FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF JESUS CHRIST AND SOME OTHER LESSONS

 

THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF JESUS CHRIST

UTAZI Prince Marie Benignus Zereuwa

INTRODUCTION

The feast of today has a lot to offer to us. We shall look into the baptism in the life of Jewish people, baptism in the life of Jesus Christ and how it concerns the Christians of today.

 

John prepared the way for Christ Jesus by calling people to acknowledge their sin and their need for salvation. The baptism celebrated by John the Baptist was a purification ceremony meant to get the hearts of the people ready to receive their Savior, Jesus Christ. Now, Jesus was baptized by John; not because He needed to repent, but in order to obey the new command God laid upon His people through the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-17). 

On the day of his baptism, Jesus Christ was officially and publicly being sent out on His mission; which is, to proclaim the Good News of the salvation of God in and through what He will say and do, including His death and resurrection. God is acknowledging in the sight of the people that Jesus is the Son of God Who is to bring the message of salvation to the people. 

Then, our Baptism, in contrast to the baptism of Jesus, is the beginning of our life as adopted children of God. We are welcomed into the family of God.  Our baptism signifies both death and new life.  Ones old (sinful) life is put to death, and a new (graced, blessed, and God-like) life is given.  

However, unlike Jesus, I am not without sin. So my baptism is one of repentance. Repentance is to be a daily activity (1 John 1:8-9). Thus, I am called again to turn from sin and seek the face of the Lord.  Also I have to spend time praying for an unrepentant friend or family member that he or she may turn to Jesus.

1.0 JEWISH PURIFICATION CULTURE IN RELATION TO OUR BAPTISM

Let me begin with this question: John the Baptist baptized the Jews before Christ came on the scene. So, where did he come by the practice of baptism? In response, it is worth noting that the liturgical use of water” was common in the Jewish world. 

The Law of Moses required ablutions (washings) on the part of priests following certain sacrifices and on certain individuals who were unclean because of an infectious disease (Numbers 19:1-22; Leviticus 14,15; 16:24-28). Too, the natural method of cleansing the body by washing and bathing in water was always customary in Israel. Also, the washing of their clothes was an important means of sanctification imposed on the Israelites even before the law was given at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:10). 

More so, the use of water for cleansing was used symbolically as well in such passages as Ezekiel 36:25 where God says, I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities . . . . We do not believe that the practice of baptism for the remission of sins as taught in the New Testament was based in any way on the Old Testament, however the Old Testament washings with or in water that were for the purpose of physical cleansing can be seen as a type or shadow of New Testament baptism, which is for the purpose of spiritual cleansing (1 Peter 3:21). 

Historically, toward the beginning of the Christian era, the Jews adopted as a custom, the custom of baptizing proselytes seven days after their circumcision. Note that it was a custom and not a Divine guidance. During this process of baptizing the proselytes, a series of specific interrogations made it possible to judge the real intentions of the candidate who wished to adopt the Jewish religion. After submitting to these interrogations, he was circumcised and later baptized before witnesses. In the baptism, he was immersed naked in a pool of flowing water; when he rose from the pool, he was a true son of Israel. After their baptism, new converts were allowed access to the sacrifices in the Temple. 

Now, when John the Baptist came on the scene in the first century Jewish world, his teaching included the necessity of baptism. The people of his day were familiar with the act or practice of baptism as just discussed. However, the baptism of John was not based on or authorized by the Jewish law or pagan religious customs and traditions. John was called to preach by God, armed only with the Word of God (Luke 3:2). Jesus tells us that the baptism that John taught was from heaven, not from men (Matt 21:25). When John preached a baptism for the remission of sins, the people heard and obeyed. They submitted to the baptism that had been authorized by God. It was the first time in human history in which a person had the opportunity to be baptized for the remission of his sins; it has no connection with pagan and Jewish religious customs. 

2.0 THE BAPTISM BY JOHN THE BAPTIST

Though today the word BAPTISM generally evokes thoughts of identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ Jesus, it is worth knowing that baptism did not begin with Christians as we have red above. For years before Christ, the Jews had used baptism in ritual cleansing ceremonies of Gentile proselytes. John the Baptist took his baptism and applied it to the Jews themselves. It was not just the Gentiles who needed cleansing. Many believed the message of John and were baptized by him (Matthew 3:5-6). The baptism John performed had a specific purpose.

In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist mentions the purpose of his baptisms: I baptize you with water for repentance. Paul affirms this in Acts 19:4: Johns baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus. 

The baptism by John had to do with repentance. It was a symbolic representation of changing ones mind and going towards a new direction. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:6). Being baptized by John demonstrates that the person involved has recognized his or her sins, a desire for spiritual cleansing, and a commitment to follow the law of God in anticipation of the arrival of the Messiah. 

There were some, like the Pharisees, who came to the Jordan to observe the ministry of John but who had no desire to step into the water themselves. John rebuked them sternly: When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:7-8). Even the religious leaders needed to repent of their sin, although they saw no need of it. Does it mean that Jesus as a religious leader needed to be baptized for repentance?

3.0 WHY JESUS CHRIST WAS BAPTIZED

While John the Baptist provided a Baptism that served as a sign of repentance, Jesus Christ was without sin (Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 3:5). Then, on is tempted to ask: why did John baptize Jesus Christ? 

