THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

INTRODUCTION

The feast of Jesus’ Baptism is the final celebration of the Christmas season. 

It marks one of the most formational and foundational events in Jesus’ life.

Jesus’ baptism launches the beginning of his powerful public ministry.

GOSPEL

The theme of John’s preaching was: “One more powerful than I is to come after me.  I am not fit to stoop and untie his sandal straps.”

John the Baptist’s mission was to prepare the way for the Lord and to be a witness to him.  He did not want to compete with Jesus or offer an alternative.

John understands his role and says that Jesus is “more powerful” than he is. 

John is not worthy to even perform the service customarily done by the lowest slave. 

“I have baptized you in water; he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”

John baptizing Jesus could be misunderstood as indicating his superiority.

Normally the baptized person would be considered a disciple of the baptizer.

Thus John the Baptist clearly states (and Mark the Evangelist clearly notes):

“I have baptized you in water; he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”

John’s baptism symbolized a cleansing and purifying of souls from sin.

John himself said:  “turn away from your sins and be baptized.” (Mark 1:4)

Jesus’ baptism symbolized not only death to all that is sinful and evil, but entering into the fullness of life, a life that comes through the Holy Spirit. 

If John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance and purification of sins, then

why did Jesus, who was without sin, ask to be baptized by John the Baptist?

Jesus wanted to identify with sinful humanity.  His mission was to save sinners.

During that time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.

Mark notes that Jesus came all the way from Nazareth in Galilee to Jordan River. 

This is a distance of sixty miles; but when traveling on foot through rugged hills it was a far greater distance, and it would have required a journey of several days.

It is significant to note that Jesus left his family and hometown of Nazareth to set out and begin a whole new life and ministry.  And so Jesus made a very deliberate and difficult journey to a very significant place in the River Jordan, where Joshua first led God’s people out of Sinai and into the Promised Land.

Here is one of the most dramatic references to the Trinity in the entire Bible…

Father (voice from heaven), Son (Jesus in water), Spirit (dove descending).

 Immediately on coming up out of the water he saw the sky rent in two...

When Jesus is baptized, he (alone according to Mark) sees “the sky rent in two.”

The opening of heaven implies they were closed.   It symbolizes the end of human separation from God and the beginning of communication between heaven and earth.

Isaiah 63:19 states: “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down.”

This is a prayer that God would powerfully communicate with His people.

Mark presents Jesus as the fulfillment of that ancient prayer of Israel.

In Jesus, God does powerfully and directly communicates with his people.

... and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

Mark also tells us that Jesus sees the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

Rabbis referred to the dove as a symbol of the community of Israel. 

Mark may be suggesting that Jesus is a representative of the “New Israel.”

In Sacred Scripture the dove is also a symbol of peace and gentleness.  In fact, this is how we often experience the Spirit, by his peace and gentle presence.

Then a voice came from the heavens: “You are my beloved Son.  On you my favor rests.”

One recalls Psalm 2:7, “You are my beloved son; this day I have begotten you.”

Jesus heard this voice of God identifying him as the “beloved Son of God.”

Jesus is convinced that his Father loves him unconditionally and infinitely.

He knows he is loved not for anything he did (he has not begun his ministry).

He knows he is loved for who he is as “Son of God.” God’s favor rests on him.

This would now become Jesus’ main mission and message to the entire world.

Jesus will spend his life proclaiming that everyone is the beloved child of God.

Jesus will extend God’s favor to all His children (though not all will receive it).

REFLECTION

The words that God spoke to Jesus are the words God speaks to all his children.

It is difficult for most of us to believe this “Good News” that God loves us, just as God loves Jesus, unconditionally and infinitely as his sons and daughters.

It is easier for most of us to believe that we are loved conditionally, according to our performance or behavior.  This is how we often love others as well as ourselves.

But once we believe and receive this divine love and favor that comes to us, through Jesus, then we are set free from the compulsion to prove ourselves.

Once we fully immerse ourselves in the waters of God’s great love and favor, then we can be sent into the world to speak and act with divine love, as Jesus.

RENEWAL of BAPTISMAL PROMISES

(Renunciation of Sin and Profession of Faith)

Do you reject the devil and all that is evil?  (response: “We do.”)

Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth?

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

This is our faith.  This is the faith of our Church.  We are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

BLESSING and SPRINKLING of HOLY WATER

God of creation, in the beginning your Spirit hovered over the waters of the earth, so that they would reflect your life.  And again when Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan your Spirit hovered over Him and filled Him. 

So may this same Spirit come upon this water and upon all those who bless themselves with it, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

[Provide people with holy water to take home and to bless themselves.]

PERSONAL REFLECTION

When I visited the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized, I wondered how we can come to a greater experience of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as Jesus did there.

And I watched as some people took off their socks and shoes and waded into the river.  And I was reminded of some of us who come to church, but only get our feet wet, in terms of experiencing all the Christian life has to offer. 

Then I watched some people roll up their slacks or hike up their skirt and went into the River up to their knees.  And I was reminded of some of us who come to the Lord every day in prayer, and seek to live a Christian life throughout the week. 

Then I watched some people enter into the water up to their waist.  These people represented some of us who are led to a deeper life of prayer and service to others. 

Then I watched a couple brave souls take the plunge and fully submerge themselves in the water.  They looked a little foolish, but this is exactly how Jesus would have been baptized through total immersion in the Jordan.  These couple people represent those who have truly sacrificed themselves totally to the Lord and to others in love.

 (I only went into the Jordan River up to my knees… that certainly says something.)

GOING DEEPER

There is something about going deeper… Deep things are intriguing.  Deep water, deep thoughts, deep conversations, deep truths, deep friendship, deep love.

There is nothing like depth to make us dissatisfied with superficial, shallow things.  Once we have delved below the surface of life and experienced some of the marvels and mysteries of the deep, we realize the value of taking the time and going to the trouble of plumbing those depths.

This is especially true in the spiritual realm.  God calls us to explore and experience life at a deeper level, rather than to be content with just surface matters. Some of life’s greatest truths, like buried treasure, are hidden in depths that most people never take the time to search out.  Most especially, the Lord longs for us to have a deeper intimacy with Almighty God.  He desires us to be aware of his presence and to be in conversation and communion with him at the deepest possible level. 

To grow deeper intimacy with the Lord, we must be willing to enter into deep prayer, make a deeper commitment of love and service to the Lord and others.

Richard Foster wrote, “Superficiality is the curse of our age.  The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem.  The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.”