“The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there”, wrote L.P Hartley in his 1953 novel “The Go- Between'. Whether we are reading scripture or looking at paintings from the past we will need the same skills as an anthropologist and a linguist. It will help if we have some clues about the ways they do things in the strange country we are visiting. As Clare and I were preparing to live in Peru we read up on the culture, the history, and even the table manners but we made plenty of mistakes!

Our passage today from Matthew is so familiar to us that we forget that it contains a mystery that even John the Baptist could not understand. Why should Jesus require Baptism if he was the beloved Son of God as proclaimed by the voice from heaven? Here we need not just clues but an Epiphany, or ‘Fresh light’ inspiration from above.

‘The Arnolfini wedding’ painted by the artist Jan Van Eyck appears to be a wedding portrait with the happy couple already expecting a baby. But appearances are deceptive. Some art historians now think this is not a marriage or betrothal portrait but a memorial to a dead wife as Nicolao’s wife, Constanza, had died in childbirth the year before the portrait was painted.

Van Eyck has placed around the room clues to the sad events surrounding the painting. In the candelabra the candle on the side of Nicolao is alight, the candle on his Constanza’s side has been snuffed out. On the mirror behind them, there are scenes from the life of Christ on the side of Nicolao, but on Constanza’s side, they depict the death and resurrection of Christ. The rich clothing they are wearing is for winter wear though the cherry tree outside the window is in full bloom. The apparent bulge in Constanza’s dress was a fashionable feature of a rich woman’s wardrobe as it showed how much fabric had gone into the dress. The meaning of this portrait has been endlessly debated but the truth will always now be a mystery.

At the centre of our account of Jesus' baptism is another mystery. Baptism as preached by John the Baptist was a sign of repentance from sin. His powerful message warned the Jewish people of the judgment of God. As he speaks of the Messiah to come he speaks in terms of fire and a threshing floor on which the chaff will be burnt.

John the Baptist thought he knew who Jesus was and what he had come to do, but he was wrong. He needed a fresh light and a flash of inspiration. At first, he refuses Jesus' baptism. Thinking rightly that the ‘Lamb of God who comes to take away the sins of the world’ (John 1:29) cannot himself need to be washed clean by baptism, but Jesus is insistent. Jesus' words can be understood to mean ‘this is what God has ordained for all to be put right with Him’

Still confused? Yes but now John in obedience to Jesus baptises him. No fresh light here, no flash of inspiration just humble submission. Revelation or epiphany follows on from obedience. All the great saints have followed John not by seeking faith by understanding but rather by seeking understanding through faith in Jesus Christ.

Then the fresh light, the revelation of God:

“This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased” Matt. 3:17

These words recall two passages of scripture, Psalm 2: 7 ‘You are my son’.

To this is added a verse in Isaiah 42:1. ‘Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight’

The first speaks about the royal kingship that God has given His Son. The second speaks of the suffering servant who will bring justice and peace to mankind as he is ‘pierced for our transgressions... crushed for our iniquities'

Such a person, such a possibility had never been considered, that Jesus could be both Son and sacrifice for sin was beyond their understanding. In baptism, Jesus ‘fulfills all righteousness’ in a way that can only make sense as we see him as the sinless one who becomes sin for us, the divine Son who becomes man that man might become a son of God, the one from above who comes amongst us that we might be lifted into the presence of God.

In the Arnolfini portrait, we see a couple apparently celebrating the beginning of married life, sadly it tells us another story. The Baptism that John preached was all about fleeing from God’s wrath but in Jesus, we hear another voice announcing God’s love and mercy. Baptism is now seen in a different light.

As we begin the season of Epiphany we are encouraged to live by faith in the one who gives us this light, the light by which we see and understand all things.

Rev. Simon Brignall

We pray today for those recovering from operations or preparing for an operation.

Prayer for Ukraine

God of peace and justice

we pray for the people of Ukraine today,

and the laying down of weapons.

we pray for all those who fear for tomorrow,

that your spirit of comfort would draw near to them.

We pray for those with power over war and peace,

for wisdom, discernment, and compassion to guide their decisions

Above all, we pray for all your precious children at risk and in fear,

That you would hold and protect them.

We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Amen

I am contactable from Thursday to Sunday.