I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptised with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished! – Luke 12:49-50
The Baptism of Christ marks a kind of conclusion to the Christmas season, before we soon begin to commemorate the Lenten season. Last week, at the ‘first’ Epiphany, Christ was revealed to the nations, to the Gentile peoples, as the true light of the world and King of Israel. This week, we celebrate the ‘second’ Epiphany, that being the revelation of Jesus’ Sonship, and His direct relation to the Trinity. The painting featured which represents this event is James Tissot's Baptism of Jesus (1886-1894).
This image was part of a series of paintings on the life of Christ by Tissot, who was an avid Catholic painter of Biblical scenes. In contrast to his colourful and intricate portraits and scenes of contemporary life, which were often oil on canvas works, the majority of his Biblical paintings are painted in opaque watercolour. This style is characterised by the use of gouache paints, which are similar to watercolour paints, but create a more reflective and washed out look. Tissot’s Biblical paintings fit comfortably into the Orientalist school of art, which created a romanticised image of Middle Eastern culture. Tissot also made use of contemporary and reconstructed fashions for figures in his paintings, as can be seen by the tunic and shawl worn by St. John the Baptist and the turbans sported by the other characters.
Speaking to the matter of the painting, Jesus stands in the centre, shin-deep in the waters of the river Jordan. On His shoulder is perched a dove, symbolic of the Holy Spirit. While it can be difficult to spot, there is a thin mist which is above Christ’s head and rises to the top of the image; no doubt the reality of the Holy Spirit as He descends on Jesus, which the dove merely signifies. Both St. John and his attendants stand on various stones placed within the river. These stones are meant to be the twelve stones which Joshua established in the Jordan after the tribes of Israel crossed over into the Promised Land (Joshua 4:1-10). Not only does this provide an important link between the Old and New Testaments, it is interesting to note that the stones were meant to delineate the places where the priests, who were attending the Ark of the Covenant, stood as they crossed the river. Here we see John and his disciples standing in the same place as those priests, attending to the Lord Himself in the river Jordan.
While the Baptism of the Lord indicates the conclusion of Christmas, as we now enter a brief period of Ordinary time on the Liturgical calendar, what it really represents is a new beginning, indeed even a rebirth. The Baptism of Jesus marks the commencement of His earthly ministry in Judea, as well as His total willingness to be identified with humanity through the Sacrament of Baptism (cf. CCC 1224). The waters of Baptism, as St. Paul teaches, are a participation in the death and resurrection of Christ (Rom 6:4, Gal 2:12), and as St. Peter teaches, the fulfillment of Old Testament figures and prophecies (1 Pet 3:20-21). The Baptism of Christ is also a direct manifestation of the Most Holy Trinity; the Father speaks His words of approval, the Son is baptised, and the Holy Spirit descends upon the Son. Baptism is thus how we are incorporated into the life of the Trinity; Jesus became our brother in His humanity, His Father becomes our Father, and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us (Gal 4:16, 1 Cor 6:19). May we spend this time to reflect on the value of our baptisms and our life in the Trinity.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us.
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