Baptism of our Lord is a celebration of the fact that Jesus was Baptized by John the
Baptist in the River Jordan. In the Lutheran Baptismal prayer, it says that this action “hallowed all
waters to become a lavish washing away of sin [in Baptism].” This starts of the season of Epiphany,
which is a period of reflection for the Church to consider what our lives are like now that Jesus has been
incarnated among us in Christmas and is beginning to show who He is, and subsequently who we are in
Him

John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”