Epiphany - January 5, 2020 - Matthew 3:4-17

Baptism and Epiphany – Complementary Blessings

Matthew 3:4-17 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (ESV)

On Epiphany, we typically think of the Wise Men or the message that God has brought salvation to Gentiles. Today, however, we look at a different take on the Epiphany theme by looking at its connection to baptism. One of the tasks of John the Baptist, was, as his title suggests, to baptize people. This was a new thing at the time of John. Baptism did not exist in the Old Testament. We don’t know how it developed or started exactly; many believe that it was the New Testament equivalent of circumcision. However, what we do have in the words of our text today, is an explanation of what Baptism is and why God gave it as a gift to the Church.

In our text, we see three types of Baptisms. The first was the one John was performing. The second was the baptism that John spoke about Jesus performing in the future. And the third was when John baptized Jesus. When we analyze these three baptisms, we get a better understanding of how this sacrament is used in our lives and the connection it has to Epiphany.

Looking at John’s baptism first, many wonder if it is of the same purpose and nature as the baptisms we perform today. Overall, it appears as though it was. The key in understanding this is seeing why John performed baptism. The purpose was for repentance. The beginning of our text describes the first aspect of repentance – confessing one’s sins. John’s baptism contained this effect. It was a way in which the people were able to bring their sins before God. Yet, without the second aspect of repentance, confession is pointless. True repentance also involves trust that God has forgiven sins. John’s baptism granted this promise.

This is where the concept of “fruits of repentance” comes in. The fruits we express are products of our faith. Faith indeed understands the sinful nature which we confess before God, but it also receives the grace and merits of Jesus to cleanse us of our sins. The effect is that we see signs, or fruits of repentance in our lives. John’s baptism was essentially about washing away sin and renewing a person’s heart with trust and confidence in Christ. This is exactly what we teach about baptism today. Peter describes, 1 Peter 3:21 …baptism now saves you-- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The renewal of our conscience before God allows us to display fruits of repentance. In Luke’s account of this text he lists what some of those fruits look like:

-He who has two coats, give one to someone in need

-Tax collectors – be honest in your job

-Soldiers – do not be harsh with the people

In our lives, these fruits can be any manner of actions, essentially any way that our renewed conscience by faith manifests that faith in Jesus.

Despite outward differences in perspective, the effect of John’s baptism is the same as that of the Church today. Baptism brings the blessings of repentance, which include sorrow over sin but also hope of forgiveness in Christ. Here we see the first way that baptism and Epiphany complement each other. Baptism leads a person to faith in Jesus. This is the greatest revelation of the Holy Spirit. It is the light of faith that turns on in a person’s heart. Baptism reveals the mystery long unknown by human nature, that God expresses His unconditional and infinite love toward sinners through His only begotten Son. We could consider this the personal, individual Epiphany of faith.   

The second Baptism that John speaks about is focused on that One who is to come after Him. John declares of Jesus, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” This is the verse that leads many to conclude that John’s baptism must have been a precursor of Baptism as we know it today, and in that sense John’s baptism must have been limited in some way. However, that could not be the case if John’s baptism produced repentance. What John is describing here is not a Baptism in a procedural or sacramental way. He is not speaking of Jesus instituting a new process of Baptism. Instead, John is describing what sets Jesus apart from all others.

Whereas mankind, whether John or us, must communicate the blessings of God through word and sacrament – this is the process, Jesus wields the power of God directly as God. Jesus “baptizes” with the Holy Spirit and fire by holding the complete authority of law and gospel. He is able to directly judge sin or forgive sin. And so, John continues, His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." The Baptism that Jesus performs is not the same as what we perform today. As John said, it is not by water. It is not spoken in words, but it is demonstrated in power directly. Yet, the effect of each is the same. Baptism performed in Jesus’ name and implemented with water and word offers the forgiveness of sins – peace with God. Ultimately, in time and space however, the proclamation is given but the action rests in God’s hands. Our baptisms do not have divine displays of the Holy Spirit or fire. Jesus, on the other hand, will execute His power directly on the final day. In that sense, the effect of His power is the same as the effect of our baptisms – but they are given and look differently. And in that sense, Jesus offers a Baptism that is unique unto Himself.

