The Baptism of the Lord
Of all the events of Christ’s life, the Baptism of Jesus is the most difficult one to wrap our minds around. Jesus’ baptism raises questions. Jesus was baptized at the hands of John the Baptist. But John’s baptism was a baptism for the forgiveness of sins. If Jesus was without sin, then why was he baptized? Second, Jesus is the very source and font of all the effects of a Christian baptism - cleansing from original sin, becoming a temple of God’s glory, and a new life through the Holy Spirit. Does it not seem strange that Jesus should subject himself to the very graces, of which, he himself is the source?
Perhaps the best way to understand the baptism of Jesus is to understand the unique role he played in salvation history. Because Jesus was God and human, his role was both human and divine. As the Son of God come to redeem humanity, he was the face of God to humanity. On the other hand, born as a human and representative of humanity, he was the face of humanity to God. Thus, as Son of God, his baptism showcased everything humanity needed to witness – the waters of baptism being made holy, the descent of the Holy Spirit, God’s naming Jesus as “my beloved Son.” On the other hand, as Son of Man, he brought before God the human need for redemption, the need for new life, the need to be renewed by the Holy Spirit, and the human desire to be reconciled as God’s sons and daughters.
Based on the above understanding, may I offer three points for reflection.
Every Person – Human and Divine
In a very real sense, like Jesus (yet in a different way), every human person is human and divine. We are human persons created in the image and likeness of God. To the extent we are created, we are human. But the breath that we breathe is the breath of God. To that extent to carry within ourselves the breath of God, we are divine creations. We are not human and divine in the same way that Jesus is human and divine. However, our origin, our dignity, and our personhood as human beings, is divine. Today, I invite us to become aware of our dignity and the dignity of every person as human and divine.
Baptism – A New Way to be Human and Divine
Even as we become aware of the dignity of every person as human and divine, let us also become aware that as Christians, we are baptized into Christ. How shall we understand the significance of our baptism into Christ? Our baptism is an invitation into a new existence. This does not make us superior to non-baptized human persons, but rather, gives our life a specific Christian meaning. Our baptism immerses us into the life of Jesus. In other words, through baptism our life comes into direct contact with the life of Jesus. It is like plugging a gadget into a socket – our baptism plugs our life into the life of Christ. Jesus’ baptism and our baptism becomes that one single event that invites us to live our human lives with a divine dignity. This is quintessential Christian living.
Human, but Living the Life of God
Jesus’ baptism was a way for him to live his human and divine life on earth. Our baptism is a way for us to live our lives - human and divine. After all, we are human beings immersed into the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This has implications. This means we live in the consciousness that in our human souls we carry the life of God; that within our human bodies we carry the breath of God; that within our human hearts, we carry the love of God, and that in every human thought, word, and deed we are the presence of God in the world.
I said earlier that baptism plugs us into the life of Christ. Whereas baptism plugs us into the life of Christ, the Eucharist nourishes this life within us. In fact, we become the body of Christ. We truly are human and divine. Jesus has accomplished this for us by his baptism, life, death, and resurrection. Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph