John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Mark 1:4
For Christians, the birth of Christ is a very important and special event.
But it should be pointed out that only the Gospels of Matthew and Luke provide us with details about Jesus’ birth.
In contrast, there are at least six books that talk about Jesus’ baptism – all four Gospels and Acts and Romans.
So in scriptures at least, it would seem that Jesus’ baptism is a more important event than his birth.
That should be a clue for us that perhaps we should not only give greater emphasis to Jesus’ baptism but also our own baptisms.
I am sure that all of us remember the date of our birthday, but very few of us remember the date of our baptism.
Today’s reading from the Gospel of Mark comes just before John’s baptism of Jesus, which is where the story of Jesus begins for Mark.
Likewise, it should be the same for us.
Our baptism is our second birth. I would argue that it is equally if not more important than our physical birth date.
In Baptism God graciously gives us an identity. We are given status in God’s family, and bestowed with life that never ends, even when our physical life runs out.
The Catechism in the Book of Common Prayer (page 858) makes the following points:
In Holy Baptism God adopts us as his children.
We are made members of Christ’s Body, the Church.
We inherit the kingdom of God.
Our sins are forgiven.
We have new life in the Holy Spirit.
Our baptism doesn’t have a shelf life – it never wears out, never expires, never fades.
We never need to be rebaptized even if we leave the church for a long time. God never forgets who we are and whose we are, even when we do.
At the same time, we are always somewhat of a work in progress.
The Spirit continues to work on us and in us in every moment, changing us daily into the people we are called to be.
Even though our focus in Advent is the anticipation of Christ’s coming again, we rejoice that he has already given us these precious gifts.
Every time we return to the baptismal waters we return to that first day of light, love, life, and the promise of all that might be.
Let us pray.
Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer, p. 214)
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Artwork: “John Baptizes Jesus,” Jesus Mafa Community, Cameroon, Africa
