Rev'd Up for Sunday
Listen along as the priests of St. Mark's, New Canaan (Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy) gear up for Sunday. Each week the preacher will lead a discussion of the scriptures of the day. Sometimes irreverent, often witty, always filled with love for our Lord: don’t miss these conversations about the questions, mysteries, and hope these three find in the Bible.
Rev'd Up for Sunday
"Jesus and John at the Jordan" Matthew 3:13-17 | Episode 239
If John the Baptist was calling for a baptism of repentance, why did Jesus insist on being baptized? This week, Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy focus on the purpose of Jesus' baptism, the importance of it being in the Jordan River, and how this is a story about doing things outside of the establishment.
Questions for Further Discussion:
Themes and Application
- The clergy describe Jesus’ baptism as both continuity with John’s movement and a decisive shift away from it. Where do you see that continuity, and where do you see the break?
- In what ways does this baptism scene function as the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, vocation, or “handing over” of authority from John to Jesus?
- How does the idea of baptism as participation in God’s larger salvific plan challenge more individualistic understandings of faith?
Personal Reflection
- Which image from the episode resonates most with you right now: water, Spirit, voice, wilderness, or new creation? Why?
- How do you respond to the idea that becoming faithful is an ongoing process of “becoming and becoming,” rather than a completed state?
- When you hear the words “beloved” and “well pleased,” do they feel earned, aspirational, or freely given? How does that shape your understanding of God?
Broader Spiritual Considerations
- Fr. John raises concerns about how religious movements can become institutionalized and lose their radical edge. Where do you see this risk in the church today?
- What does Jesus’ baptism suggest about leadership, especially spiritual leadership, in contrast to power rooted in authority, violence, or control?
- How might this passage challenge churches to rethink baptism not just as initiation, but as vocation, solidarity, and mission?
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Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org