“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form or void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Gen 1:1-2). The opening words of the Bible, how well they fit with today’s feast and Gospel! Out of this original chaos something orderly and beautiful will come forth. For the Jews, water was life – obviously! – but it was also danger, chaos, full of monsters and even in later thought of demons. Yet out of this God creates an orderly universe. At his baptism Christ goes down into the water, and “immediately he went up from the water”. Immediately, he tames it, exorcises it, and immediately he emerges. Something happens. Open heavens, a dove, a voice. These are signs of a new beginning, a second Genesis.
The Baptism of Jesus begins his ministry. He enters public life. He takes up his role on the world stage.
This is part of a sequence. In eternity the Son comes forth from his Father. At the Incarnation, eternity enters time. He “comes down from heaven” and in Mary’s womb becomes a member of the human race. After 9 months, he’s born, he comes out into human society; he’s recognised by the shepherds, worshipped by the wise men. He’s named. But he’s still only a baby. Step by step, though, he’s coming closer to us. And today he comes out still further, into action. It’s another beginning. “Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about 30 years old”, says St Luke. He’s an adult now, he’s assuming responsibility. At 30, Cardinal Newman once said, we should know what we’re doing with our life. Jesus comes to the Jordan valley. John recognises him. Jesus wants baptism, John hesitates, Jesus insists. It happens. Born from eternity, born in time from Mary, now he’s born into his work, his mission as Messiah. As Jesus comes up, the heavens are opened, the dove of the Spirit rests on him, a voice is heard. The Father declares him his beloved Son. No wonder Eastern Christians call this feast the Theophany: a revelation of God. The whole Trinity is here.
This isn’t a hole in the corner affair. It’s not just Jesus’ special moment or a mystical experience of a would-be prophet. It’s something big. The feast is at pains to say this. In modern speak, this is something cosmic, planetary, global. In theology speak, it’s a key moment in the history of divine revelation and human salvation. It reverberates with biblical references. It gathers up the past and opens up a future. I’ve already mentioned the connection to the creation story, water and Spirit, cosmos overcoming chaos. Then there’s Noah, water survived and a dove, a fresh start for humanity after disaster (which is what the Noah story’s about). Then there’s Exodus: Jesus is a new Moses leading his people through the Red Sea out of captivity. He’s a new Joshua too leading the people over the Jordan into the Promised Land of life in him. He’s another Solomon too, son of David. On coming to the throne, Solomon was washed, anointed and declared the true king in succession to his father. He was crowned and enthroned, ready for his royal work. And so with Jesus. He’s anointed by the Spirit, announced by the Father. He will inaugurate God’s kingdom on earth. He’ll bring justice to the vulnerable, he won’t crush the bruised reed or quench the flickering flame. He’s a king with a universal mission, a “covenant for the people” (the Jews) and a light for the nations (the Gentiles) – all humanity. There’s an accumulation of biblical precedent here. Prophecy is being fulfilled. And in turn this baptism looks forward to his death and resurrection. His coming up from the water foreshadows his rising from the dead. It’s the new creation again. There’s only the Parousia still to come.
We need a wide lens today. Today the Lord embarks on a new and public stage of the task assigned him by the Father. But it’s part of something even larger. Step by step, the Lord comes closer to us: incarnation, birth and now baptism. Now his preaching, his healings and exorcisms, his making disciples. Then his death and resurrection, then the sending of the apostles, the mission and growth of the Church, preaching, sacraments, Eucharist, the Holy Spirit always at work in hearts. He “comes forth like a bridegroom coming from his tent, rejoices like a champion to run his course” (Ps 19:6). And what he does for the many, he does for us one by one. He wants to come closer to us in our own lives. He wants the water of our baptism, the river of grace, to flood the whole of us.
And like the Baptist when Jesus came to him, we can agree, we can consent.
There was a teenager who prayed, “Lord, one day I want to be part of your team.” Years later, they feel their prayer has been answered. Their work feels part of the work of Christ: a doing good, a healing, a combat with evil powers. Thanks to our baptism, we are part of Christ’s team, and just because we miss some goals doesn’t mean we sack our manager! A Messiah needs a people; a King needs an army; the Head needs a body, the Body needs limbs. He doesn’t just come to forgive our sins; he comes to enrol us, recruit us, enlist us, engage us, employ us. He wants our help. He likes collaborators. He always has vacancies. Bruised reeds and smouldering wicks are welcome. He has endless posts on offer, personally tailored. “They also serve who only stand and wait”, said a poet; we might add, who only sit and grieve. Everything in us can be taken up and be for him.
Like Mary before him, John said “yes”. And so can we.
St Mary’s Cathedral, Aberdeen, 11 January 2026
