Epiphany 1, The Baptism of our Lord – “Why Baptize the Christ?”

Epiphany 1, The Baptism of our Lord – “Why Baptize the Christ?” – Mark 4 & Isaiah 42
Vicar Matthew Peters – St. Paul’s, Union Grove – January 5, 2006

Grace, Mercy, and Peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

This evening, I wanted to first consider once again these portions of our gospel reading appointed for this week from Mark chapter 1:

And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. … And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, He saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

This Sunday is the day that our church sets aside to celebrate the baptism of our Lord, Jesus. So it is fitting to consider baptism, to talk about baptism. We have our baptismal font placed here, prominently located in our sanctuary – because we know that baptism is an important part of who we are as Christians.
We all know why we need to be baptized… Baptism is a washing away of sins. The waters of baptism, when combined with God’s words of declaration and promise – ensure us eternal salvation. As Luther says in his small catechism:
Baptism – “works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.”

We are baptized because we are sinners. We need to be cleansed. It is a “washing of rebirth” for each and every one of our sinful souls. By the waters of baptism we are saved!
But why on earth would Jesus need to be baptized? Jesus was not sinful. Jesus did not need to be reborn. Jesus was the one who would deliver us from the power of death and the devil… Yet here He is in our gospel reading, being baptized by John in the Jordan river. Why baptize Jesus?

Why baptize the Christ?

You know, our Old Testament lesson ties in to the baptism account of Jesus very well too. The prophet Isaiah is speaking of none other than the ultimate servant of the Lord – Jesus Christ Himself. And its interesting that the first words that Isaiah shares seem to mimic the words that come from God the Father as Jesus was coming out of the waters of His baptism:

“You are my son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth…

But this doesn’t sound like someone who needs baptism – this person is able to do great things, this person is already holy! …Unlike us.

The theme of this first part of Isaiah’s prophecy about the Christ is the fact that He will bring justice. Now that sounds very nice, and indeed it is ultimately a very good thing for us – but justice entails getting what you deserve. Justice means that what is ‘right’ will happen. Therefore, if you are not deserving of any punishment, justice is a good thing… but if you deserve to be punished…
And what is it that is we deserve? What do we have coming to us? We are sinners… Need I remind any of you? Our lives, our very beings are steeped – immersed in our failings. God demands perfection, and what do we have to offer Him? … Sure we might try – Sure we might do some things that look pretty decent. But in the end, there is always that stain of guilt that we have – that stain of guilt is over the entire human race. Ever since our first parents sinned in the Garden of Eden, we have deserved the wrath of God.
“He will bring justice to the nations…”

But the justice that Jesus brings to us is nowhere near as dreadful as this. In fact, the justice that Isaiah is speaking of is a good thing for us. You see, Christ was being baptized in the Jordan river in order to set him apart as God’s chosen Messiah – it was an anointing. In the Old Testament, the kings were anointed by the prophets to set them apart as servants of God, and here too, Jesus is set apart as God’s servant – the one who would bring justice.
You see, the punishment had to be doled out. The world is sinful, like it or not, and the world deserves punishment. And in His baptism, Jesus is proclaimed to be the one who would receive the just punishment that the world deserved for all its sins. Therefore, when Christ hung upon the cross all our guilt was being paid for – and justice was done – we are therefore justified!

In His baptism, Jesus is shown to be what He is. On that day, God revealed that He is pleased with His Son – and that this man is God incarnate! From that point on, Jesus begins His earthly ministry. Prior to this baptism, we have mere snippets of what Jesus was like and what He did – because none of that mattered as much as why He had come… His task of being the servant of God to take away our sins.

This is why the Christ was baptized.

And so now we know for certain that it is Jesus that Isaiah is talking about in our lesson. We know that Jesus is the one who has brought about this redemption – and that it is Christ alone that allows us to be cared for and loved by God in such a way.

This is what God the LORD says – he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:
“I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”

In Christ, we too are called in righteousness.
In Christ, God takes hold of your hand.
In Christ, we are kept safe and made to be a covenant and a light – just as Jesus Himself is the fulfillment of the covenant, and the true light to all people.

Through Jesus’ death upon the cross we are made just – justice is brought to our nation.
And we look back to the words of John the Baptist to see how this is given to us.
“I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

This is why we are baptized.
Through the waters of baptism we receive the blessings of God. We are made just. We are forgiven. We are given faith… We are given the Holy Spirit of God – and we are saved!

So, Why baptize the Christ?
Because this is the one, this Jesus is the one, whose life, death, and resurrection allow God to say to us as well, - just as He said to Him:
“You are my son, you are my daughter, with you I am well pleased.”

Thanks be to God for this baptism.
Amen.