This second Baptism complements Epiphany in that it reminds us of our need for Jesus. Epiphany is a time for all people to hear the news of universal salvation in Jesus – but that salvation is received through repentance that leads to faith. The authority of the Epiphany promise rests on the same foundation as the authority of Baptism’s promise – Christ’s power. The areas of Christ’s power are found in the four “futures” of our text. John, when speaking of Jesus who would come after him, says that Jesus will 1. baptize (wash), 2. clean out, 3. gather (wheat), and 4. burn (chaff). These four future words succinctly describe the work of Christ and the “baptism” He wields by special right as the Chosen One of God.

The third Baptism of the text is when Jesus requested that John baptize Him. The same question that arose in John’s mind confronts us. If Baptism is about granting forgiveness of sins, why did Jesus get baptized? John objected for this very reason. Sometimes people today take the application of Jesus’ baptism too far by comparing it to their own. Their idea is that Jesus viewed Baptism as a new law from God – something that needed to be fulfilled. And so, that’s how we should view ours also, namely that Baptism doesn’t grant any blessing, rather it’s something we are expected to do to please God.

But that is faulty thinking. Yes, we already described the baptism that John performed, and here, he baptizes Jesus. But, it’s Jesus who tells us that it was for a different purpose than our own baptism. Jesus was not being baptized because He needed to repent. The purpose of Jesus’ baptism was to “fulfill all righteousness” as He said in verse 15. Jesus asked John to make an allowance for this because it was a proper thing to do. Jesus is not teaching us anything here about our baptism. Baptism is not a new law, it cannot be, for it does not demand anything from us.

This third baptism happened only once in this way, and it could only happen this way through Jesus. Jesus, in perfect holiness, received baptism as a sign of His complete righteousness. That’s why the Father expressed approval over His Son. That’s why the Holy Spirit descended upon Him as a dove. It was a signal to the world that Jesus was the Son of God and the acceptable Savior. Jesus did not need the gift of Baptism. He didn’t do it to fulfill a law. It was a message of His status as the Christ – a sign of His complete, or fulfilled, righteousness. And His baptism, though not the same as yours and never duplicated throughout history, does stand as a testament to the validity of your baptism. Because Jesus is who He said He was, and because He accomplished atonement for your sins as He was sent to do – in complete righteousness, you have what God promises you in your baptism. And that covenant of God stands as a daily testimony to you of the forgiveness you have in Jesus.  

As it is in our text, those who doubt this really fall into two camps, which are marked by the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Pharisees relied on the law to earn righteousness. They didn’t see a need to be Baptized because they didn’t think they had to confess their sins or repent. So also, many today see Baptism as an unnecessary ritual. They make their faith about what they accomplish according to God’s law. They are all too ready to boast of the piety and holiness that will get them into heaven. They have no need to focus on the promises of God attached to Baptism.

The Sadducees were the priestly sect of Jewish leaders who denied the resurrection and the existence of supernatural things like angels. They used God’s Word but were more skeptical, trusting only what made sense to them. Likewise, many today follow their own path as they trust Baptism in as much as they can understand it. They use Baptism as a symbol of their belief and a confession of their faith – not a gift to all people, but only to mature believers who are ready to declare their faith testimony. Their understanding of God, and His gospel promises, is only contained within the confines of their reason, so they see no way how eternal life could be granted by water and the word – or to a tiny baby who can’t read or talk.        

  

Epiphany is a time to cherish, remember, and share that God has saved all people in Jesus. That is why Jesus was baptized – to publicly reveal His right to earn salvation. This is the clearest way that Baptism and Epiphany complement each other. In that sacred and blessed gift through water and the word, God reveals the long-shrouded mystery of His grace on the cross – what the Jews stumbled over and the Greeks considered to be foolishness. But to the baptized, the cross is the power of God and salvation, and we know that because the Holy Spirit has revealed it to us by faith. Sadly, where baptism is rejected or distrusted today, ironically, the Epiphany, the revealing of God in Christ, will also be cloaked in skepticism, humanism, and man’s reason.

May God grant us faithfulness and strengthen through His Word, and by the power of His Son, to keep these two complementary gifts clear and active in our lives. Amen.