New Creation in the Jordan: The Baptism That Re-Starts the World
As the Christmas season draws to a close, Jesus steps into the waters of the Jordan, setting off a cascade of Old Testament echoes and fulfilling ancient promises. This episode, we’ll plunge into the layers of meaning behind the Baptism of the Lord—tracking connections from Genesis to the Exodus, and uncovering why Jesus, though sinless, submits to a baptism for sinners. We’ll journey through prophetic fire, glorious cloud, and the coronation of a king, all while mining Aquinas for answers about radical humility. Join us for a deep dive into Scripture’s rich tapestry and discover what it means for our own pursuit of obedience and grace.
Exploring the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, our episode uncovers:
The surprising links between Jesus’s baptism in Matthew 3:13–17 and the creation, flood, and new creation narratives of Genesis—including how the Spirit descending like a dove echoes the Spirit and the wind (ruah) over the waters [10:07]
What ancient sources like Justin Martyr claim about a mysterious fire burning at the Jordan during Christ’s baptism, and the ways theologians see this paralleling the Exodus pillar of fire and the Shekinah glory cloud [22:04]
Why the only person ever called “beloved son” in the Old Testament is Isaac, making Jesus’s baptism a bold echo of the near-sacrifice on Mount Moriah—with all the rabbinic details about wood, fire, and the crown of thorns richly invoked [26:07]
How Solomon’s coronation at the waters of Gihon and the roles of Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet provide direct parallels to Jesus’s anointing as king in the Jordan, with John the Baptist acting as both priest and prophet [33:04]
How Thomas Aquinas answers the puzzling question of why Jesus, sinless, submits to baptism by listing four reasons: approval of John’s baptism, consecration of all water, taking on the condition of sinners, and modeling radical humility through perfect obedience—even to those inferior [39:01]
References
“The Spirit of God [Hebrew: ruah] was moving over the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2)
“God made a wind [Hebrew: ruah] blow over the earth.” (Genesis 8:1)
“God will provide himself the lamb.” (Genesis 22:8)
“It is finished.” (Greek: tetelestai, John 19:30)
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done.” (Genesis 2:1-2)
“When Jesus had gone to the river Jordan, where John was baptizing, and when He had stepped into the water, a fire was kindled in the Jordan.” (Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, Ch. 88)
“Call to me, Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet [...] cause Solomon my son to ride upon my mule [...] bring him down to Gihon [...] let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’[...] He shall sit upon my throne, and he shall be king in my stead. I have appointed him to rule over Israel and over Judah.” (1 Kings 1:32-35)
“Then the Spirit of the Lord will come mightily upon you, and you shall prophesy with them and be turned into another man.” (1 Samuel 10:6)
“Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward.” (1 Samuel 16:13)
“You know the word he sent to the Israelites as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. What has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Acts 10:36-38)
“Perfect humility is when a superior subjects himself to an inferior.” (Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on the Gospel of St. Matthew)
“It is true humility, which does not relinquish obedience.” (Glossa Ordinaria, cited by Aquinas in Commentary on the Gospel of St. Matthew)
“Stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.... Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.” (1 Samuel 15:23)
Bibliography
Davies, W. D., and Dale C. Allison Jr. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. International Critical Commentary. London; New York: T&T Clark International, 2004.
Justin Martyr. “Dialogue of Justin with Trypho, a Jew.” The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus. Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe. The Ante-Nicene Fathers. Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company, 1885.
Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009.
Mitch, Curtis, and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2010.
Thomas Aquinas. Commentary on the Gospel of St. Matthew. Translated by Paul M. Kimball. Dolorosa Press, 2012.
Discussion Questions
Katie highlights several Old Testament events fulfilled in the baptism of Jesus—creation, the flood, and new creation. How do these parallels deepen our understanding of the significance of Jesus’s baptism?
The episode draws connections between Jesus’s baptism and the Exodus narrative. Why do you think Matthew emphasizes this theme, and what does it reveal about Jesus’s role in salvation history?
According to Katie, Jesus’s baptism marks the beginning of “new creation.” In what ways does Christian baptism today echo this theme of new creation?
Why do you think the imagery of the dove and the Spirit is so prominent in both the Genesis creation account and the baptism of Jesus? What does it mean for us today?
Katie references Justin Martyr’s claim about a fire kindled at Jesus’s baptism. What do you make of extra-biblical traditions like this—do they add or detract from your view of biblical events?
The episode explores Jesus’s identity as both the new “son of Abraham” and “son of David.” How does the baptism narrative bring these titles to life, and what do they mean for how we understand Jesus?
Reflecting on Thomas Aquinas, Katie discusses reasons for Jesus’s willingness to be baptized, especially as an act of humility. How does this perspective challenge common assumptions about leadership and power?
How might the obedience and humility that Jesus models in his baptism influence our own approach to authority and service in daily life?
Katie notes the correlation between Jesus’s baptism, his coronation as king, and Old Testament anointings. In what ways do you see baptism as a “coronation” or calling in your own faith journey?
Toward the end, the episode challenges listeners to seek opportunities for obedience, even when it means submitting to those “inferior” to us. How do you respond to this challenge, especially in a culture that prizes autonomy and independence?