Theological Truth: God became human so that humans could unite with God.
There’s a wonderful scene from O Brother, Where Art Thou? where Delmar, one of three escapees from a 1920’s southern prison, gets caught up in the spirit of a riverside revival, wades into the water, and is baptized by the preacher.
He comes up sputtering, and as he staggers out of the river toward his two fellow escapees says, “Well that’s it, boys. I’ve been redeemed. The preacher’s done warshed away all my sins and transgressions. It’s the straight and narrow from here on out, and heaven everlasting’s my reward.” To which George Clooney’s character asks, “Delmar, what are you talking about? We’ve got bigger fish to fry.” And Delmar replies, “The preacher says all my sins is warshed away, including that Piggly Wiggly I knocked over in Yazoo.” His friend points out, “I thought you said you was innocent of those charges?” Delmar recoils slightly and then happily remembers, “Well I was lyin’. And the preacher says that that sin’s been warshed away too. Neither God nor man’s got nothin’ on me now. C’mon in boys, the water is fine.”
The water is fine. For everyone. Even Jesus. As we heard in Matthew’s telling of Jesus’ baptism, John is reluctant to baptize Jesus. I don’t blame him. Why would Jesus, the only sinless human, need to be baptized? It would be like Warren Buffet asking for investment advice from the high school stock club. Or Michael Curry coming to me for preaching tips! John knows who Jesus is and asks, “What!? You want me to baptize you? I should be so lucky as to have you baptize me!”
We are right to join John in wondering, “Why did Jesus need to be baptized?” It’s important for us to reflect on Jesus’ baptism. That’s why this Sunday of the liturgical year gets a special designation. This First Sunday After Epiphany receives the added title: Baptism of our Lord. By reflecting on Jesus’ baptism, we’ll better understand not only what happens in baptism, but—more importantly—what happens afterward.
When John questions baptizing Jesus, he responds to John’s question with these words, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” As you may know, this liturgical year we will be hearing primarily from Matthew’s gospel. Matthew is widely considered the “most Jewish” of the gospels. It’s no wonder that Matthew’s Jesus is concerned with fulfilling the prophecies and predictions of the Hebrew scriptures. But in this case, there’s something even more important going on. Jesus says it is important to fulfill all righteousness.
Righteousness is more than being virtuous, certainly different than being morally superior. Jesus isn’t trying to win the holiness competition here. Another way to think about righteousness is to think of it as being in right-relationship—being in a “good place” with your friends, your family, your spouse. A righteous life is one where our relationships with God and our neighbor are honest, respectful, peaceful, caring, concerned, connected, and compassionate.
Jesus’ concern to fulfill all righteousness is about his desire to establish right relationships, to continue his path of not only incarnation, but solidarity. Jesus isn’t only embodied like us; he’s united with us. Jesus wades into the River Jordan with all the other people from all over the country and from all backgrounds of society who are turning back, repenting, reorienting their lives to the God who gives life, the Almighty who desires union, the Love that lives for relationship. Jesus fulfills all righteousness by joining them…and us…and all humanity…in every time and place…into this renewed relationship marked by baptism. By joining us in the waters of baptism, Jesus joins all of human life to all the fullness of divine life.
Today, Clay Babington will be the next person to be joined with Jesus in the waters of baptism; to accept God’s invitation through Christ to new life; to enter into a different way of knowing, seeing, living, and loving God and one another. Clay is beginning a life of righteousness, a way of being in right relationship with God and one another. Because Jesus waded into the River Jordan, we can be certain that Jesus is waiting there for us too. Ready to welcome us, to welcome Clay. Smiling and saying, “C’mon in. The water’s fine.”
But we also know that Jesus didn’t remain in the Jordan River. From the water, he moved to the desert where he was tempted and tested. From there he moved on to heal and teach; to invite, include, and forgive those who were the last, the lost, and the least; and ultimately to demonstrate—with all that he had—that love is the most powerful force in the universe.
Jesus joins us in the waters of baptism, but we can’t stay there. He’s like a lifeguard—the ultimate lifeguard, life giver, life restorer—saving us by jumping in and hauling us to firm ground. Jesus meets us where we are, but he doesn’t leave us where we are. By remembering Jesus’ baptism, we also remember what comes after our baptisms—a new way of living, a different way of seeing, an alternative way of relating to God and one another.
Delmar was right when he said, “C’mon in! The water is fine!” And he was also right to come out of those waters recognizing a different life on the other side of it. Jesus meets us in the reality of our lives, and then leads us in the ways that lead to real, eternal, everlasting life. If you haven’t been baptized, then by all means, “C’mon in! The water is fine.” And if you have been baptized, then “Go on out!” The world is in desperate need of the light and love of God made known in Jesus Christ.
- Continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers.
- Persevere in resisting evil and repent as often as necessary.
- Proclaim the Good News of God in Christ—by your actions as well as your words.
- Seek and serve Christ in all persons; love your neighbor as yourself.
- Strive for justice and peace and respect the dignity of every human being.
By wading into the water, we are joined with Christ not only in the promise of new life, but also in the work of bringing this life-saving and world-changing Truth to light. So by all means, “C’mon in. The water’s fine!” But don’t expect to stay in there. Go on out! There’s work to be done.
— Fr. AJ Heine, Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church of Staunton
First Sunday After Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord, Year A, January 8, 2023
Readings: Isaiah 42:1-9, Psalm 29, Acts 10:34-43, Matthew 3:13-17
