Communion With the Christ:: Epiphany at the Jordan

The observance of the Epiphany is, aside from the commemoration of the resurrection, the oldest Christian "feast". It is commonly found in more liturgical Christian bodies. The word Epiphany in the Koine Greek is ἐπιφάνεια, epiphaneia, "manifestation", "appearance”. Epiphany or sometimes referred to as the “Theophany”.

In the Ancient Apostolic Church, the Epiphany commemorated three separate occurrences’ the visit of the Magi, The Baptism of Jesus and the miracle at Cana.

When Jesus came to the River Jordan to be baptized by John a powerful revelation is shown forth as our Lord Jesus comes up out the waters.

"An straightway coming up out of the water, and He saw the Heavens torn asunder, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him" Mark:1:10

Many Christians cites the Baptism of Jesus as being a demonstration of the "right method" of the sacrament of Baptism, but when we look closer, we can see this moment in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ is far more than that.

It is a powerful Epiphany, that is a revelation, of the great Triune God and the very purpose of Jesus Christ.

At the Jordan

There upon the banks of that Jordan John came in his work of preparation for the coming of the One who Israel and all humanity has truly been waiting for. The very location where John lifted up his voice and conducted his baptism ceremonies had great significance for the people of Israel.

It was at this place centuries earlier that the Lord God, under Joshua, who s' name is the same as our Lord Jesus, brought Israel into the Promised Land.

It was here that the Levites entered the Jordan with the Ark of God, which represented the presence of God among the people.

It was here that the waters of that Jordan opened and made the way so the people could enter the land which the Lord had Promised.

"So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground." Josh: 3:14-17

Israel entered the land of Canaan which was theirs through divine decree. They became a nation with its own land to settle. Israel lived in villages which they did not build, reaped fields that they did not sow, and drank from wells which they did not dig .Josh:24:13 .

Here in the Promised Land, led there by Joshua, Israel was to build a culture from which the Messiah would emerge. One of the purposes of the people of Israel was to provide a cultural context through which the Messiah would be introduced to humanity, this is one reason why that Jesus said that "Salvation is of the Jews" Jhn:4:22.

One is Coming

It is out of Israel's cultural anticipation that Jesus is brought forward there upon the banks of at that Jordan and steps into the awareness of us all.

John stands on the banks of that Jordan and preached a message about a transformed life, a departure from sin because the One is coming, who is far greater than John. Many from the region come to hear the message responded to it's power and were baptized.

"John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out to him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; And preached, saying, There comes one mightier than I after me, the lace of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Mk: 1:4-8

Jesus himself makes the journey to that place upon the Jordan so that he too might be baptized.

"And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan."(9)

But the baptism of our Lord brings forth a great Epiphany, revelation, for all humanity.

"And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn asunder, and the Spirit like a dove descending on him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased". (10-11)

When John, who was a Levite, enters the waters of that Jordan with Jesus, who is the very presence of the Great God as the Ark of the Covenant was among the people of Israel.

When John administers the Sacrament of baptism it is here and now that the very heavens are "torn asunder" and the Holy Spirit descends upon our Lord Jesus and the divine affirmation is pronounced that Jesus is very Son of the Great God.

Heaven Opened/Torn Asunder

All this was not simply Theological theatrics, but powerfully declares the very purpose for which our Jesus has come.

Jesus is the Joshua who brings us all to and through the Jordan of the Promised Land of the Kingdom of God. And it is through Jesus alone that all the Promised of the Great God are ours.

Not a Promised Land of material riches which will fade away, but rather a Land of Promises which are eternal and will never fade.

Jesus came that Heaven is opened now to humanity, that is there is now nothing to prevent us from having access to the Great God. The Heavens are "torn asunder". We now, through Jesus, have the right to approach the Lord God to receive from him all that God has for us for any who will but freely receive it.

There is nothing stopping us from having a relationship with the Great God, this is why it is recorded "torn asunder”, which means, everything has been removed that could prevent us from knowing our God from being in a Holy relationship with Him, the Father, Son and The Holy Spirit.

St. Paul address this in his second epistle to the Church at Corinth, but it is true for us all. God's unwavering intent has always been to have a relationship with humanity, through Jesus.

"But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been Yes".2Cor:1:19

The Heavens now are as opened to us as it was there on the banks of the Jordan. We, like Israel, are free to enter the Land of Promises. There is nothing to prevent us except our own unwillingness to enter.

There awaits each of us more than we can even begin to comprehend, all because of Jesus, if we will but freely receive it.

St. Paul writes to us about just receiving from God all that He offers.

"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "yes" in Christ" And so through Him the "Amen" is spoke by us to the glory of God". (20)

"Yes" is God's answer to us all, to each and any who will freely receive it, all because of Jesus.

Jesus came that the Heavens might be "torn asunder" which means that God is accessible the way to all His Promises has been made open by and through Jesus Christ. A relationship with God is made possible by and through Jesus.

Jesus is "the Joshua " who leads us all into the Promised Land of the Kingdom of God. He is the "Ark of God", the very presence of the Great God, which parts not the River Jordan but the very Heavens themselves.

The Holy Spirit

St. Mark the Evangelist records that as Jesus arises out of the waters of baptism, the Spirit of God descends upon a dove upon him. Here Jesus is being publicly anointed as the One who is the very Messiah that Israel and all humanity has sought.

"And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn asunder, and the Spirit like a dove descending on him" Mk:9:10

Again, we are being shown the very purposes of God in Jesus' Ministry, as the Heavens open, "torn asunder", and all that God has for each and all of us is discharged to humanity, so now is the Spirit. This is demonstrating that the Holy Spirit is available to us.

St. Luke records the prophecy of Joel as quoted by St. Peter on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit manifested in the lives of the Disciples.

"in the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people"Acts:2:17

Jesus is showing that the Spirit is now available even as God is accessible. Recall, John said that the One to come that "he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit".

The Heavens are opened "torn asunder", the Spirit is given. A relationship with the Great God is offered to any and all who will freely receive it all though Jesus.

The Fathers' Affirmation of the Son

As our Lord Jesus emerges from the waters of that Jordan the affirming voice for the Great God is heard out of the "torn" Heavens.

"And there came a voice from heaven, saying, You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (11)

This reveals the affirmation from the highest of Heaven that Jesus is the very Son of God, in whom all divine pleasure rests. This tells us it is Jesus that has , and always, pleases the Father. It is also the revelation that Jesus is the Son of God though whom all of our sonships are derived from Jesus. Jesus alone is fully God and fully human.

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Rom: 8:17

Here we see the Trinity being brought into view through the life of Jesus in the flesh.

Epiphany of the Trinity

We are seeing again the Epiphany of God here, The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is here to reveal all of God to us. The Heavens are opened, "torn asunder”, God is accessible, the Spirit is available. God is here in Jesus.

When we come to believe in Jesus all that God has for us is ours' , we enter the promises which God has always intended to share with humanity , The Holy Spirit is available to lead us in the Christian life which is an ever deepening relationship with the Great God.

In Jesus, we all are brought to the River Jordan, here we are given the Epiphany of the very purpose of Jesus, he has come to open the Heavens and all the promises that God has for us, and to make possible the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and to have revealed to us the Great Triune God, all of God is brought into view in that one moment at the baptism of Jesus.

We see the Epiphany of God revealed in Jesus, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. All of this we catch but a glimpse of when look upon the Epiphany at the River Jordan through the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Benediction: May we each and all, see the full glory of the Son of God and enter fully that Land of Promises, which our Lord has for each and all of us, as we come to the Holy Trinity all revealed in and thru Jesus, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.