Isaiah 40:3; Mathew 3:1-6—Sunday’s Hymn of the Day is “To Jordan Came the Christ the Lord” (LSB #406/407).
As you read and study the words of this hymn, you will find the story of
Christ’s ministry and your salvation. As we begin a New Year, may each day be
dedicated to living our baptismal life in the Name of our Lord and Savior.
This
hymn, which comes from late in Luther’s life (1541), is classified by the
Lutheran Book of Worship as an Epiphany season offering. That is fitting,
although it was originally conceived by Luther to support musically the
teaching of the Catechism on the sacrament of Baptism. The Baptism of our Lord marks the epiphany or
manifestation of the mystery of the Holy Trinity at the inauguration of our Lord’s
messianic ministry. The Voice from heaven attests Jesus’ Sonship and seals this
attestation with the anointing of the Spirit in the figure of the dove who in
turn drives Jesus into battle with the unholy spirits. In Luther’s hymn, it is
just this coordination of Baptism and the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
which is taken up from the gospel narrative and developed, in the patristic
tradition. Indeed, what is striking is Luther’s grounding in this hymn of the
baptismal death of the sinner and resurrection of the believer in the narrative
theology of Trinitarian advent.
The
word spoken by God the Father to Jesus the Beloved Son and sealed with the
anointing of the Spirit in the figure of the dove (verse one) becomes the same
word spoken to every Christian in sacramental baptism (verse two), as if to
say: “You, too, are my beloved son/daughter here united with your brother, Jesus
Christ, by sharing in the Spirit His death and resurrection.” This mediation of
Christ’s filial relation to God as Father to the believer’s new relation to God
is possible because, as verse three shows, Luther’s narrative interpretation of
the Baptism story connects it with the Transfiguration story to anticipate the
Easter vindication of the Crucified One. Jesus is not refuted! He is not
defeated! He is risen! So He proves indeed to be God’s gracious Word of mercy
to all humanity. Therefore, Listen to Him! [2] -07 January 2023
[1]
The Baptism of our Lord, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2] https://www.vasynod.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/December-1-2012.pdf
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