Feast of Baptism
Happy Feast Day!
Glory and Praise to the God Father for He gave His Begotten Son Who was revealed to us in Jordan River and be baptized in cleansing our sins as well as save our soul. Praise be to The Lord for His mercy and Love and to The Holy Spirit for He is our life.
The Gospel states the Lord’s baptizing in the hands of John the Baptist as follows:-
Saint John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:4-8)
Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. (Matthew 3:4)
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:7-12)
Saint David said, “Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.” (Psalm 42:6-11) Our teacher David is the prophet, may his blessings be with us Amen!
Brethren! We shall plead our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to purify us, cleanse us from all our abominations, forgive our sins, and make us worthy to receive the revelation of the glory of His Divine nature in our hearts and in our deeds, as He revealed His glory in the Jordan River.
To Him be the Glory with His Good Father and His Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the end of ages. Amen!
Source: – Coptic Orthodox Synaxarium