THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD: Why Was Christ Baptized?

READINGS

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

On this first Sunday in Ordinary Times, Year C, we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord. With the birth of Christ, God had to find a way to help us identify Him as the Lamb of God, the Savior, because anyone could rise and claim that he is the Messiah. The baptism of the Lord served this purpose, and we can, actually, call it the Epiphany of the Lamb.

In the gospel of John, John the Baptist said, “So that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water and He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit’ (John 1:30-33). The other gospels, also, had this to say, “Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am wellpleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17, Mark 1:9-11, Lk 3:21-22). The very next day, John the Baptist pointed to Christ and told his disciples, “Behold the Lamb of God”. So, the Baptism of our Lord served to single out Jesus as the Messiah, the Lamb of God. As John the Baptist would go on to say, “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34).

The Baptism of Christ also serves as a symbol of identity—Christ identifying with those he had come to save, so that through His righteousness, sinners can regain their rightful place with God. By His baptism, Jesus took our place so that by our Baptism in Him we can take on His place— his life, death, and resurrection. As Scripture says, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21) and “Having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:7). In order words, by being baptized, Christ turned the Baptism of John—a baptism of repentance—into a Sacrament of grace, redemption, and salvation; a ticket and admission into the community of God’s people; a gateway and passport into the kingdom of God. It also ended the criteria of being Jewish and circumcised to be a child of God. Scripture says, “Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith (that is, those who are baptized) who are sons of Abraham….in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles” (Galatians 3:7-9, 14).

The Baptism of Christ also served to reveal the true nature of God as Trinity—Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. During His baptism, we had the Spirit descending upon the Son, in preparation for the Father’s testimony, and the Father who spoke of His Son; the Son who was being baptized. Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit interacting in this divine moment on earth.

My friends, the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord is a rich experience and a true privilege for all of us who are bonded unto Christ through Baptism. His Baptism reassures us that he is the One, the Lamb of God, and the Redeemer. We therefore can be sure that our hope for salvation is not in vain. To Him be praise, honor, and glory for all ages, Amen.