As of January 6th, the Christmas season comes to an end as we celebrate Epiphany. Epiphany has to do with the revelation of who Jesus is starting with the visit of the Magi (Matthew 2). Throughout the Epiphany season, we have Gospel readings relating to Jesus revealing who he is as God in the flesh, the Messiah. Since the Baptism of our Lord falls on January 7th, that’s what our services this weekend will revolve around.
In Jesus’ baptism, Jesus is revealed to be God’s own Son. Take a look at the thematic summary of the day listed below that lays out the significance of Jesus’ baptism in a deeper way.
I (Pastor Demski) will be preaching and I’ll be focusing on the Epistle lesson from the book of Romans and what Paul says baptism means for you.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Issues Etc digs into the liturgy
In Holy Baptism, the Triune God Reveals Himself and Recreates Us in His Image
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). Then, as “the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Gen. 1:2), God spoke His Word: “ ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Gen. 1:3). In the same way, “the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Mark 1:1) brings about the new creation through the waters of Baptism by the same Word and Spirit of God. When John the Baptist came, “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,” Jesus also came “and was baptized by John in the Jordan” (Mark 1:4, 9). Although He had no sins of His own, He took His stand with sinners in His Baptism and took the sins and mortality of the world upon Himself. He was baptized into His own death, by which the heavens are opened and the Spirit is given to us. God the Father is well pleased with His beloved Son and raises Him from the dead. As we share His Baptism and are “united with him in a death like his” (Rom. 6:5), we also share His resurrection unto “newness of life” (Rom. 6:4).
Immanuel Lutheran Church & School 