1st Sunday of Epiphany / Baptism of Christ (Year A) – Sunday, 11th January 2026 – St Peter’s Church Centre, Stanley – Morning Worship
Isaiah 42:1-9 | Matthew 3:13-17 | Acts 10:34-43
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’
Matthew and Isaiah there – both sharing a view from God… and we are blessed to overhear an intimate moment where God sees His servant – ready to bring in the Kingdom – and God is well pleased.
Today we celebrate the Baptism of Christ – a festival in the Church calendar – and an event that could cause some confusion if, like me, you have ever viewed the timeline of Christmas-Jesus as purely an infant narrative… until you listen more carefully and realise that is not how it is…!
I used to pay very little attention to the bible passages in the time after Christmas. We had the stable, the shepherds… and then the Magi… well, where did they visit the Holy Family? Surely not still in the stable? And then they all relocate to Egypt and finally Nazareth. And then today, we read about a baptism…
Western Christianity has always held infant baptism as central to faith – shaped by concerns about sin, mortality, and grace – the imperative for all newborns was to be baptised as soon as possible. This is familiar too us.
Consequently it’s not impossible for us to imagine baptising a child as being ‘what happens next’ in the story of Jesus… except of course, it isn’t… and that is not what this festival day is about, anyway. Today is about revelation and transformation, and that intimate insight into what God knows of Jesus.
After the Magi depart, our bible lectionary moves us forward. Jesus is now an adult…
Matthew offers what looks a bit like an awkward encounter – Jesus comes to John for baptism for He sees that as the right thing to do, a completion of … something… before whatever might come next.
John the Baptiser, was bringing many to the water for repentence and cleansing of their sins, and to begin a new life. And now, here is Jesus….
John is unsure – surely it should be the other way around – Jesus is the main act, the next big thing… but… well, God doesn’t work like that….
Jesus needs no cleansing or repentance… for there is a different kind of transformation that shall come to pass….
What transpires, is a moment of awe and wonder – Jesus rises from the water. And God anoints Jesus – His Son – the Christ is blessed in the Holy Spirit.
This baptismal transformation isn’t a ‘deal’ – there is no sense that ‘if you do this, then you can have that….’. It’s no pay-off or even a rite-of passage; it isn’t related to His age or experience… it just is.
In early Christianity, adults made a choice to follow the Way through baptism, converting from Judaism or paganism, often as entire households, as we learn from Acts.
At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, The Disciples are told by Jesus to go into the world and baptise. They have not done this during His ministry – there was no need, for Jesus himself was THE symbol, the example, the witness…. Indeed, the Way the Truth and the Life. Yet, He knew a time would come when He wasn’t present physically. How should the work continue?
Baptism.
It’s a good starting point for the journey…
Whether an adult or a child…
There are choices… made by oneself, or by those that love us and care enough to make choices for us, as children.
Jesus accepts John’s baptism, but then it all changes…
God’s affirmation and anointing…
Jesus is transformed – not who Jesus is, but what is now revealed, and what He is sent to do. This was the sign… He is ready.
Is that how we encounter baptism…?
It is not easy for us to look out onto the world, to see the experiences of so many, far and wide, without having a sense of discomfort, perplexity, even hopelessness and downright misery….
Has it always been so? Is this just a phenomena of ‘the now’? I don’t think so, do you?
We seem tempted though, to look backwards and think it was all so lovely, so simple, in the past…
Maybe we once thought that if we turned off the telly, or closed the newspaper, the world went away… left to our earthly ‘leaders’ to do their best to protect and sustain us. And even to let the Church do its own thing to guide and watch over our souls…
I wonder if we still have that much confidence today….
What was, or is, our part in all of what we witness?
Do we have some responsibility…?
And for what?
In baptism…
We are invited into the same transformation, as received by the Christ.
Believe it or not…. God is well pleased with us, for we are of His creation.
God does not say: “do as you are told, fix the world, convert everyone, and then I will be pleased …”
God does not say: “once you become like Jesus, then I will love you…”
God’s grace and love are free. Now.
We choose to be obedient and trusting.
We may choose baptism – choose to become fully part of the body of Christ…
We may choose that for our children…
We may have been baptised… and struggled… and gone away…and maybe returned…
It doesn’t matter – God longs for us to be present – to know, and to be known by God.
It’s up to us though…. not to earn God’s love, but to live from it.
WE will bring forth justice to the nations…. Will we?
We are not called to judge,
We are not called to create structures that exclude others.
We are not required to turn the challenging ministry of Jesus into a nationalist manifesto.
When the world says – “I am afraid” or “I need to know I am loved” – what will we offer?
The Gospels are gifted to us that we might know of God’s grace so we can pass it on – tell the world by showing the world what it means.
In a few weeks time, we will celebrate Candlemas – the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. This will be a moment within the story of Jesus as a child. Before then, we will have further Sundays of Epiphany. For now though, and for the days before us, let us stay with baptism – that of Jesus, transformed and anointed; perhaps your own – recalled as an adult, or recollected via family; or even the possible baptisms of others – people you might know who will come to faith, to be welcomed into the Christian family – the Body of Christ.
I love a baptism, don’t you?
There always seems to be an element of hope and joy, a reflection of good choices made, and an excitement of something new. When we welcome an infant or adult into our midst, through the waters of baptism – we don’t know what it will mean for them or for us, but we know it’s a good thing. A good start.
And our spiritual journey must begin, and be nourished, with good news, hope and encouragement. The realities of the world will remain so and yes, as we are commanded, and maybe reluctantly, we are engaged in making a difference in the name of Jesus. But there has to be good news….
We don’t know who heard the Spirit of God speak as Jesus rose up from the Jordan. Was it just Jesus, or maybe John too. That would make sense in helping John to know that his work was compete. What about the crowds….? Maybe the voice was heard far and wide…. We don’t know.
What we do know – you and I – is that, without hearing words of affirmation and love, humans fail to flourish. If children do not hear from parents that they are loved, that they are special, then…. well, it’s not a good beginning, is it. Even if there is some encouragement, much of our lives are spent trying to rediscover such words, such sentiments – in our relationships, in what we do and how we live. It even becomes something we consume – always longing for someone to say – ‘you are loved, you are special’.
Ironically, that is not always the first impression that christians will give…. Which is strange… and so very sad. Yet, it doesn’t have to be like that….
I was baptised by my father, in December 1965, when I was adopted into a new family, both literally and spiritually.
My wife Marlene and I renewed our baptismal vows in the Jordan some years ago, whilst on a pilgrimage. Nothing was added or changed… just a remembering…
Yet its not the physical act of baptism – the oil and water – just the head or full body – but the transformation it brings… what we do next, how we live, how we sense the voice of the Spirit in our lives.
My sisters and brothers, we have one job – however we pass on the Gospel Good News, it must always contain that one eternal truth: you, me, us – everyone – are beloved children of God. No exceptions.
You might not always have the right words, but we don’t always need them…
Tell the world, tell each other and yes, look in the mirror and remind yourself… you are beloved of God. Now and always.
Upon such foundations, anything is possible.
God be with you in the days ahead.
Amen.
Image: ChatGPT composite using image taken (SB) at the River Jordan of an inscription from Mark’s Gospel, and a prompt – “….also a river and a dove”. Output looked a bit too ‘English’ so “…a bit more Judean, pls”!