Baptism of Our Lord, Year B
First Sunday after the Epiphany The Sunday after January 6 Revised Common Lectionary, Year B, the year of Mark
Not appointed in the next three years: the calendar only reaches this Sunday when Easter falls early or late.
The Gospel: Mark 1:4–11
John baptizes people in the Jordan, and when Jesus is baptized, the Spirit comes down like a dove and a voice calls him beloved Son.
What is going on
John the Baptist is baptizing crowds in the Jordan River, out in the desert. People come to be washed and to confess their sins.
Jesus comes from Nazareth and is baptized too. As he comes up out of the water, the sky is torn open and the Spirit comes down on him like a dove.
A voice from heaven calls him the beloved Son, and says God is pleased with him. Lutherans connect this to every baptism: there, God calls the baptized his children.
Mark 1:4-11
Most churches stand for the Gospel, and sing or say a short response before and after it.
The passage
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. 5 All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins. 6 John was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen. 8 I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.” 9 In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting, and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 A voice came out of the sky, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
The other readings
In the order they are read on Sunday, before the Gospel.
Genesis 1:1-5
In the beginning God creates the heavens and the earth, speaks light into being, and separates day from night on the first day.
Read it here
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day”, and the darkness he called “night”. There was evening and there was morning, the first day.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Psalm 29
A song of praise to the LORD, whose mighty voice thunders over the waters and who gives strength and peace to his people.
Read it here
1 Ascribe to the LORD, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name. Worship the LORD in holy array. 3 The LORD’s voice is on the waters. The God of glory thunders, even the LORD on many waters. 4 The LORD’s voice is powerful. The LORD’s voice is full of majesty. 5 The LORD’s voice breaks the cedars. Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young, wild ox. 7 The LORD’s voice strikes with flashes of lightning. 8 The LORD’s voice shakes the wilderness. The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The LORD’s voice makes the deer calve, and strips the forests bare. In his temple everything says, “Glory!” 10 The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood. Yes, the LORD sits as King forever. 11 The LORD will give strength to his people. The LORD will bless his people with peace.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Acts 19:1-7
In Ephesus, Paul meets disciples who knew only John’s baptism; they are baptized in Jesus’ name, and the Holy Spirit comes upon them.
Read it here
1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus and found certain disciples. 2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They said to him, “No, we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 He said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke with other languages and prophesied. 7 They were about twelve men in all.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
A question to carry into the week
What would change if you heard God call you beloved before you had done anything?
For your newsletter or sermon notes
These readings are told as stories on our sister site, Free Scripture, one scene at a time in plain words. The lines below are ready to paste. The next eight Sundays, and every story.
Baptism of Our Lord (First Sunday after the Epiphany) · Revised Common Lectionary, Year B . Scripture text: World English Bible, public domain.
Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org Used by permission.