Denho / Epiphany - The Baptism of Jesus Christ

by Fr. Mathai Varkey Puthukkunnathu

The life of ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, the forerunner to Jesus Christ, has always been a marvel to me. His powerful but fearless stand for truth makes me spiritually uplifted when I read and ponder the life of The Baptist (Yuhanon Mamdono). 

The Almighty God set the stage of the world to suit the Divine Nativity of the Only Begotten Son. The events related to the birth of John were one among many of those preparations. This is clear in the book of Luke 1:16-17. “Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." The divine commission bestowed upon John was so great and unique that it set a distinctive life style for him, which was later followed by many Church fathers in the Christian World. Ascetic life was given a new meaning with John. He lived in the wilderness, lonely and with frugal food thereby equipping himself with the divine power. 

From his childhood, John enjoyed the divine providence. Luke 1:66, “Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, "What then is this child going to be?" For the Lord's hand was with him.” It is crucial that we need the divine guidance to do the right things in the right way; not always consistent with how the world sees it. Most of the times the environment we live in demands a certain way of life and behavior from us. All civil laws and perceptions are not in line with the divine will. Man made rules and regulations undergo drastic changes, as the principalities, the rules, the rulers and the elected officials or the autocrats change. 

The other day I was watching ‘Mysteries of The Bible’ by Questar, in which the history of Jerusalem is vividly portrayed with a learned commentary. Even the entrance and the doorways, and the facades of the city of Jerusalem changed with the personal preferences of the conquerors and the occupiers time to time. Think about the scenario in Iraq at present. The appearance of the cities and the villages and the way people conduct themselves underwent sweeping changes. The way in which daily affairs are carried out here in the United States are much different now, than what was known to me when I came to this country in the winter 1987. The air travel within the USA was so simple and worry free then. It was much easier for me than commuting from St. Peter’s Chapel, Ernakulam to Union Christian college Alwaye (now Aluva) from ’85-87. I felt the difference in the air travel within the United States so much when I had to travel every weekend from Atlanta, Georgia to conduct the Eucharistic Services at the St. Mary’s Syrian Orthodox Church, Houston, Texas for a period of 20 months from 2004 to 2005. This is indeed a digression. 

That which is acceptable and highly favored to the humans might not be pleasing to the Lord. John came out of the wilderness with a different tone and stature, which was unfamiliar to the common public. Luke 3:3 & 9. “He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” “The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." We see the same tone in the book of Revelations 14: 18-20. “Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe." The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath. They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses' bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.” (That is, about 180 miles (about 300 kilometers). 

Then the young and the old, the men and the women, the rich and the poor, the meek and the mighty come to receive baptism in water in the River Jordan. “And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.” Luke 3:18. He was preparing a people and a generation to receive the One whose presence and nearness made John leap in joy, while he was in his mother, Elizabeth’s womb. “As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” Luke 1:44. Now the blameless Only Begotten Son of God comes to the River Jordan with the multitude to receive the Holy Baptism. The One who made the Heaven and the Earth and everything on it along with His Father and The Holy Spirit and the One who purifies and perfects all sacraments, stood bowing down His head in front of John, like a meek lamb to receive the Baptism. Recognizing the Son of God, amazingly, The Baptist becomes terrified and requests His mercy and uttered, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.” St. Matt:3:13-15. For fulfilling the prophecies, Jesus received Baptism. Then we see the Divine acknowledgment in 3:21-22 “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” This is the first time God The Father reveals The Son to the world publicly. The next is at the time of Transfiguration. 

The Son of God; who baptizes all those who receive Him with Holy Spirit and with Fire accepts the Baptism from John. The disciples receive the Holy Spirit from their Master when He appeared to them following the resurrection and afterwards in Jerusalem. (St. John: 20 and Acts: 2) It was only the beginning; the marvel still continues through out generations.

The Holy Sacrament of Baptism is the stepping stone of Christian life. Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again. St. John 3: 6-7. Jesus instructed this to Nicodemus. So Baptism is vital to all who cherish the Kingdom of God. 

The Sacrament of Baptism wipes away the scars of the (inherited) Original Sin and qualifies the baptized to become a member of the Holy Church. Three Sacraments are offered at the Time of Baptism; The Holy Baptism itself, the Holy Mooron and The Holy Eucharist. The Holy Eucharist being the Fruit from the Tree of Life that was denied to Adam and Eve due to the sin. As the baptized is offered the Holy Eucharist, we sing..

Feero de’lothame Odom b’parudaiso Yaumonok Fumok Yethseem b’hadooso.
(Parudeesayil Adaam Ruchinokkatha Phalam Sammodam Vakkunnenaal Nin Vayil) 

The Sacrament of Baptism is offered to children in the Syrian Orthodox Church. Adults from other religions and faiths who are willing, committed and able to follow the Syrian Orthodox faith are also given Baptism. Child Baptism is biblical and is in consistence with the Orthodox faith. It is the responsibility of the god father / god mother of the baptized to provide spiritual guidance to him/her, especially in the early ages. It is a reality that this is followed meagerly, at least in the Malankara tradition.

Let us rejoice in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who observed and instituted the Sacrament of Baptism for our salvation. As St. Paul writes to Galatians; “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Gala. 3: 26-27. Let us look into ourselves to determine whether we keep and nurture the divine nature of Christ that was instilled in us through the Holy Baptism. If the Holy Spirit is in dormant state within us, it is high time now to revitalize our spiritual being, before it becomes too late. Wishing all faithful members A Blessed Denaho

Fr. Mathai Varkey Puthukkunnathu
Vicar, St. Ignatius Elias III Syrian Orthodox Church, Atlanta, Georgia
Vice President: Malankara Syrian Orthodox Sunday school Association of North America