The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
The Christmas season ends on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, a feast typically celebrated on the Sunday after Epiphany. In Eastern Christianity, Jesus' baptism is commemorated on 6 January, the feast of Epiphany. The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is observed annually. It falls on the Sunday after January 6, so this year the date is January 9. It commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptist.
In the Eastern Church this feast is called Theophany because at the baptism of Christ in the River Jordan God appeared in three persons. : The Son being baptized, the Holy Spirit descending, and the Father speaking from the heavens.
Why did Jesus get baptized? John’s was a baptism of repentance, and Jesus has nothing for which he needs to repent. Jesus was God's son, so he was sinless and there was no need for him to receive forgiveness. John tried to refuse to baptize Jesus saying that it was he, John, who should be baptized by Jesus.
The baptism of John was a baptism of repentance. It was to prepare people to receive the king. The baptism of Jesus was to welcome people into the new kingdom after they had received the king. Jesus’ baptism also showed that He identified with sinners.
Many of the incidents which accompanied Christ's baptism are symbolical of what happened at our Baptism. At Christ's baptism the Holy Spirit descended upon Him; at our Baptism the Trinity took its abode in our soul. At His baptism Christ was proclaimed the "Beloved Son" of the Father; at our Baptism we become the adopted children of God. At Christ's baptism the heavens were opened; at our Baptism heaven was opened to us.
Mark's Gospel moves quickly from the report of Jesus' baptism to Jesus' temptations in the desert to his ministry in Galilee after John's arrest. The end of the ministry of John the Baptist is the beginning of Jesus' ministry. In an analogous way, our Baptism inaugurates our mission as Christians.
Every time when we enter into the church we touch the holy water and bless us. It reminds us about our Baptism and the baptismal promises. It also reminds us our mission as baptized Christians.
- Fr. John Samuel