First Sunday after the Epiphany of Our Lord
The Baptism of our Lord
January 8
The Lord be with you
The Gospel lesson for the First Sunday after the Epiphany is always one of the accounts about the baptism of Jesus (just like the Gospel lesson for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany is always the wedding feast at Cana). These accounts accent the general theme of the Epiphany Season, which is a revelation of Jesus as God. There really is no need to “reveal” that Jesus is a man. This was obvious to the human eye. He was born, ate, drank, slept, developed friendships, and so forth, like any human. But what was hidden was the Divine nature. He was “very God of very God.” He was equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He was begotten, not only in time but also from all eternity. This reality was not obvious to the naked eye. It, therefore, had to be revealed.
At the Baptism of our Lord we have the presence of both the Father and the Holy Spirit. Both are proclaiming the Divine Nature of the Son, hidden in, with and under the human nature of the Son of Mary. Here we see “God in flesh made manifest.”
The readings for this Sunday are also excellent readings for sermons about the Trinity and sermons on baptism.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert