It is only by coincidence, but I love the fact that our Orthodox Feast of Theophany and our calendar New Year happen together. Americans traditionally take advantage of the New Year to renew themselves, making New Year resolutions. As Orthodox, we see the great Feast of Theophany as an even greater celebration of renewal. Because we remember in the present Jesus’ blessing of the Jordan by His sanctifying presence in the waters, we make that blessing a present reality in our lives through the Great Blessing of the Waters Service. After the Service, each of us is blessed with the water through sprinkling and drinking. In addition, the priest also comes to each of our homes to bless them.
To understand the deep significance of this opportunity for renewal and sanctification, let’s examine some aspects of the Feast in greater detail. We know that the feasts of our Lord’s Nativity and His baptism in the Jordan were celebrated as one feast until the fourth century. This shows that the Church understands these two events in Christ’s life as bookends and a manifestation of continuity of our Lord’s incarnation. In the first feast, we behold the Word made flesh and born as the unique Godman. In the second feast, we see Jesus further revealed as the Christ, the second Person of the Holy Trinity, Who not only comes to take away the sins of the world but to sanctify and reconcile the world to Himself.
John the Baptist and Forerunner plays a significant role in this Feast of Theophany. We know that he and Jesus, born of cousins, are only six months apart in age. They are both thirty years of age at the time of Jesus’ baptism. This is significant because it was recognized by the Jews as an age of credibility. Both Jesus and John the Baptist had reached the fullness of adulthood and could be potentially looked upon as teachers or prophets. John is understood by the Church to be the last of the Old Testament prophets. He is also seen as the first of the prophets of the New Covenant who announces the coming of the Christ and begins to prepare the way for the world to receive Him. This is why he was preaching repentance and preparing people through confession and a baptism of repentance. It had been revealed to John by the Holy Spirit that the Messiah would come to Him. John was told that he would recognize the Christ by the sign that the Holy Spirit would descend upon Him in the likeness of a dove and rest upon Him.
When the time came for Jesus and John to meet in the Jordan, John knew Him through the Holy Spirit and struggled to even stretch out his hand to touch Jesus’ divine head. John deeply felt his unworthiness, and he also struggled to understand why Jesus needed to be baptized. Jesus’ reply, “Let it be done to fulfill all righteousness,” is interesting. The baptism of Jesus was not unto repentance for He was without sin, had nothing to confess, and needed no cleansing. Jesus wanted to show the rest of humanity that baptism was the way to enter the Church and to participate in His saving work. It was also through His baptism that the Holy Trinity was revealed to the world. We hear the voice of the Father; we see the Holy Spirit rest upon Jesus in the likeness of a dove; and we see Jesus, the Godman, uniquely manifested as the Second Person of the Holy Trinity and the Messiah and Savior of the world.
Another theological aspect of Jesus’ baptism is important to examine. The Fathers see Christ’s entry into the river as a cleansing and sanctification of the Jordan, and, by extension, of the entire creation. As God and Creator, the Word that became flesh is able to physically touch the waters of the Jordan. This physical contact by Jesus, Who is both Perfect God and Perfect Man, blesses, sanctifies and renews the Jordan. For such an arid place as Judea, the Jordan symbolized life for the people, so it was not a stretch for the Jewish disciples of Christ to see this blessing and sanctification of the Jordan extend to the rest of creation.
This event marks the beginning of Jesus’ ministry; a ministry of salvation, healing, and reconciliation. It is the fruit of His birth as God become incarnate. Having fulfilled all righteousness by putting His immaculate head under the hand of the John the Baptist, Jesus has revealed the Holy Trinity, established baptism as the beginning of the Christian life, and sanctified and renewed all creation. As we enter into a brand new year of life, may we be inspired to make the Feast of Theophany, in all its significance, the foundation of all our New Year’s resolutions, all our spiritual renewal, and all our desire to repent and grow closer to our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is born! Glorify Him!
