The Baptism of Jesus

There are only two instances in the gospels where God speaks from the heavens: Today at the Baptism of Jesus, and then at the Transfiguration, right before Jesus headed to Jerusalem. At every other time in the Gospels, the Father sends messages through angels and dreams. So obviously, something very important is happening here.

From the very beginning of studying the gospels, people have found the baptism of Jesus difficult to understand. In John’s baptism, there was a call to repentance and the offer of a way to the forgiveness of sins. But, if Jesus is who we believe him to be, he did not need repentance and did not need forgiveness from God. John’s baptism was for sinners, conscious of their sin. This does not seem applicable to Jesus. So why did he do it? What does it say to us? Why is this baptism so important?

For thirty years, Jesus had waited in Nazareth, faithfully performing the simple duties of the home and of the carpenter’s shop. Yet, all the time, he knew that a world was waiting for him. And he knew there was an important mission ahead of him. Jesus must have waited for the hour to strike, for the moment to come. And when John the Baptist emerged, Jesus knew his time had come.

Never in all history before this moment had any Jew submitted to being baptized. The Jews knew and used baptism, but only for converts who came into Judaism from some other faith. The Jews, believing that they were the chosen people, the children of Abraham, assured of God’s salvation, never conceived of themselves as sinners shut out from God. But at this time in history, the Jewish people became profoundly aware of their own sin, and their own urgent need for God. Never before had the people of God had such a national movement of penitence and search for God.

This was the moment Jesus had been waiting for. Men and women were aware of their sin and aware of their need of God as never before. This was his opportunity and in his baptism, Jesus identified himself with those he came to save. Jesus came to stand with sinners, to be with sinners, and bring them back to God, at least those who realized that they needed God. And so in spite of any sense of unworthiness you and I may feel, Jesus comes to us.

The second reason to be baptized by John was that the time had come to reveal his divinity. The whole world needed to know that God has come to walk among us. This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.” “This is my Son” refers to Psalm 2 verse 7, a description of the Messiah. There is to be no doubt to Jesus’ identity.

The third reason to let John baptize him, was to reveal his mission. “With whom I am well pleased” is a reference to Isaiah 42,1: the suffering servant. The baptism of Jesus, you see, reveals the way that salvation would come.

In this baptism, the beginning of Jesus mission and ministry, we are reminded that God came to be with sinners, to be with us. We learn that Jesus is not just another prophet, but God come among us in human flesh. And we learn that the way to salvation and redemption will never occur through loveless power, but only through selfless love.

As we will see this year with Luke’s Gospel, Jesus so desperately wants to be with each of us. While most people would avoid the possessed, lepers, paralytics, enemies, the dead; Jesus reaches out and touches them. While the “righteous” would avoid sinners and beggars and prostitutes and tax collectors, Jesus welcomes them, and, welcomes each of us.

This baptism today must remind us of our own baptism. At Jesus’ baptism, God identified Jesus as his Beloved Son. At our baptism, we become sons and daughters of God, united to God and one another. We become aware of our sins and accept our need for God. At Jesus’ baptism, he knew that he was destined to be a conqueror, but that his conquest must have as its only weapon, the power of suffering love. We too are called to be servants and lovers.

Jesus’ Baptism was a beginning. Our Baptism was a beginning. Where are you today on your baptismal spiritual journey? Will you continue on the path of Christian discipleship? Or will you choose another way? Listen carefully during the coming weeks how to live your Baptism.

Feast of The Epiphany

I think we are always in danger of leaving little Jesus in his crib. Infants are cuddly and cute. We find babies appealing, non-threatening, beautiful. We like small children, they remind us of fun, gladness and joy. But anyone who ends up brutally executed on a cross, cannot be adequately described by just "swaddling clothes." You see, the Church gives us this feast of the Epiphany to remind us that the baby of Bethlehem grew up. The Epiphany reminds us that Jesus' life is just beginning. "And now, the rest of the story..."

At the center of this feast of Epiphany, we have three wise men, astrologers, magi, choose the name you like best. We really know very little about them. We don't even know where they came from. But, they have their eyes fixed on a star and they follow it with determination. They are foreigners, pagans, outsiders, yet they search for truth.

Their journey brings them to a simple, poor couple with a baby son. They bring gifts that tell us today that this is no ordinary baby. Gold proclaims Jesus as King. Incense is the gift for priests and indicates the presence of God. So far so good: Jesus is King of kings. Jesus is God among us in the flesh, bringing us to the Father.

Now comes the problem. Myrrh, the third gift, is a symbol of sorrow, suffering and death. Myrrh is used to bury people! Imagine giving birth, and someone bringing embalming fluid as a gift. What a thing to have to think about so close to Christmas!

But that's the point. As we celebrate Christmas, we must also remember Easter. Jesus was born among us to teach us to love. He died and rose again to prove it. The feast of the Epiphany is the opening of salvation to all people. Christianity is being proclaimed as a way of life for all people, not just a limited few. Every one of us here is made ONE in seeking the Lord.

You see, hopefully, WE are the magi. WE are the ones who search for God in our lives. WE are the ones who search for truth. But sometimes, things get in the way. Maybe we think we are BETTER than others. Maybe we think we are WORSE, or more sinful than others. Epiphany reminds us that JESUS came for all people: for the Jews, for the shepherds, for the Magi. Jesus came for us, each of us.

Epiphany compels us to pay attention: We must look again at the events we may have taken for granted a few days ago. We are called to think more carefully about who it is that has come at Bethlehem and is on his way to a cross. We are challenged to examine our own commitment to this mission.

It's nice to think of the baby in a manger, but if you are serious about a Christian commitment, we must also follow him, to the cross.