01/11/2025 ~ First Sunday after the Epiphany ~ also the Baptism of the Christ ~ Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17 ~ Also: 01/06/2025 ~ Epiphany of the Christ ~ Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12 ~ EKC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMUF4ehtzvM ~ HARPSWELL TV VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQmwPg4d9bk

God with Us

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan, to be baptized by John. John tried to dissuade Jesus, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you and yet you come to me?’”— Matthew 3:13-14.

A couple minutes ago at the start of the service you heard we are in the season known as Epiphany. The traditional twelve days of Christmas are past. It surprises some to find out the Christmas Season does not run from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day. Of course, for Macy’s and Walmart it starts with Halloween and may still be happening. But that’s them.

A strict definition of this word says Christmas the word only refers to the service of worship observing the feast of the Incarnation, the Birth of the Christ, the Messiah. So while Christmas is a season it is actually not a day but the service of worship on a specific day.

With the Feast of Epiphany, January 6th, the Christmas Season is indeed over. The word ‘Epiphany’ comes from the Greek and means to show or manifest a revelation. Because of the celebration of the reality of that revelation, the advent of the Messiah, in some cultures the day of the Feast of Epiphany is observed more like we celebrate Christmas, with gift giving.

Of course, the Feast of the Epiphany does highlight the Magi, who bring gifts. Now, Scripture does not say how many Magi there were. Neither does it say they were royalty. So that there were three and that they were kings is totally made up, a fantasy.

Scripture does say the Magi bring gold, frankincense and myrrh. But the most valuable gift of the Magi was that they did not go back to Herod to report what they had found. That’s a valuable gift.

Since Epiphany means a revelation, the readings in the season largely concern revealing the identity of Jesus. So the season is about the in-breaking of God into human life and into human time. And this revelation is not just for the Jewish people.

The Magi are gentiles. So the message embodied here is the in-breaking of God is meant for all people. Or as the name of Jesus in Matthew puts it— Emmanuel, God is with us. The Gospel reading today adds information about this revelation since the Baptism is a proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah.

Now, one of the classic questions this reading poses is, if Jesus is the Messiah, God’s child, why is Baptism necessary? That very idea— that Jesus was Baptized— opens up several cans filled with worms— theological worms, but worms none-the-less.

This is clear: the Baptizer recognizes Jesus is the One expected by the Jews filled with the Spirit of God Who will lead God’s people, the Messiah. Therefore, John is reluctant about Baptizing Jesus.

However, Jesus says (quote:) “It is proper for us to do this to completely fulfill the righteousness, the justice of God.” So Jesus understands what being in a right relationship with God— which is the Biblical meaning of the word righteousness— so Jesus understands what being in a right relationship with God is about. (Slight pause.)

Now— the next can of worms here— it’s often said Baptism is an initiation into the Christian family because Baptism goes all the way back to Jesus. But that cannot be accurate since John is already Baptizing and Christianity does not exist. So from where does the word Baptism originate? (Slight pause.)

Ritual purification practiced by the Jews, what we now call Baptism, dates at least from the time of the Second Temple, about 500 years Before the Common era. Even today Orthodox Jews still practice ritual washing, purification.

The Hebrew word for purification is Tvilah, immersion in natural source water. The language connection is the Greek. The Greek uses the word Tvilah and then translates this ritual washing into the word Baptmos— Baptmos.

And that where we we get the word Baptism. I know— you’re going to go home and write that all of that down, right? (Slight pause.)

These words are from the work we call Matthew. “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan, to be baptized by John. John tried to dissuade Jesus, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you and yet you come to me?’”

So again, why would Jesus have to receive John’s Baptism? As I said earlier, Jesus instructs John with words about righteousness, a right relationship with God. So we need to realize these words about a right relationship with God but these are are also the first words of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of Matthew— that a right relationship with God is necessary.

Hence, these words of Matthew describe the way Jesus functions throughout the Gospel, as One involved in the work of God. Jesus teaches about and demonstrates the divine will, set an example for all who follow.

So with the Baptism at the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus the course is set. Through Jesus God shows us the path and the path is a right relationship with God.

But we also need to understand following the divine will, as Jesus did, has a moral dimensions to it. Therefore we need to be aware Jesus teaches the moral aspects of this reign of God proclaimed by the Chirst. Jesus teaches that our world needs to be a place where the hungry are fed, the thirsty are given drink, the naked are clothed, the sick and imprisoned are visited.

Later in Matthew, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus directly says followers are called to join this mission. (Quote): “Unless your sense of righteousness, the sense of your relationship with God, surpasses that of the scribes, the religious scholars, and the Pharisees, you will not enter the dominion of heaven.” (Pause.)

This relationship with God is not concerned with defeating enemies but in seeing that good prevails. Indeed, the voice from heaven speaks in the third person rather than the second, indicating the Baptism story is not to be read simply as the call of Jesus.

The plea made by Matthew is clear. All who hear these words, including you and I, must not just learn that Jesus is the Messiah. This must go hand in hand with the moral aspects of the reign of God because Jesus is the Messiah. The person of Jesus cannot be separated from the moral practices to which God calls us.

So yes, the Season of Epiphany affirms the reality proclaimed by the Christmas Season— God is with us. But with the Epiphany Season there are more specifics as to what that means.

The season strives to center us on the reality of the Messiah Who invites us to be involved in the moral aspects of God’s work. To fail to understand the moral aspects expressed by the presence of the Messiah, the moral aspects of God being with us and how we are to respond to that reality, is to deny the identity of Jesus.

And what are those moral aspects? I am sure each of you could develop your own list of moral imperatives. But I will simply reiterate what I’ve already said. Let us see that the hungry are fed, the thirsty are given drink, the naked are clothed, the sick and imprisoned are visited. Amen.

01/11/2026
Elijah Kellogg Church, Harpswell, Maine

ENDPIECE: It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, but before the Choral Response and Benediction. This is a précis of what was said: “Earlier I twice mentioned these moral aspect of the Gospel— that the hungry are fed, the thirsty given drink, the naked clothed, the sick and imprisoned visited and suggested that you supply your own additions to that list. When I look at our society and society world-wide I suspect a lot needs to be done. It seems to me doing what we can to empower the moral imperatives of the Christ is our calling. Further, to separate the identity of Jesus from the place to which Jesus calls us is to turn Christianity into mere idol worship.”

BENEDICTION: May the Spirit of the God of light, the Spirit of love, the Spirit of truth and justice, the Spirit of song and joy, God Who encompasses all this and more, be with you this day and forever. Amen.