January 11 2026

Matthew 3:13-17 

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. ¹⁴John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” ¹⁵But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. ¹⁶And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” 

Sermon 

This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.  

Why did Jesus even need to be baptized? It’s a questions theologians have pondered and pastors have struggled with for years. John’s baptism was for the forgiveness of sin, and Jesus had no sin. 

So why did Jesus need to be baptized? 

I learned something new – I always do each time I study the scriptures – John’s baptism was for more than the forgiveness of individual sins. Those were included of course, but John was sent to prepare the way, to turn the hearts of the people back to God. It was the sins of the nation, of Israel as a whole that John’s baptism was for. It was sign of new birth and cleansing for the people of God, returning to God as a community, as a people called to be light to the nations.  

Jesus comes to John for baptism in his solidarity with the people of God, affirming his mission of bringing salvation and turning not just the nation of Israel, but all people’s hearts back to God. 

Steeped in the American mythos of “rugged individualism” it’s too easy to dwell on the forgiveness of our individual sin.    

We come to the waters of baptism and one of the things that gets washed away is the sin of self-centeredness. We pass through the water and discover that our baptism is not just for ourselves. It roots us in a community, a people called to be light to the nations. 

Next, let’s unpack Jesus’ cryptic “to fulfil all righteous.” Remember, righteousness is not only about morality and ethics. Righteousness is primarily about one’s relationship to God. From right relationship with God comes right relations with others, with oneself and with all the cosmos. Morality and ethics are the fruit of those right relationships.  

Essentially, Jesus tells John, “You must baptize me because it’s what God wants and I am obedient to God.” 

There’s more layers to the story. In all the synoptic Gospels, the first act in Jesus’ ministry is his baptism. Rather than for forgiveness of sins, or turning back to God, Jesus’ baptism is a declaration: I’m ready to take up God’s call for me, to undertake what God has in store for me next. 

The Spirit coming down as a dove is Jesus’ anointing. God’s voice to the crowd, “This is my beloved son” is the announcement “This is your king!” 

God breaks in and says, “this, THIS is my beloved son, not that guy over in Rome.” 

Jesus’ baptism is a political act. A challenge to the powers that be.  

It’s easy to forget just how political the Gospels are. Jesus’ birth, baptism, ministry, life, death and resurrection are steeped in the politics of the time. Consider some of the language in Greek and Roman inscriptions from around 6 to 9 CE: 

whereas Providence…  

has in her display of concern and generosity in our behalf  

adorned our lives with the highest good: Augustus,  

whom she has filled with virtue for the benefit of humanity,  

and has in her beneficence granted us  

and those who will come after us,  

a Savior,  

who has made war to cease  

and who shall put everything in peaceful order;  

And 

The most divine Caesar 

we should consider equal to the Beginning of all things 

for when everything was falling into disorder  

and tending toward dissolution,  

he restored it once more  

and gave the whole world a new aura;  

Caesar  

the common good Fortune of all 

The beginning of life and vitality 

Another 

All the cities unanimously adopt the birthday of the divine Caesar as the new beginning of the year… 

Jesus’ baptism was a political act. A bold challenge to empire, to the powers of the world. 

In choosing this moment, in the wilderness, at the muddy river Jordan to proclaim to us, “Here is your king! Here is the one who will make wars cease, who restores all to order, the Savior of the world,” God declares that the kingdom of God is going to be a vastly different from empire.  

In God’s kingdom, all have dignity, all are loved, all are cared for, all are welcome – no exceptions. A kingdom ruled by a king who gets down in the mud with the people, who values the least of these. A king who puts aside his own interest to serve the people, a king who lays aside his glory to serve.  

This is the son of God whose humble obedience shows the example of what it means to turn your hearts back to God.  

Our baptism are also a political act, declaration of citizenship in the kingdom of God, a bold challenge to empire, to the powers of the world. 

We pass through those waters, renouncing spiritual forces and evil powers of the world, all that corrupt and destroy God’s beloved creation.  

We ask God to send the Spirit to enable us to stand again evil, to strive for justice and peace in all the earth, to honor the dignity and worth of all people, to shine the light of Christ’s love to all. 

I think it good and right that we today reaffirm our baptisms. Please turn with me to page 292 in the prayer book.