This First Sunday after the feast
of Epiphany has long been associated with the Baptism of our Lord (Matthew
3:13-17). By coming to John to be baptized, Jesus
fulfilled all righteousness. Although sinless, our incarnate Lord expressed His
solidarity with sinful human beings who all need cleansing. He also received a
special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as He began His public ministry. And the
heavenly voice acknowledged Him as the Son of God. This moment is a unique
manifestation or epiphany of the divine glory in Christ. It also points to His
whole public ministry and work for human salvation.
Because of Christ's uniqueness, there are certainly historical and theological differences between His Baptism by John and the later institution of Christian Baptism. Yet, in part, the Baptism of our Lord is also a model for us. He underwent Baptism to point to the human need for the washing of regeneration. Although He was pure, He identified with us sinners who need to be cleansed. Although He was already in unity with the Spirit, we need to be strengthened by fresh outpourings of the Holy Spirit. While He was eternally the Son of God by nature, we need to be adopted as children of God. We also need to notice that Baptism is a beginning of ministry. All those who have been baptized into Christ are called to continue the ministry which Christ started in this world.
