First Sunday after the Epiphany, Baptism of Our Lord (2026)

Matthew 3:13–17

“With Him I Am Well Pleased”

Goal

The goal of this sermon is that hearers would recognize Jesus’ baptism as the decisive revelation of who He is—the Christ, the Anointed One—who fulfills all righteousness in our place and who, through Holy Baptism, gives us His own identity as beloved children of God.

Malady

The problem we have is that we struggle to know where we truly stand before God. Accusations linger. Forgiven sins still speak. We measure ourselves by performance and comparison and quietly doubt whether God could genuinely be pleased with us.

Means

God reveals Jesus at the Jordan as His beloved Son, anointed with the Holy Spirit, who stands fully in the place of sinners. United to Christ in Baptism, we receive His righteousness, His Spirit, and the Father’s verdict spoken over us in Him.

I. Epiphany Reveals More Than We Expect

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Epiphany is the season of revelation. God pulls back the curtain—not only to show us who Jesus is, but also to show us who we are in Him.

And today, that revelation does not happen in a palace or at the temple. It happens in the muddy waters of the Jordan River.

Jesus comes quietly from Galilee and steps into a line filled with sinners—people confessing their sins, people admitting they have nothing to offer God except repentance.

And the moment Jesus steps forward, John the Baptist stops him.

“I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”

John senses immediately that something is wrong.

II. The Scandal of a Sinless Savior

John’s objection is not emotional; it is theological.

John’s baptism is for sinners. It is for repentance. It is for forgiveness.

And Jesus does not belong there.

Jesus has no sins to confess. No guilt to wash away. No repentance to perform.

John had just preached that the Coming One would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. And now that Coming One is standing in front of him asking to receive his baptism instead.

It makes no sense—unless Jesus is doing something far greater than setting an example.

So Jesus answers John.

III. “To Fulfill All Righteousness”

“Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

These words carry the weight of the entire Gospel.

Jesus is not saying this is a nice religious gesture. He is not saying this will inspire others.

To “fulfill all righteousness” means to carry out God’s saving work.

In the Scriptures, God’s righteousness is not merely a standard—it is an action. It is God stepping in to rescue those who cannot rescue themselves. Isaiah promised it long before:

“I have put My Spirit upon Him… He will bring forth justice… He will open blind eyes and bring prisoners out of darkness.”

At the Jordan, that promise takes flesh.

Jesus steps into the water for us. Humanity is reduced to one—Jesus of Nazareth. He stands where sinners stand. He begins publicly what He will complete on the cross.

And then, everything changes.

IV. Heaven Opens and God Speaks

The heavens are opened. The Spirit descends like a dove. And the Father speaks:

“This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

This is not a private moment. This is public declaration.

God is revealing who Jesus is: The Christ. The Anointed One. The Servant who will carry out God’s saving will.

Notice what God does not say.

He does not say, “This is My Son because He has proven Himself.” He does not say, “This is My Son because He has earned My pleasure.”

The Father speaks His pleasure as Jesus stands in the place of sinners.

That detail matters—because it brings the text directly to us.

V. Our Deepest Struggle: Identity

Here is where the Law presses in.

We struggle with identity before God.

Even forgiven sins continue to echo. Old failures resurface. Accusations linger—sometimes from others, sometimes from our own conscience.

And quietly, we ask the question: Would God really say that about me?

So we try to manage our standing before God. We compare ourselves. We work harder. Or we resign ourselves to the idea that God tolerates us but is not truly pleased with us.

If our standing depended on us, that fear would be justified.

But it does not.

VI. Baptized into Christ, Sharing His Verdict

Acts 10 makes the connection clear:

“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power… and He went about doing good.”

Everything Jesus does flows from this anointing.

And then—astonishingly—God shares it.

Your baptism is not primarily about your promise to God. It is about God’s declaration over you.

United to Christ, what is spoken over Him is now spoken over you.

His righteousness covers you. His obedience counts for you. His Sonship becomes yours.

At the font, God does not say, “Try harder.” He says, “You are Mine.”

VII. Living from the Epiphany

Epiphany reveals who Jesus is—and therefore who you are.

You are not defined by your worst moment. You are not trapped by lingering accusations. You are not standing before God on probation.

In Christ, the verdict has already been spoken:

You are Beloved. Forgiven. Well-pleasing to God—not because of you, but because you are in Him.

That is the revelation of the Jordan. That is the gift of Baptism. That is the peace of the Anointed One.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Now, may the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Let’s now confess our common Christian faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed.

___________________________

Prayers of the Church

Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

Gracious Father, at the baptism of Your Son in the Jordan River, You revealed Him as Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power. As You once opened the heavens and spoke Your gracious verdict over Him, grant that Your Church would ever cling to Christ alone for righteousness, life, and salvation. Keep us steadfast in the faith we have received in Holy Baptism, and preserve us in the joy of being Your beloved children; Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, You sent Your Servant, Jesus, to bring justice to the nations and light to those who sit in darkness. Guide all pastors, missionaries, teachers, and church workers, that they would faithfully proclaim Christ, the Anointed One, who fulfills all righteousness for sinners. Open hearts through Your Word and Spirit, that many may be brought from darkness into Your marvelous light; Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Merciful God, we bring before You all who are struggling with cancer and enduring difficult treatments. Be near to them in days of fatigue, pain, fear, and uncertainty. Strengthen their bodies, uphold their spirits, and surround them with skilled caregivers and loving support. Grant patience in suffering, courage in weakness, and confidence that nothing can separate them from Your love in Christ Jesus our Lord; Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Compassionate Lord, we also pray for all who are ill, hospitalized, recovering from surgery, or facing chronic conditions. According to Your gracious will, bring healing and relief. Where cure is not possible, grant comfort, peace, and endurance. Remind them that they are baptized into Christ, and that even in suffering they remain Your beloved children; Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Faithful God, we remember before You those who are burdened in mind or spirit—those weighed down by anxiety, depression, grief, loneliness, or lingering guilt. Silence the accusing voices that trouble their consciences, and let them hear again Your gracious declaration spoken in Christ: forgiven, loved, and accepted for His sake; Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord of all nations, as You showed through Peter that You show no partiality, but welcome all who fear You and trust in Your Son, guide the leaders of our nation and all in authority. Grant wisdom, integrity, and humility, that justice may be upheld, peace preserved, and the vulnerable protected; Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Gracious Father, we thank You for the gift of Holy Baptism, through which You have claimed us as Your own and united us with Christ in His death and resurrection. Keep us mindful of our baptismal calling, that we may live each day in repentance and faith, walking as children of the light; Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting not in our merits but in Your mercy, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, our Lord, who taught us to pray; Our Father, who art in heaven…