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Jesus’ public ministry begins with his baptism in the Jordan River by John. And so our Epiphany season also begins with this important event in the life of Christ.
But like John, we might have some question about this at first. After all, every Sunday School child knows Jesus is the only one without sin, and also that baptism washes away our sins. So John objected, “I need to be baptized by YOU Jesus. I’m the sinner here, not you!” And Jesus’ response doesn’t deny that.
But he says this, “Let it be so now.” In other words, just this once. Normally, you’re right, John. I am the Savior and you are the sinner. Baptism comes from me, to you. I am the one to give and offer the forgiveness of sins. And yes, you’re right, I don’t have a need to be baptized for my own sins. But now, just this once, it is fitting. In order to “fulfill all righteousness.”
But what does that mean? Quite a lot.
Jesus has work to do. His quiet years of obscurity are now past, he has reached full maturity and now at 30 the minimum age required of a Jewish teacher. His public ministry begins. And it is quite a to-do list.
First, he will go to the wilderness to face the devil’s temptations. He will gather disciples. He will perform many miracles. He will “open the eyes that are blind,” heal all manner of disease, show his mastery over nature – water to wine, storms to calm seas, multiply loaves and fish. He will even raise the dead.
But mostly he will spend these next several years preaching. The kingdom of heaven is at hand, and in him, indeed, has arrived! This is good news for the poor. It is a message to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. “I must preach...” he would tell his disciples, “for that is why I came.”
But the to-do list has one other item, one major task for him to accomplish. He will go to Jerusalem and die. He will die for the sins of the world. And then, in order to fulfill all righteousness, to complete it, he will declare with his dying breath, “it is finished.”
Jesus’ purpose in his Baptism is not to wash away his own sin. He has none. It is to bring the cleansing of your sin, mine, John’s sin, and the sins of the world. It is, as it were, his first step on the journey to the cross.
We stand with John. We confess, “we need to be baptized by you, Jesus.” We have polluted our souls by our own sin, which was polluted even from birth. A well of spiritual sewage spewing out from within us, gushing from our wicked hearts into filthy thoughts, lying words, and evil deeds.
Baptism, for Christians, is first of all an acknowledgment of sin. We are impure, unclean, soiled in sin.
Imagine seeing someone important, going on a date or to a job interview and not bothering to shower first. Imagine playing in the mud all day and then not washing up before dinner.
But all the more the sinful soul is not prepared to stand before the righteous God. We are sinful and unclean, sinners by thought word and deed. Unrighteous. Unholy. Unprepared and unfit to be even in the presence of our maker, let alone to receive his favor.
We confess, with John, “we need to be baptized by you, Jesus.” And so we are. Though it comes through the hands of a pastor who applies the water and the mouth of man that speaks the words, that command and promise is from Jesus. The power is from Jesus. “Go and make disciples” he charged his first pastors, “Baptizing and teaching”
And so you, dear Christian, are baptized. Washed and cleansed thoroughly by Jesus, who has, for you, fulfilled all righteousness. You are wholly righteous, fully prepared, entirely and thoroughly purified by the very word and promise of God in the water.
And the same Triune God who is revealed at Jesus’ baptism places that Triune Name upon you at yours.
The Father speaks, “This is my son with whom I am well pleased.” It’s true of Jesus, in his baptism, but it’s now also true of you in yours. God the Father is pleased with you, because your sins are washed away and you are clean in Christ.
The Spirit descends upon Jesus in his baptism, and you receive that same Holy Spirit in yours. A washing of rebirth and renewal by the Spirit, an indwelling, the Spirit making your bodies his temple. The very breath of God giving you new life, by his word and promise, for the sake of Christ.
And Jesus, who is baptized for you, unites himself to you in your baptism. Paul teaches this beautifully in Romans 6. We are crucified and buried with Christ in baptism. United with him in the most profound mystery. But not only his death is ours, but also his life. If we are united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
And just as Adam and Eve died spiritually the day that ate of the fruit, though physical death came later, so the day of your baptism, you were raised to new life, though the physical resurrection comes later. So Paul writes, “consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
In Christ, you are dead to sin. Sin has no power over you. Sin’s wages do not apply to you. Death holds no terror for you. God’s righteousness is not meted out upon you in wrath, but Christ’s righteousness is fulfilled in you, covering you with, cleansing you by his blood. Consider yourself clean, for so God does. Consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Chirst, for God does. Consider yourself God’s own child, and gladly say it, for you are baptized into Christ!
In Jesus’ baptism heaven is opened to him, and in your baptism, he opens heaven to you. If we had remained in our sins, we would be shut out, cast out, exiled from eternity with God. But in Christ we are invited, welcomed, even made heirs of an eternal home, a mansion being prepared for us already in his house. And all of it is guaranteed to you in baptism.
Which is also why baptism is such a comfort to Christians, especially when we face death. To know that God has claimed and named us as his own, washed and prepared us for his presence, and that in Christ, who unites himself to us in the water, we are made ready for heaven. I am baptized into Christ. I’m a child of paradise!
So Jesus is baptized for us. And we are baptized into him. He fulfills all righteousness by his life and death and resurrection. And we receive his righteousness by faith in his promise, a promise poured out in water and word. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
