( Kontakion of the Theophany)  

At His Baptism in the Jordan , which we celebrate every year on the Great Feast of the Theophany, Our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished several things.            

1.  He revealed Himself to the world.  Though the peoples of the earth, in the persons of the shepherds and the Three Magi, had worshipped Him as a child, he then was hidden for many years.  Now, in His Baptism, He comes into the full view of all people, and He begins His public ministry, which is to culminate in His all-saving Passion.              

2.  He revealed the Mystery of the Holy Trinity to the world.  Not only does Christ manifest Himself, but also, the Holy Trinity is made manifest:  The Father's voice speaks from above, the Son is seen in the Jordan , and the Spirit descends in the form of a dove.            

3.  He sanctified the waters of the world, making water the element of our regeneration in Baptism. Just as God drew forth life from the water at the beginning of Creation, so now the God-Man makes water, which, like all of creation, had been corrupted by man's sin, the element by means of which man will be given eternal life through Holy Baptism.           

4.  He gave us an example of humility and called us to repentance.  Unlike the other people coming to John the Baptist, Our Lord, being the Sinless One, did not need baptism.  Yet He humbles Himself in to order to "fulfill all righteousness," as He says to the Forerunner when John trembles in fear, hesitating to lay his hand upon the head of the Master.  Sinful man could not fulfill the righteousness of God; thus God became a man, and in the humanity He truly shares with us, He takes away our sins.  By His Baptism, He is calling upon men to confess their sins, to proclaim their faith in Him, and to be baptized.            

Thus we see that this Great Feast of the Theophany proclaims the same Mystery as the Feast of the Nativity:  the saving Mystery of the Incarnation, that God became a man for our salvation.  And furthermore, He did not do this for this or that select nation on earth, but for all the peoples of the earth, who must confess Him as Lord, repent of their sins, and be baptized in order to be saved.  For He sanctified all the waters of the world by His Baptism, as the Church hymns we chant on that day say over and over again - thus His salvation is universal, it is for all men.  But it is not automatic.   Only those who confess their sins and are baptized are saved. 

May WE be faithful to our baptism, unto death!

Jesus Christ is God Made Manifest           

"He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father," said Jesus Christ to his contemporaries (John 14:9). What Godly characteristics were revealed to people, who saw and associated with the Son of God? They saw what is characteristic of God — His omnipotence and omniscience. The earthly life of the Savior was accompanied by a stream of miracles. For Him incurable diseases did not exist. Lifeless nature immediately obeyed His Godly word; the angels served Him with trepidation as Sovereign; evil demons ran from Him trembling, like guilty servants; even inexorable death and absolute hell capitulated to Him, releasing their hostages to heaven. All the acts of His Godly omnipotence were performed in full view of all. They left an indelible print on the history of humanity. The awareness of the reality of their meeting the Creator was so strong in the disciples of Christ, that all of them dedicated their lives to preaching to the world the joyous news about the coming of God to earth. "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; "For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was manifested unto us," wrote St. John the Theologian (1 John 1:1-2).

Besides Godly omnipotence, people, by associating with Christ, saw in Him something very valuable for themselves in a moral regard — His spiritual qualities and holiness. An entire spectrum of His virtues was revealed to people in the earthly life of the Savior: His sensitivity, compassion, unselfishness, courage, patience and, in particular, — his limitless Love. The apostles continually mention the compassion of Christ, of His pity for perishing man: "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us." Thus "and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren," — concludes St. John the Theologian (1 John 3:16).

"The One God Worshipped in Trinity" by Bishop Alexander