5 Things You Should Know About the Baptism of the Lord
5 Things You Should Know About the Baptism of the Lord
This year, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on January 12. In the liturgical calendar, this day marks the end of the Christmas season. It is notable because it marks the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and confirms his identity as the Son of God.
In our latest post, discover five things you should know about the significance of this feast day and strengthen your own devotion.
1. Jesus was baptized by his kinsman, John.
According to Luke 1:36, John’s mother, Elizabeth, was a relative of Mary, Jesus’ mother. Because their pregnancies occurred at similar times, their sons’ first interaction actually took place before they were born. When Mary went to see Elizabeth after learning she was to give birth to the Messiah, John leaped for joy from within his mother’s womb.
Luke 1:41-43 states:
“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, ‘Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.’”
2. John did not initially want to baptize Jesus.
When Jesus came to John, John hesitated to baptize him, because his baptism was one of repentance. John understood that Jesus was the promised Messiah, who had nothing for which he needed to repent. Matthew 3:13-14 states:
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?’”
3. It was the first baptism performed for righteousness, not repentance.
Because He was born holy and lived a sinless life, Jesus had no need to be baptized. Yet He chose to do so in order to fulfill all righteousness. Matthew 3:15 states:
“Jesus said to him in reply, ‘Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed Him.”
4. It is the first moment in the New Testament where all three Persons of the Trinity are clearly shown at the same time.
During the baptism of the Lord, Christ the Son was baptized while the Holy Spirit descended, and the Father spoke from the heavens. In this event, the Father and the Holy Spirit confirmed the deity of Christ, and Jesus submitted to his Father’s will. As Matthew 3:16 relates:
“After Jesus was baptized, He came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for Him], and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon Him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’”
5. The Baptism of the Lord is documented in all Gospel accounts except John.
The story of Jesus’ baptism can be found in three different places in the New Testament: Matthew 3:13–17, Mark 1:9–11, and Luke 3:21–22. Matthew’s description of the event contains the most detail and is the only one that relates John’s hesitance during the event.
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