The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Side altars at Mount Saint Francis
dedicated to Saints
Theresa, Clare and Elizabeth of Hungary

Here is my servant whom I uphold,

my chosen one with whom I am pleased…

Only two of the gospels tell us about the birth of Jesus, but all four speak of his Baptism. The Church restored this ancient feast day after the Second Vatican Council and with the renewal of the liturgy; the incident in the Jordan River is too important to overlook.

The Bible often tells us in detail about the inaugural call of the prophets: where they were, what they were doing, what they saw and heard, and how they responded.

Isaiah was in the temple during a religious ceremony when he saw the Lord God of heaven and earth seated on his throne, with seraph angels flying around him crying “Holy, holy, holy.” He was terrified at first, but upon hearing God’s question, “Whom shall I send?” he shouted, “Here I am. Send me!”

Samuel was a child sleeping in the tent that sheltered the ark when God called him in the middle of the night. Misunderstanding God’s call for the old prophet Eli, Samuel ran to him and said, “Here I am. You called me.” Finally Eli realized what was happening and instructed his young protégé to respond, “Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.”

Ezekiel was standing by the River Chebar; Paul was going to Damascus; Peter was fishing; Matthew was by his tax collecting desk; Mary was in her boudoir. We remember these and more details because they tell us something of the prophet’s mission.

Jesus was being baptized by John the Baptist when “the heavens were opened for him.” As Saint Matthew tells the story, Jesus saw several signs but the bystanders did not. However, the heard the voice.

“He came up from the water…”

It seems a small detail but it’s important enough to mention. He came out of the water as the Israelites had passed through the Red Sea. He came out of the Jordan River as the Israelites had passed through the River Jordan into the Promised Land. The water was split by his passing through it as the sky overhead was split open.

The ancients described the sky as “the firmament,” meaning it was firm, or hard like a crystalline ceiling. The Jews imagine God appearing on his throne when the sky splits open.

But, of course, it doesn’t happen very often. And when it does, it signals a new epoch in the history of our salvation. It might be the end of the world. But in this case it is the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.

…he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove
and coming upon him.

Jesus brings peace. That is his mission. Noah released a dove to fly over the waters of the deluge. Its first return indicated the waters still covered the land; its second return with a olive branch indicated the waters were receding but the ground was still flooded; and when it did not return Noah knew he could disembark. The Holy Spirit appearing in the form of a dove indicates the new relationship we have with God. It is peaceful, reassuring, and fruitful.

And a voice came from the heavens, saying, 
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Although only Jesus saw the signs, the voice is addressed to everyone. The words beloved Son remind us of God’s command to Abraham: ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt-offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.’

As the “only son of God” Jesus enjoys a status utterly unique. Christians believe he is the Son of God, equal in majesty and dignity to the Father, and consubstantial with him. Although he is fully human, “one like us in all things but sin,” he has no equal on earth.

His death will be like that which Abraham offered. Although God spared Isaac, clearly he accepted the sacrifice and was pleased with Abraham’s willingness. When the time comes Jesus will offer his life as a pleasing sacrifice to God for us.

This doctrine must be announced and celebrated over and over. If he is not the “Son of God,” the second person of the Trinity, we are not saved. Neither his death nor ours can mean anything.

As Jesus comes up out of the water he leads us from death to life. Although he has never sinned, he has been baptized by John “for repentance.” By his baptism and death Jesus takes our guilt to himself. He comes to walk with us, neither ahead nor behind, to reconciliation with His Father.