The Baptism of Christ – The 1st Sunday of Epiphany

·36 min·3 clips

Epiphany marks three revelations: the Magi, Jesus' baptism as God's Son, and his first miracle at Cana.

The episode begins by introducing the season of Epiphany, which starts on January 6th and lasts six to nine weeks, celebrating the light of Christ revealed to the nations. The host notes that Epiphany marks three major revelations: the Magi story, Jesus' baptism as the Son of God, and his first miracle at Cana. The sermon's primary text is Matthew 3:13-17, where Jesus comes to John the Baptist to be baptized. John initially resists, but Jesus insists to fulfill all righteousness. After the baptism, the heavens open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and a voice from heaven declares Jesus as God's beloved Son. The host reflects on John the Baptist's role as a forerunner preparing for Yahweh himself, based on Old Testament prophecies like Isaiah 40:3. He shares a personal anecdote about childhood curiosity regarding John's wild appearance and baptism practices. To explain baptism's origins, the host references Old Testament purification rituals involving water, such as those for priests. He highlights the story of Naaman from 2 Kings 5, where Naaman is healed of leprosy by bathing in the Jordan River, illustrating salvation through water. The sermon then traces a biblical pattern of salvation through waters, including creation in Genesis 1, Moses' rescue in Exodus 2, the Exodus crossing in Exodus 14, and the Jordan River crossing in Joshua 3. This theme leads to Jesus' baptism, where he humbly identifies with sinners, foreshadowing his death and resurrection. The host emphasizes that Jesus did not need repentance but acted as a mediator for his people. After the baptism, the Trinity is manifested: the Father's voice, the Spirit's descent, and the Son in the water. This epiphany reveals God present on earth in Jesus. The host connects this to Old Testament scriptures, such as Psalm 2 about God's anointed Son and Isaiah 42 about the Spirit-empowered servant bringing justice to the nations. He explains that baptism in the early church, as seen in Paul and Peter's writings, identifies believers with Christ's death and resurrection. At Redemption Church, baptism is done through immersion, symbolizing participation in this redemptive pattern. The sermon concludes by discussing the church's purpose, referencing 1 Peter 2:9-10 and N.T. Wright's analogy of the church as a river flowing together. The host states that the church exists to announce Jesus' lordship and invite others into God's family, empowered by the Holy Spirit. He encourages self-assessment during Epiphany and invites responses through giving, singing, and communion.

As heard by us

A doctrinal Epiphany sermon that presents Jesus' baptism as revelation, identification, and redemption.

Redemption Church's sermon treats the Baptism of Christ as a central Epiphany revelation, moving from the season's focus on Jesus being made known into the baptism itself, where the Son enters the waters, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father's voice names him beloved.

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