Baptism of the Lord – January 11th, 2026

The lectionary readings for this Sunday are Isaiah 42:1-9, Psalm 29, Acts 10:34-43, Matthew 3:13-17.

Baptism as Gift

Baptism is a special ministry in the life of the Church, actually it is a sacrament, an Holy Order, we believe given to us by God. When we celebrate baptism we often speak of Jesus own baptism as the reason for why we baptize and are being baptized.

 This Sunday is the feast day of the Baptism of our Lord, and so the gospel text is that of Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist in the river Jordan.  John had been calling people to a baptism of repentance, as a sign for the change they intended to make in their lives, or as a cleansing in preparation for the Messiah’s coming.  It is here at the river Jordan that John is approached by Jesus to be baptized.  John is reluctant at first to do so; previously John had said “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals.”  John spoke with great humility here as to who he was in relation to who Jesus was.  And so John’s reluctance to baptize Jesus was out of humility for who he knew Jesus to be.  It might be like someone would say today about the Pope or some other great dignitary, “who am I, that you would come to me.”  

Jesus however makes it clear to John that it was as it should be, that this was needed, in other words, not because Jesus was repenting of any sin as the others were coming to be baptized for; he was the sinless son of God.  Jesus baptism was about the commitment he was making to follow through with what God had called him to do.  And his baptism was a sign of that commitment.  Just as our own baptism should be for us, not something we do for the sake of having done as members of the church, or because others in the family were baptized then the child or person should also be baptized; but as a statement of one’s faith, to the intentions one has on their heart (whether for themselves or one’s children) to live in faithful witness to the gospel. 

John do consent in baptizing Jesus, of course, and I can only imagine just how powerful that must have been for him, because baptism is powerful on all accounts, to pour water over the head of a child, or an adult, and feel the presence of God’s spirit with us in that, is powerful; here in Jesus baptism we see and feel that imagery, you might say, in live time! You feel as if you are there when the gospel is read, the imagery is so powerful.  …I remember one time preparing a young boy for his baptism, his parents were with him; and wanting the young boy to understand what was happening in his baptism, I took him out to the font to show him what we would do, and as I talked, I shared the story of Jesus baptism with him, telling him.. ‘when Jesus came up from the water, the heavens suddenly opened, …and the spirit descended in the form of a dove, ..and a voice from heaven spoke saying, this is my Son, the beloved, in him I am well pleased.’ As I was saying this I noticed the young boy (he was about 6 or 7 years old) looking up to the ceiling. And I realized the child was probably wondering if what happened in Jesus baptism would happen in his, was the ceiling going to break apart; ,…and so I reassured him of course, while it probably wouldn’t happen like that, we know however that there is something wonderful that happens in baptism, … and went on then to tell him how he becomes part of a much bigger family then the one he now belonged to with his Mom and Dad, grandparents, and so so, that he was being made part of God’s family too, God loved him that much.  Baptism is about belonging, and Jesus when he went out into the world knew exactly who he belonged to, affirmed, conscecrated, blessed, as God’s own Son, to fulfil the purpose for which he had been called into the world. We too receive the blessing of a new identity in our baptism, we are received, loved and accepted as God’s own beloved and cherish children.

The wonderful imagery in Jesus baptism we carry into our own baptisms. Water itself has such strong symbolism,  in that we can’t live without water to drink, but also in the biblical narratives water hold’s strong symbolism for cleansing, (in the story of Noah and the ark, the sin-laden earth was washed, cleansed through the flood, and when the waters receded, new life began (Genesis 7-9; when the waters of the red sea were parted, the Hebrew people’s were led from slavery, a old way of life in Egypt, into freedom (New life) in the promised land;(Ex 14) and so we believe that as Christ stepped into the murky waters of the Jordan, so too through him we receive the forgiveness of sins. So water for us speaks to the new life we have through Christ; we are made over as such, to begin life new with him, and baptism is a reminder to that.

We also know that as the spirit hovered over the waters of Jesus baptism and empowered him for his ministry in the world, our baptisms too are a sign for the empowerment we are given through the spirit, to live out our baptismal covenant in the world, (the promises we make at our baptism,… to proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ… to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself…., to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being….. ).  We don’t do it all on our own, but we can with Christ, and through the spirit’s presence with us in the world, enabling, strengthening, leading and guiding us, we can as Jesus did, live as a faithful people.  It is all there for us, when we learn to trust in the gift that we have been given, God’s own grace for our lives.

On this baptism of the Lord Sunday as we recall Christ baptism, may it be a reminder to you too, of your own baptism, and the gift that it is, in the promise that it gives; that no matter how difficult life might become, or the challenges one might face in the world, we know we have an enduring relationship with our God, that nothing can take from us.  And in that there is strength to be found, hope had, and peace given. And Baptism tells us so, in the new identity we have been given through it, as God’s own beloved Sons and daughters.  

May it too be an empowerment to you in the world, to live faithful lives trusting in the grace of our God, to sustain, uphold, and encourage, in all the ways that is needed, and breathe new life in our world today.

“The Lord shall give strength to his people; the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.” (Psalm 29:11)

Amen, God Bless.