Octave of Epiphany

Today is the Octave of Epiphany, that is, the Eighth Day of Epiphany. Many of the great feasts of the Church were celebrated for at least eight days, for a whole octave or more. Such is the case with Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Pentecost, and a number of other feasts. But if you’ve never heard of the Octave of the Epiphany before, it’s probably because you know it by a different name: The Baptism of Our Lord. The text for the Octave of Epiphany is the account of our Lord’s baptism from John, chapter 1.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke record the events of Jesus’ baptism. He stepped down into the water. John the Baptizer protested, saying, “I should be baptized by you!” Jesus answered, “This is necessary to fulfill all righteousness.” John consented, and as Jesus was baptized, the Father spoke from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son!” None of this is recorded in John’s account. In fact, John doesn’t actually tell us of the Baptism of Jesus at all. Yes, he tells of that the Spirit descended from heaven like a dove, but without the other Gospels we wouldn’t know when this happened. Instead, the Gospel of John tells us the purpose of Baptism.

The Baptizer says, “I came baptizing with water in order that He should be revealed to Israel.” The word “revealed” is the same root as “epiphany.” It’s why this text was appointed for the Octave of Epiphany. John was sent to baptize for this purpose: that the Lamb of God would be revealed. John says that he did not previously know Jesus, which is interesting to consider since their mothers were relatives. But God told John, “You will know the Messiah when you see the Spirit of God descend and remain upon Him.”

John saw the Spirit descend, and then he testified, saying, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John did not know the Christ until His baptism. In a similar way, we cannot know our Savior apart from Holy Baptism. We cannot enter the kingdom of God unless we are born again through water and the Holy Spirit.

Perhaps you’ve never considered this before: baptism is Epiphany. On the day of Epiphany, we begin to see the revelation of God’s plan of salvation. Yes, salvation is of the Jews, but it for all, including Gentiles. The wise men are the first Gentiles to be brought to the light of Christ. And how will the rest of the Gentiles be gathered? We learn this on the Octave of Epiphany. The revelation of Christ to all people, Gentiles included, happens by means of Holy Baptism.

On the day the Apostle Paul was baptized, something like scales fell from his eyes. So it is for all of us who have been baptized into Christ. The Holy Spirit descends upon us, opening our eyes to see and know our Savior. Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Apart from the Holy Spirit’s work, we might know some historical facts about Jesus—that He was a man who lived and died two-thousand years ago, that He was a great rabbi who had a profound effect on His followers, even on the world. But like John, who perhaps had known Jesus as a relative, we could not know Him as our Savior and Messiah apart from the Spirit’s descent in Holy Baptism. No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. Like John, we did not know Him, but now, having had the scales of unbelief removed from our eyes by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we too now recognize Him and testify that this is the Son of God. Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Amen.