclaims that God is the one who creates out of nothing. He does not respond to our efforts, but is the initiator of all goodness. The first thing that God created was light: that which reveals, purposes, and heals. No longer does murky chaos rule the day. Darkness must be separated out. In a world of tribal deities and mythologies, each competing to see who would dominate other peoples, our God does not have any rivals he needs to defeat before creating. Creation is a free act of his love.
In our New Testament reading (Acts 19:1-7), Paul encounters a group of “disciples” in Ephesus who had been baptized in the baptism of John. In other words, they repented of their sins, knew that they were dependent on God and his work in the world. But they did not know the good news of the Holy Spirit, and (likely) were unclear on the relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus. As Paul proclaims the good news, they are quick to respond, and the Holy Spirit comes upon them. This speaks to us something about what it means to be the people of God. This is a work of grace which can only be received. Repentance, acknowledgement that one does not have the whole story, is simply a precursor to receiving the gift of the Spirit, and being welcomed into the family of God. Paul welcomes them by water and by touch. It is clear that something dramatic has happened, as the disciples begin to speak in tongues and prophesy.
Being part of God’s family is always a gift, never the result of merit. Baptism is God’s work. God’s indwelling of us is God’s work. Where we are unfaithful and even our repentance is lacking, God is faithful. Thanks be to God.
Our gospel reading (Mark 1:4-11) has some overlap to the reading of the second Sunday of Advent. Where that reading placed emphasis on John as the promised messenger (Mark 1:2-3), this reading includes the (although brief in Mark’s gospel) account of the baptism of Jesus (vs. 9-11).
We are told that John is preaching a baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and people are taking him up on it. We are told of John’s proclamation that one would come who is more powerful than he is. “I baptize you with water,” John says, “but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit (vs. 8).”
If the baptism is for the forgiveness of sins, why is Jesus baptized? He has committed no sin. He is the faithful one. The good news is that Jesus was baptized for us. He is not content to leave us in the chaos of the world. Standing in solidarity with humanity, Jesus goes under the waters for our sake. Our baptism is participation in his baptism.
As Jesus emerges from the water, he sees heaven opening. This is a way of saying that the reality of God’s will, God’s intention, God’s “space” is experienced in our “space.” The Spirit descends, once again hovering over the waters, just as at creation.
Jesus is the Messiah, the Chrestos, the Spirit-empowered one. And a voice from heaven says, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Though Jesus is always secure in his identity, the world hears the Father’s proclamation: Jesus is God’s Son. Because of Jesus drawing near to us, we too are children of God! These words of the Father are words for us. Because of Jesus, I am his child and so are you (Galatians 4:6).
The word has gone out. God has spoken. The Triune God is at work in Jesus’ baptism. Water. Spirit. Speaking. God has entered the chaos with us. May we turn the light and away from the shadows. May we know the God who has joined us in the waters, and who has brought about new creation. And may we stand with a grieving world that has forgotten its hope trusting that, when we do so, we are also standing in the middle of the heart of God: the ecstatic joy of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.