We conclude the Christmas season by celebrating this weekend the Baptism of our Lord Jesus at the hands of Saint John the Baptist.

Thirty years have passed since the Three Kings came to Bethlehem with their gifts. Saint John has attracted the Jewish people by the thousands through his fiery preaching and is baptizing all the people of Israel who come to him with a “Baptism of Repentance”. What does this mean?

Saint John’s baptism could not forgive sin, only God in our Lord Jesus can do this. John’s baptism made the people aware of their sins, of their need to be washed clean. It made them aware of their need for God. It was almost as if Saint John was saying: “Do you see that you need to be washed clean of your sins, that you need to be made right with God? Well, behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world”. On the shores of the River Jordan Saint John points to the Lord Jesus and he declares Him to be mankind’s Savior to all who will listen.

But why does our Lord Jesus receive this Baptism of Repentance or forgiveness? He is perfectly sinless and has no need of repentance! Jesus goes into the water not to receive forgiveness but to give to water the power of forgiving sin and initiating people into the Kingdom of God. In order for water to have the power to purify us from our sins and set us on the path of eternal life, it is necessary that Jesus touch water, that Jesus be the sanctifier of water. Jesus at the hand of Saint John goes down into the water. Jesus does not receive from the water forgiveness, no, Jesus by his touch gives to water the power to forgive men everywhere. By Jesus’ touch water becomes the source of eternal life for all who are baptized!