About the Hymn
This text attempts to capture the hidden depths behind the seemingly simple narrative of the baptism of our Lord.
In stanza 1, we see our Lord submitting to a ceremonial cleansing that, as the sinless Son of God, he didn’t need. And that event was witnessed and affirmed by the other two members of the Trinity: the Father in a voice from heaven and the Spirit in the form of a dove.
Stanza 2 emphasizes that this event is a kind of ordination: the closing of Jesus’ hidden years and the opening of his public ministry. That three-year ministry of teaching and preaching and healing took our Lord from the river to the hill, from Jordan to Calvary, from baptism to death.
And stanza 3 reminds us that Jesus did all this for us and the redemption of our souls. As an added application, we can truly say that when we are baptized—which is necessary because we are sinful—our sins are forgiven, and the Father’s voice proclaims of us as it did of Jesus: “This is my daughter; this is my son. I am well pleased with them.”
An uncomplicated sentence structure and an emphasis on internal rhyme, in addition to end rhyme, are utilized in an attempt to make the hymn an effective teaching tool.
The hymn should be performed at a fervent♩= ca. 60.
Text
1. Did you see our Lord baptized
at the River Jordan’s shore,
washed in cleansing waters there
through no stain or sin he bore?
Did you see the Spirit then,
like a dove from clouds above?
Did you hear the Father’s love
in that voice: “This is my Son”?
2. Did you know there is a road
from that shore to Calv’ry’s hill?
On that road the Lord went forth
to fulfill his Father’s will:
three years of a ministry,
teaching, healing needy crowds;
sharing boundless love till he
was himself bound in a shroud.
3. Surely it was your own sin
that he bore at Jordan’s shore,
and again, at Calv’ry’s end,
yours the crown of thorns he wore.
Now believe, when you’re baptized,
you’re washed clean; your sins are gone.
You can trust the father’s voice:
“You’re my daughter, you’re my son.”
© 2018 Laurie F. Gauger
Lectionary Reading
Year A, Baptism of the Lord: Matthew 3:13–17
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Year B, Baptism of the Lord: Mark 1:4–11
And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism and Testing of Jesus
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Year C, Baptism of the Lord: Luke 3:15–17, 21–22
The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
