Loving God, we thank you for adopting us as your children through our baptism into Christ.  By the power of your Holy Spirit, help us to grow up into Christ, that others might see Jesus through us, for in his name we pray.  Amen.

            There are certain words that seem to be associated with the season of Epiphany, like manifest or manifestation.  In fact, one of the definitions of the word “epiphany” is a manifestation, as of a deity.  In other words, God is made known.  God is made known to all nations, beginning with the magi, who are guided by a star.  And, along the way, it is gradually revealed who Jesus is – “God in flesh made manifest,” as the Epiphany hymn says (ELW #310).

         Today, only two days after the visit of the magi was celebrated, Jesus is already an adult and is being baptized by John in the Jordan River.  It is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, and an important piece in revealing who Jesus is and what he has come to do.  However, it is also an event that has raised questions for people ever since the first century.  After all, why would Jesus need to be baptized?

         Initially, those who followed John the Baptist claimed that it showed that John was superior to Jesus.  Of course, there is also the whole question of repentance and the forgiveness of sins, which Jesus did not need.  In fact, even John questioned why he would baptize Jesus when it should be the other way around.  The answer, which is given by Jesus in today’s gospel, is that his baptism will “fulfill all righteousness” (Mt. 3:15).  It reflects a right relationship with God in the obedience and the humility of Jesus and is an act of solidarity with all other human beings.  It also becomes a revelation – both for Jesus and for those who are nearby – of Jesus’ true identity.

         Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all present as the voice from heaven declares, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt. 3:17).  While the words themselves would be affirming to hear, there is a whole weight of meaning behind the words that comes from the Hebrew Scriptures.  In one of the Psalms, God’s anointed (or God’s messiah) is told, “You are my son” (Ps. 2:7).  These words identify Jesus as a messianic king.

         The rest of the words spoken from heaven come from Isaiah 42, which we also heard today.  “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights” (42:1).  Jesus is identified as God’s Servant – the one who has the Spirit of God upon him and who opens the eyes of the blind.  He is also the one who will be a light to the nations and who will establish justice in the earth.

         Now, having heard these things about Jesus, you could be forgiven for asking “so… what now?  What does this have to do with us?”  The answer will vary depending on how well you already know Jesus.  If you haven’t really encountered Jesus, and you don’t have any sort of relationship with him, you will probably want to know a lot more than just what happened at his baptism.  You will want to hear the rest of the story, and all of the ways in which Jesus revealed God’s love in his life, death and resurrection.

         At the same time, if you already believe in Jesus and are baptized, today is a reminder of your own identity as a precious child of God.  We may not have seen the Holy Spirit or heard a voice from heaven when we were baptized, but that doesn’t mean that God was not present and active.  We, too, have been baptized by water and the Spirit, and have been given the identity “child of God” through being united with Christ.

         Earlier, we were reflecting on the word “manifest,” and on how God was made manifest, or made known, in Jesus.  We will continue to hear stories throughout the season of Epiphany in which God is revealed through Jesus.  At the same time, however, God was not made manifest only in the past.  Jesus was not revealed only in the past.  Do we continue to pay attention to the ways in which God shows up?

         In thinking about the ways in which Jesus is revealed today, at least three things come to mind.  The first would be through the Scriptures.  One of the best ways to get to know Jesus better is to read the book.  A second way in which Jesus is revealed these days is through miracles and answers to prayer.  Not everybody gets to have the same experiences, but there are certainly enough stories out there to show that miracles still happen in Jesus’ name.

         A third way in which God shows up is probably the most common, and that is through people just like you and me.  Whether it is through things like feeding the hungry and clothing the naked, or sharing the love of God with those who are sick or in prison, the love of Jesus is revealed.  When we live in the way that Jesus would live, and treat others with love and respect, Jesus is revealed.  Whenever we allow the Holy Spirit to be at work in us and through us, Jesus is revealed.

         May we be granted the eyes to see and the ears to hear, wherever God is at work in our world, and may we continue to encounter Jesus, even as others meet Jesus through us.  Amen.  May it be so.  Amen.

The Baptism of Our Lord (A)          Matthew 3:13-17

January 8, 2022                               Isaiah 42:1-9

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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