The Octave of the Epiphany of Our Lord (Baptism of Our Lord)

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear friends in Christ, today the Epiphany season continues as we observe the Baptism of Our Lord. We began our observance of the Epiphany season last week by recalling the visit of the Magi, as the Christ Child is revealed to be the King of the Jews, and, indeed, of all men. Today, Christ is revealed to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

And so, the story fasts forward. The Babe of Bethlehem is now fully grown and about to begin His public ministry. Saint Luke tells us that this occurred when our Lord was about thirty years of age. John the Baptizer was in the wilderness of Judea, calling people to repentance, and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (cf. Mark 1:4). And then Christ came to the Jordan in order to be baptized by John. Because baptism is for the forgiveness of sins, John was naturally confused. He knew who Christ was, for he had recognized Him as a child in his mother’s womb. And as a relative of Christ, it is likely that the two had further interactions in their childhood and early adult years. But it had not yet been revealed to John exactly who Jesus was.

Our Gospel text for today does not tell of the baptism of Christ, per se, but rather of John the Baptizer recalling the events of our Lord’s baptism after the fact. In today’s text, John curiously says twice of Christ, “I myself did not know Him” (John 1:31a, 33a). As we have said, this cannot be true on a human level because of the scriptural witness in Luke chapter 1 that John indeed knew and recognized Christ, even from his mother’s womb. Therefore, John must have in mind something deeper and theological, which is made clear in Saint Matthew’s account of our Lord’s Baptism. In that definitive text of our Lord’s baptism, we read:

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:13-17).

This passage makes it clear that on a human level, John knew exactly who Jesus was—He was the Christ, the sinless one. John needed to be baptized by Him—not the other way around! For John, a great prophet though he was, was a poor, miserable sinner. He was in need of God’s mercy which was to come through this long-awaited Messiah. And John was sent by God (cf. John 1:6ff) with the instructions to baptize with water and to preach repentance in preparation for the Christ. But the Lord had not revealed to John the finer details of His plan—only that he was to prepare the way for Christ. Today’s Gospel text makes it clear that John was told that his baptism with water was a preparation for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which the Christ would initiate. But John could have never imagined that the two baptisms would be intertwined. For how can water do such great things as to bestow the Holy Spirit, work forgiveness of sins, rescue from death and the devil, and give eternal salvation? John did not understand, but when he saw the Spirit descend from heaven upon Jesus, and when he heard the voice of God the Father saying: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”, then John came to understand that through these ordinary means, God was offering salvation for His people.

And so, it is only after the baptism of our Lord that John begins to understand the means by which Christ will work salvation for mankind. For the baptism of our Lord revealed to John what he now declares to all who will hear his words: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29b). Prior to His baptism, John did not know Christ because he did not recognize Him as the Lamb of God. But now, John has seen and he bears witness that Jesus is the Son of God (John 1:34) and that this one has come to save mankind by taking their sins upon Himself.

So it is, dear friends in Christ, that until one sees Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, he does not truly know Christ. If one views Christ as merely a historical figure or a moral teacher, he does not know Christ, and he will not be saved. If one has gone through the rite of baptism, but never returns to church, rarely, if ever, prays, and lets his Bible collect dust on a shelf, such a person does not truly know Christ, and he will not be saved. For baptism reveals to us the work of Christ and the nature of our salvation.

This morning, we were blessed to witness the baptism of Sloane Sophia Tonn. And what a joy it is whenever we witness a baptism in the church because not only do we have the opportunity to welcome another brother or sister into the family of Christ, but we are also permitted to see through this child what God has done and continues to do in and through our own baptism. For after His resurrection, Christ commanded His disciples to go and baptize “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). And this baptism works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare (Small Catechism).

And so it is that this morning we witnessed just this occurring. A child who was under the domain of Satan has been brought under the rule and reign of Christ. For Saint Paul says to Titus that the Lord saves us through this washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit (cf. Titus 3:5). And, likewise, the Apostle says in Romans:

“We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:4).

Sloane has been given this same gift of new life that all baptized Christians have received. What a joy and a blessing to witness!

But notice how the Apostle says that baptism joins us to Christ’s death. For as John the Baptizer said, Christ is “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29b). This means that Christ is the Lamb who bears our sins. And in biblical teaching, the way that a lamb bears sins is by going to die—by allowing its blood to be shed so that forgiveness can be granted to another. So it is that Christ is the Lamb of God who takes the sins of the world to the cross where He suffered and died so that you might be redeemed and granted the hope of everlasting life. And it is baptism which is the key to all of this.

For in your baptism, you were washed clean of your sins. But in Christ’s baptism, He did not receive forgiveness of sins, rescue from death and the devil, and the gift of eternal salvation—for He was without sin to begin with! Thus, John the Baptizer was at first confused by our Lord’s request to be baptized by him. For the waters of baptism are for sinners. Those waters are where sins are washed away. But when the sinless one entered the waters of baptism, the exact opposite happened. Christ entered into the waters of the Jordan River, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him and the voice of God the Father spoke, confirming that it is through these means that God is at work for our salvation. Christ entered the waters of baptism, and the filth of sin which was washed away from you began to cling to him, as when one child bathes after another in the same dirty waters.

And so it is that in the waters of Holy Baptism, the blessed exchange occurs—your sins were washed away. You were granted forgiveness. You were delivered from the realm of death and the devil into the blessed kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. And you were granted the gift of eternal salvation. But Christ received your sin in the Jordan River. Your guilt was laid upon Him. And, as the Lamb of God, He took your sins unto the cross where He suffered and died so that in exchange you might be granted His righteousness.

And so it is, dear friends in Christ, that the Christian life is centered around the Baptismal Font, which is why it is crucial that we keep the font front and center here. For the Word and Sacraments are our connection to Christ’s redeeming work. And the font is the place where the Christian life begins, where you are initiated into the Christian struggle with sin which is characterized by daily contrition and repentance. For the Christian life does not reach its goal and completion in baptism, as if the font grants you an eternal “get out of hell free” card, and now it doesn’t matter what else you do in life because you have the trump card over the devil. The fact of the matter is salvation can be lost. Baptism can be despised. And those who are baptized but do not nurture their faith in Christ can and will be damned eternally. For our Lord is clear in the last chapter of Saint Mark’s Gospel:

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).

Baptism is not a free ticket. Belief in Christ is the key. One must believe and trust that Christ is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Luke 1:29b)—a reality into which baptism initiates us. And belief in Christ as the Lamb of God means living a life of daily contrition and repentance, for sin will always remain with us on this side of glory.

Therefore, let us not despise our baptism, but let us through daily contrition and repentance drown and put to death the Old Adam along with all sins and evil desires. And by the power of the Holy Spirit, let us daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever, always looking to Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away our sin and the sin of the whole world. God grant it.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.