January 12, 2025
The Baptism of Our Lord - Part 1
Matthew 3:13-15
01/12/2026
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to
John, to be baptized by him.
14 John would have prevented him, saying, ``I need to
be baptized by you, and do you come to me?''
15 But Jesus answered him, ``Let it be so now, for
thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all
righteousness.'' Then he consented. (ESV)
Last Sunday we prayed:
Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed
Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in
His name faithful in their calling as Your children and
inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the
same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and
reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
In the Epiphany season we see Jesus, who is true man,
revealed as the Son of God. Nowhere is this more clear than in
the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptizer at the Jordan River.
Saint Matthew recorded:
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to
be baptized by him. John would have prevented him,
saying, ``I need to be baptized by you, and do you come
to me?'' But Jesus answered him, ``Let it be so now,
for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all
righteousness.'' Then he consented.
John was the forerunner of the Christ, proclaiming,
``Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'' He called
people to recognize their sin, to confess their sin, and to flee
to God's infinite mercy. However, John recognized Jesus as being
sinless, as having no need of repentance.
By being baptized, Jesus willingly took upon Himself the
sins of all people. He was anointed both by the water and the
Holy Spirit to become our Redeemer from sin and death.
May our Lord grant that we recognize that Jesus was baptized
for our salvation. Amen.