Epiphany II- the Baptism of our Lord- Mark 1:1-11

The Books of Common Prayer from 1549 through 1662 follow the usage of Sarum and do not have a Sunday Gospel on Christ's Baptism during the Epiphany season. The 1928 American BCP re-introduced the reading from Mark 1:1-11 to observe this important event. By coming to John to be baptized, Jesus fulfilled all righteousness. Although sinless, our incarnate Lord expressed His solidarity with sinful human beings who all need cleansing. Jesus also received a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit on His human nature as He began His public ministry. And the heavenly voice acknowledged Him as the Son of God. This moment is a unique manifestation or epiphany of the divine glory in Christ. It also points ahead to His whole public ministry and work for human salvation. 

Because of Christ's uniqueness, there are certainly historical and theological differences between His Baptism by John and later Christian Baptism commanded by the risen lord in Matthew 28:19. Yet, in part, the Baptism of Jesus is also a model for us. He underwent Baptism to point to the human need for the washing of regeneration. He was pure, but we need to be cleansed. He was already in unity with the Spirit while we need to be born anew by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. He was the Son of God by nature, but we need to be adopted as children of God. Baptism also points us to our ministries. Being baptized into Christ makes us members of Christ's Body and calls us to continue Christ's ministry in this world.

Epiphany- 6 January- Isaiah 49:6

The feast and season of Epiphany begin with the first Evening Prayer near sundown on January 5 ("Twelfth Night"). The name Epiphany is derived from a Greek word meaning “appearance” or “manifestation.” Apart from Good Friday-Easter and Pentecost. Epiphany is the oldest yearly Christian observance. It is certainly older than Christmas Day, and it was the first day widely used to celebrate Christ’s Birth. In Eastern churches of the 3rd and 4th centuries, Epiphany seems to have been associated with all the events surrounding Christ’s beginnings. These events included Jesus’s Birth, the coming of the Wise Men, the presentation of the Infant in the Temple, the Finding of the youth Jesus in the Temple, and Jesus’ Baptism in the Jordan. As the church calendar developed, these events were commemorated on separate occasions. In the Latin-speaking Church, January 6 became associated with the Gentile Wise Men (Matthew 2) and Christ’s mission to the nations.

The theme of Epiphany can be summarized by the divine prophecy in Isaiah 49:6b, " I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, is the light of God's truth and love shining into a sin darkened world. This light shines on the faithful of Israel and spreads to all nations. May His light illuminate our hearts, minds and souls and shine before those around us!