January 5, 2014

The created baptizes the Creator.

Matthew 3:13-17

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”

But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Encouraging Words...
Tomorrow, January 6, the Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of Epiphany (a manifestation or revelation) or Theophany (a manifestation of God). We started the feast today with the blessing of the waters. We celebrate this in remembrance of the baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan river. Jesus did not need to be cleansed of any sins because He was sinless. This is why John resisted doing this. But Jesus made it clear that He was doing this to make the purification of humanity His own. This was also an opportunity for the entire trinity to appear (theophany) before mankind. How fitting it is that Jesus would use baptism as the means to start His ministry of salvation, because water is essential for the existence of everything in creation. Through His blessing of the water of the Jordan He blessed all of creation and initiated regeneration to all.