First Sunday after Epiphany focuses on the Baptism of our Lord by John the Baptiser. Besides the baptism in the waters of Jordan, the significance is the anointing with the Spirit. The spirit descending like a dove and resting on Jesus. The voice that followed declared “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” It is a powerful declaration for all the earth to hear.

The psalmist notes God’s voice as powerful and majestic. Isaiah speaks of God anointing God’s servants with the spirit as light to the nations and to do justice. All of it is fulfilled in the baptism of Jesus as the Holy Spirit descends on him and claims him as God’s son.

In these scripture passages there are two important things to take note of. One is, Christ is given as a light to the nations. The other is, Christ to bring forth justice to the nations. These two stand out today as we perceive what is happening globally and also locally.

First, Christ as light to the nations is so important because darkness at the seats of power demonstrate evil to the extent of invading another independent state and arresting their leader. The same happened in Iraq in 2003 with the declaration of ‘weapons of mass destruction’ in possession of Iraq. There was none.

This kind of darkness covers the earth. Amidst it, we read God’s words: Christ as “light to the nations.” People are longing for light.

The light to the nations is also an imperative to us to illuminate the dark places in our country and in our lives. The year brought forth the Manage My health data base hacked. The darkness we are in is, what will happen to our personal information and health records.

Secondly, Christ is the one to bring forth justice to the nations. The prophecy is not confined to Palestine, but to all the nations. That action is stated: “Christ will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth.”

God speaks to God’s servants with God’s powerful voice: I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

Thus, God anoints Christ with the Spirit to do God’s work in the world.

Peter’s message to the gentiles in Acts 10 is about what Christ has done after his baptism.

Following Christ’s baptism, all those who follow Christ Jesus are baptised and anointed with the christening oil. We receive the baptism with water and then we are anointed with oil signifying that we are marked as God’s servants. God places the Spirit on the ones God chooses to do specific tasks.

Christ’s baptism is akin to our baptism, marking the anointing by the Spirit. You and I are baptised with water, anointed with the Spirit not only to mark us as Christians, but also to be God’s servants. Each of us is given a responsibility. The fundamental part of it is to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

Through anointing, human beings are made bearers of the divine will and are taken on a journey. The contours of it they cannot anticipate. The end may not be visible. Only faith follows from anointing, and we go on the journey by faith.

The anointing of the Spirit is bound to the purpose of transformation. God wills to fundamentally change the social order by bringing justice to people and justice between nations. Divine hope embodies in incredible, awesome, and powerful voice of God as the psalm depicts. “The voice of God is powerful; the voice of God is full of majesty.” [Psalm 29:4]

Our baptism and our anointing with the Spirit are a symbolic way to remind us that we are God’s servants. Baptised Christians at times doubt whether they can do anything to make a positive difference in the world. Every Easter service, we remind ourselves of our baptismal vows and get sprinkled with the Holy Water to renew our servanthood.

Baptism is linked to empowerment by the Spirit. As we think of Christ’s baptism and our own, we must re-envision the spiritual potency of baptism in us. The same Spirit that anointed Jesus anoints us in baptism. This baptism immerses us into service and ministry in the world.

Don’t be discouraged or feel powerless. The baptism of Christ empowers us to be and do according to God’s divine purposes. God has already anointed us with God’s Spirit to fulfil the divine purposes. Let us live and work with the awareness of God’s Spirit in us.