Today is the first Sunday in Epiphany. The Gospel reading for the first Sunday in Epiphany is always the Baptism of Jesus. Luke’s account of Jesus’ baptism only gives a subordinate clause mentioning the baptism. Luke says while all the people were getting baptized Jesus also was baptized.
What’s Luke up to here? I think Luke is emphasizing that Jesus was among the people. He not only like one of them, He is one of them. He not only stands among us he stands in for us as our substitute. The heavens open, God the Holy Spirit descends, God the Father speaks and God the Son receives.
This event is the change from water baptism to Spirit baptism. Join us today as we look at how today's Christian baptism is of both water and Spirit and what it means for you.
