As we celebrate Jesus’ baptism, I’d like to go backwards for a second and just remember John the Baptist, who was born into the world by his mother Elizabeth and Zachariah, who were, as the scripture says, advanced in years.  

They were probably my age, in their 50s, I imagine, but they were advanced in years. No one thought Elizabeth would ever have a child. 

They’d probably been married for decades at this point, but sure enough, one day in God’s plan, by mystery and miracle, they became pregnant. Elizabeth was going to have a baby. She gave birth to her son John, who became the Baptist. 

I remember in scripture also that beautiful moment when Mary pregnant went to go see Elizabeth pregnant, and the two women had this great meeting. Remember what happened in Elizabeth’s womb? John jumped in her womb because he knew that his cousin Jesus was there in the womb of his aunt Mary. 

I’d like to remember John the Baptist as we celebrate Jesus’ baptism. John, who, as scripture says, heard the word of God in Luke’s gospel and then went forth to proclaim a new baptism for repentance of sin by water. And sure enough, off John goes into the desert. 

In the series, the Netflix series, or the beautiful streaming series called ‘The Chosen,’ people refer to him as ‘Crazy John.’ Crazy John was out in the desert baptizing people with water for the repentance of their sins. But sure enough, as Jesus begins his ministry, he too is baptized. Does he need to be baptized? Probably not. But he’s baptized as a way of calling all of us into our baptism, not just for repentance, but also for new life. 

That we might be baptized not only with water, but baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire, called not only those forgiven from sin, but also called those who are sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters to Jesus, those given the gift of everlasting life. 

And so Jesus was baptized in a beautiful setting with the skies opening and the spirit coming down upon Jesus, 

and the beautiful words, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased,” being heard by all present, Jesus is baptized. 

As we celebrate this feast day today, I invite us to remember that we too were baptized. For some of us many years ago, we were baptized. And I wonder, as we celebrate our own, as we celebrate Jesus’ baptism, if we could remember our own baptism in water and the Holy Spirit and fire that happened when we were children, and think about how we’re being called to continue to live into those baptismal promises. 

What is our love that Jesus asks us to live out?  

How is that love being lived out? 

How is that forgiveness being lived out? 

How is that hope for everlasting life being lived out? 

How is that compassion being lived out?  

We were baptized, not only forgiven, but also given the pledge of everlasting life, also being called children of God. How do we then live that out with our brothers and sisters?  

As we continue in this Christmas season, let us remember the great gift that God gave us, his son Jesus, and live out our baptismal promises as we celebrate Jesus’ baptism by his cousin John. 

That was once and for all. Our baptism was once and for all. 

Let us live that into this world.