Newspaper
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PUBLICATION DATE: January 4, 200 -ISSUE #273
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"THE NATIONAL HERALD"
ATTN: Harilaos Daskalothanassis
Chrisoula Karametros
Eleni Papadaki
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COLUMN NUMBER 200/01 - WRITEDATE 12/19/02 - PUBDATE 01/04/03
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________________________________
THE "WHATS & WHYS" OF OUR CHURCH
________________________________
Fr. Stanley Samuel Harakas
THE BAPTISM OF JOHN
During the Epiphany season (January 5th and 6th each year), the Orthodox
Church commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ in the river Jordan by
St.John the Baptist. Parallel to this we all know of the Sacrament of Holy
Baptism. What is the difference between them?
The Gospel of Mark tells us that John's baptism was "a baptism of repentance
for the forgiveness of sins" (Mark 1:4). John was calling people to show
repentance by means of a symbolic washing.
But John's baptism, also, was a sign of the coming of the Messiah. The Bible
teaches that the Baptist "came for testimony, to bear witness to the Light"
who was Jesus Christ (John 1:7). In commenting on the description of St.
John's baptism, one of our theologians says, "For what reason were the Jews
to be baptized by him? Baptism had been foretold as a sign of the approach
of the Messiah's kingdom (Isaiah 40:3-4)." The Baptist distinquished his
baptism and himself, from Christ, saying "I baptize with water; but among
you stands one whom you do not know" (John 1:28).
St. John Chrysostom comments: "He informed them who he was, and spoke of
the nature of his own baptism, that it was but a slight and mean thing,
nothing more than some water, and told of the superiority of the Baptism
given by Christ."
In what way was "the Baptism given by Christ" superior? St. Paul tells us
that something remarkable takes place when we are baptized. We share in
Christ's Death and Resurrection. He explains: "Do you not know that all of
us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We
were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was
raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in
newness of life" (Romans 6:3-6). That's why St. Peter says, "Baptism . . .
now saves you" (1 Peter 3:21). So, in Ephesus, some persons who had only
been baptized with John's baptism were told that they had to be "baptized in
the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 19:2-5).
But the Baptism of Christ is not magic, nor alone is it sufficient for our
salvation. Chrysostom reminds us all: "It is, on the one hand, God's part to
give the grace, on the other, man's to supply faith. . . . It is not
sufficient for us merely to have been baptized and to have believed, but we
must, if we will continually enjoy this brightness, display a life worthy of
it. This then is God's work in us. To have been born the mystical Birth, and
to have been cleansed from all our former sins, comes from Baptism; but to
remain for the future pure, never again after this to admit any stain,
belongs to our own power and diligence."
We should live each day in a manner "worthy of our Baptism."
========================================================
PUBLICATION DATE: January 4, 200 -ISSUE #273
========================================================
"THE NATIONAL HERALD"
ATTN: Harilaos Daskalothanassis
Chrisoula Karametros
Eleni Papadaki
--------------------------------------------------------------
COLUMN NUMBER 200/01 - WRITEDATE 12/19/02 - PUBDATE 01/04/03
--------------------------------------------------------------
________________________________
THE "WHATS & WHYS" OF OUR CHURCH
________________________________
Fr. Stanley Samuel Harakas
THE BAPTISM OF JOHN
During the Epiphany season (January 5th and 6th each year), the Orthodox
Church commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ in the river Jordan by
St.John the Baptist. Parallel to this we all know of the Sacrament of Holy
Baptism. What is the difference between them?
The Gospel of Mark tells us that John's baptism was "a baptism of repentance
for the forgiveness of sins" (Mark 1:4). John was calling people to show
repentance by means of a symbolic washing.
But John's baptism, also, was a sign of the coming of the Messiah. The Bible
teaches that the Baptist "came for testimony, to bear witness to the Light"
who was Jesus Christ (John 1:7). In commenting on the description of St.
John's baptism, one of our theologians says, "For what reason were the Jews
to be baptized by him? Baptism had been foretold as a sign of the approach
of the Messiah's kingdom (Isaiah 40:3-4)." The Baptist distinquished his
baptism and himself, from Christ, saying "I baptize with water; but among
you stands one whom you do not know" (John 1:28).
St. John Chrysostom comments: "He informed them who he was, and spoke of
the nature of his own baptism, that it was but a slight and mean thing,
nothing more than some water, and told of the superiority of the Baptism
given by Christ."
In what way was "the Baptism given by Christ" superior? St. Paul tells us
that something remarkable takes place when we are baptized. We share in
Christ's Death and Resurrection. He explains: "Do you not know that all of
us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We
were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was
raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in
newness of life" (Romans 6:3-6). That's why St. Peter says, "Baptism . . .
now saves you" (1 Peter 3:21). So, in Ephesus, some persons who had only
been baptized with John's baptism were told that they had to be "baptized in
the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 19:2-5).
But the Baptism of Christ is not magic, nor alone is it sufficient for our
salvation. Chrysostom reminds us all: "It is, on the one hand, God's part to
give the grace, on the other, man's to supply faith. . . . It is not
sufficient for us merely to have been baptized and to have believed, but we
must, if we will continually enjoy this brightness, display a life worthy of
it. This then is God's work in us. To have been born the mystical Birth, and
to have been cleansed from all our former sins, comes from Baptism; but to
remain for the future pure, never again after this to admit any stain,
belongs to our own power and diligence."
We should live each day in a manner "worthy of our Baptism."
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