A closer look at the episode of the Baptism of Jesus Christ reveals that John the Baptist sought to dismiss the request of Jesus Christ for baptism at first. According to Matthew 3:14, John the Baptist said: I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me. Thus, John recognizes Jesus as the spotless Lamb of God (John 1:29) who did not need to be baptized to show His repentance. But John the Baptist consented to the request of Jesus Christ when Jesus told him that: Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:15).

3.1 FACTORS THAT EXPLAIN WHY JESUS CHOSE TO BE BAPTIZED

Several factors explain why the perfect Son of God chose to be baptized. First, Jesus sought to make a clear connection with John the Baptist. John was the voice of one crying in the wilderness (Matthew 3:3; Isaiah 40:3) who served as the Elijah who was to come. As the one to announce the Messiah, it was fitting for him to dedicate Jesus for His public ministry. 

Second, the baptism of Jesus Christ connected the humanity of Jesus with the rest of humanity. Though He was without sin, He took on the form of a man and identified with human experiences. This even included His experience of being baptized, a practice He would later command of all His followers (Matthew 28:18-20). 

Third, the baptism of Jesus Christ provided an example He expected other believers to follow. In Matthew 28:18-20, we read, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Jesus began His public ministry with baptism; He ended His public ministry with a command for His followers to baptize others. 

Fourth, the baptism of Jesus provided the first explicit mention in the New Testament involving all three members of the Triune God. Matthew 3:16-17 says, And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Jesus, the Spirit, and the voice of God the Father all appear at one time, revealing the uniqueness of each Person of the Trinity while affirming their essential unity.

In summary, the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist included enormous theological significance. It affirmed Jesus as the Messiah, whom John spoke of, revealed the humanity of Jesus, provided an example for others, and displayed a beautiful picture of the Triune God among the earliest followers of Jesus. Through His baptism, Jesus identity as the beloved son of the Father was revealed (Matthew 3:17). Through His baptism, Jesus identified himself with sinners though he did not sin. Through His Baptism, the mission of Jesus Christ was clearly defined.

4.0 OUR CHRISTIAN BAPTISM AND ITS BENEFITS

When we discus the baptism of Jesus Christ, we discuss our Christian baptism also. Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, and it has powerful and long-lasting effects. It changes the spiritual character of a person forever, and the mark of transformation is so permanent that it is indelible; it can never be erased. 

The following are the most important effects and benefits of the sacrament of baptism as noted by Father Michael Van Sloun.

The gateway sacrament: Baptism is the first of the sacraments. It is the beginning and the foundation of the Christian life of faith, and it provides access to the other sacraments.

Sacramental grace: The grace of baptism is a rebirth in Christ, opens a channel of blessing from God to the believer, grants a share of Gods divine life, delivers spiritual energy and power, provides nourishment and enables growth in virtue and holiness.

The gift of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit comes to a person through baptism. The Holy Spirit is the ongoing indwelling presence of God, which makes the person a temple of the Holy Spirit and assures the constant companionship of God for the entire duration of the journey of life. The Holy Spirit offers inspiration, enlightenment and guidance, as well as the courage, strength and motivation to live according to the ways of God.

A child of God: Baptism makes a person an adopted son or daughter of God. Baptism consecrate a person to God. God owns the baptized person, and the person belongs to God. With this realization there is an ever-growing deep longing to know, love, obey and serve God.

Church membership: Baptism grants admission into the body of Christ, the Church, the army of light, a spiritual family in which the other members become ones brothers and sisters in Christ. It establishes a bond of fellowship with the community of believers and full partnership with the communion of saints of the living. The pilgrimage to God is not to be walked alone, but with the help and companionship of other disciples.

Spiritual status: The baptized person is elevated as priest, prophet and king: a person who prays alone and worships with the Church, praying both for ones self and on behalf of others; lives a good and holy life and calls others to greater holiness; and enjoys royal status before God, and who honors God as supreme, submits to the authority of God and obeys the law and will of God.

Forgiveness: Baptism is a spiritual cleansing. All sins, both original sin and personal sin, are washed away and forgiven, and purified. The person is in the state of grace. Liberation from sin gives the freedom and fosters the desire to conform ones life to Jesus and his gospel.

Apostolic zeal: Baptism makes a person a laborer in Christs vineyard and a minister of the Church, one who proclaims the gospel to others in deed and word; gives strong and bold witness; assists in liturgical roles; teaches and shares the faith; serves ones neighbors, particularly the poor and disadvantaged; is a good steward of time, talent and treasure; seeks, speaks and defends the truth; works for justice and peace; and upholds the common good.

Salvation: Baptism clothes a person with immortality, gives a person a share in the redemption that Christ won on the Cross, and makes salvation, eternal life and everlasting glory with God in heaven possible. It unites a person to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. St. Paul explained that those who are baptized in Christ are baptized into his death (Rom 6:3), and that, If we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection (Rom 6:5).

LET US PRAY

Renew me daily oh Lord in your constant goodness, let me acknowledge my sins and make a turn towards you, each day of my life in Jesus name, Amen.

O DIVINE WORD WHO TOOK FLESH FOR HUMAN SAKE, REDEEM US IN OUR SITUATIONS

© Rev. Fr. Utazi Prince Marie Benignus