"Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.' "

            Epiphany provides for us a time to reflect on the identity of Jesus, the Son of God, and to act on the call to follow him. We begin with the worship of the Wise Men and come to realize that Christ is the Savior for the people of the entire world, and so we are called to mission in the whole world. Then we hear the severe preaching of John in the hot wilderness, and touch the muddy water of the Jordan River in repentance, finally seeing Jesus being baptized and receiving the Holy Spirit and hearing God declare, "You are my Son."

            So today we read from the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark, where there is no birth story, no manger worship. Rather, John and Jesus, says N.T. Wright, "burst in upon the surprised Jewish world." He goes on to say, "Many had wanted a Messiah to lead them against the Romans, but they were not anticipating a prophet telling them to repent."

            So John comes in fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah. He is the messenger who calls people to "prepare the way for the Lord and make straight paths for him." We do not understand that too easily in our democratic and egalitarian society. But Wright says in Britain there are people who understand what it means to prepare for a visit by royalty. There is a standard joke about the queen: that wherever she goes she smells fresh paint.

            People came to John and were baptized, and his baptism did have an effect on them. But perhaps not as we might expect. They were baptized in preparation, but they really did not give their world a fresh coat of paint for Jesus. Jesus is not treated with special consideration in his ministry; he is not found leading a parade, until he comes to Jerusalem to be crucified. Whatever John's baptism accomplished, it did not make Israel ready to receive its king.

            What is it then that we gain from this account of the baptism of Jesus? David Garland suggests it is kind of a prologue to the Gospel. It functions in a way similar to the overture at a musical. The performance begins with the orchestra introducing the significant musical themes you will be hearing throughout the play. So, in the baptism of Jesus, we pick up some themes that will unfold in the Gospel, all centering on the identity of Jesus as the Son of God.

First, there are a number of allusions to the Old Testament in these verses. John's appearance, clothing and diet would remind people of the prophet Elijah. Now after a long period of silence, God was once again sending prophets to Israel.

The Old Testament quotation in verses 2 and 3 actually is a combination of texts from Malachi 3 and Isaiah 40. Mark here has put together two verses that the people would not have seen as having anything to do with each other. John is not only a prophet, but he is the messenger, he is the voice calling for repentance and preparation for the Lord.

            The Holy Spirit is described as descending upon Jesus like a dove. Garland says the Spirit comes not like an eagle or a falcon, but quietly and gently like dove. We also think of the Spirit hovering over the waters at creation in Genesis. Now it is the New Creation, and the Spirit hovers over a human being who will bring redemption to all creation.

We might think also of the dove at the flood in the time of Noah. There, Alan Cole says, the dove hovers over the ark of salvation and the waters which brought judgment. Now the dove hovers over Jesus at the time of his baptism, with its themes of repentance and forgiveness. Jesus in those waters identified himself with our sinfulness. He took upon himself our sins and on the cross brought about our cleansing.

            Perhaps the most important Old Testament reference here is the voice of God, which speaks to Jesus as he comes out of the water. These words can be found in Psalm 2:6-7: "I have installed my king on Zion, my holy hill. He said to me, 'You are my Son; today I have become your father.' "

            Also, in Isaiah 42:1 "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations." These passages clearly identify the Son of God with the Messiah, the King. But in the ministry of Jesus, he is not called "king" until he hangs on the cross, when the Romans mock him as "King of the Jews."

            The baptism of Jesus allows us to see his identity as the Son of God before we come to the cross. Mark establishes clearly that Jesus is the Christ, he is the one spoken of by prophets in the Old Testament; and his ministry, death and resurrection is the plan of God for salvation. Jesus is the Son of God, the long-awaited Messiah.

What is the application for our lives?

The first is that to know Jesus as the Son of God gives us an anchor in life. Through our lives we will hear many voices and even have experiences that will speak a contrary word. We need an anchor that holds us through the storms of life. If we know who Jesus truly is we can live in a way that is steadfast, faithful and hopeful.

            Next, this passage brings us to the place where the ministry of Jesus began. It is important for us to stand not only at the manger in Bethlehem, but also at the Jordan River. This is a place of assurance in our faith. I know some people travel to Israel and get baptized in the Jordan River. I must admit I have never really understood why one would do that. What is important in life is not to be physically in the Jordan River, but to come spiritually to that place through the reading of the Gospel, so that we experience an assurance of our faith in Christ. When we know who Jesus is, then we trust him. When we know that the Spirit is uniquely in Jesus, then we remain in him. What I mean is the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus Christ. When we desire to receive the Holy Spirit, we go to Jesus Christ.

When we hear the voice of the Father expressing His love for Jesus, then we know that through faith in Jesus we can experience God's love. That love is expressed on the cross. When we come in faith to Jesus who died for our sins on the cross, then we know we are standing in God's love.

            The last application has to do with baptism. Baptism helps us to remember who we are, it gives us an identity. We are sinners saved by grace. We are those who were lost and now are found. We are those who have been forgiven of our sins through the death of Jesus Christ. Baptism helps us to remember that we are now guided by the Holy Spirit into a life of obedience to Christ, into victory over sin, evil and death, and into a life of service to Christ. So Paul is able to say, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."

            It is good for us to remember our baptism. By that I do not mean remembering the day of our baptism, but rather affirming our faith in Christ that was spoken at our baptism. I invite you today to respond to the questions of faith that are often used at baptism. I invite you to re-commit your life to Christ, and affirm your faith in him.

            Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, and do you desire to live as his faithful disciple? (I do.)

            Do you renounce all the powers of evil and declare your opposition to a way of life in contradiction the Gospel? (I do.)

            Will you devote yourself to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer? (I will.)

            Empowered by the Holy Spirit, will you do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God? (I will.)

            Amen.