Gospel in Art: Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

The Baptism of Jesus, Fresco by Giotto. Painted 1303-1305, Scrovegni Chapel, Padua © Alamy

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 12 January 2025
Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

At that time: As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying, 'I baptise you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.'

Now when all the people were baptised by John the Baptist and when Jesus also had been baptised and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, 'You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.'

Reflection on the Fresco Painting

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord commemorates Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, marking the beginning of His public ministry and the revelation of the Holy Trinity. Originally, the baptism of Christ was celebrated as part of the Epiphany, which included the visit of the Magi, the baptism, and the wedding at Cana as manifestations of Jesus' divinity. Over time, in the Western Church, these three events were celebrated separately and established as distinct celebrations. Today's feast is celebrated on the first Sunday after Epiphany, concluding the liturgical season of Christmas and inviting Christians to reflect on their own baptismal call.

I never paid much attention to my baptismal date until a few years ago when I needed my baptismal certificate to apply for training for the priesthood. To my surprise, I discovered I had been baptised (in Bruges, Belgium), just five days after my birth, which was common practice at the time. It struck me that I had never remembered the date before. After seeing the certificate, I made a mental note of the date and entered it into my diary. It occurred to me that it should become a special date for me moving forward; a date to prayerfully reflect every year on the gift of baptism. While we celebrate our birthdays annually, perhaps our baptismal day deserves similar attention. For the early Christians, Jesus' baptism held great significance. For them, the day of Jesus' baptism was at least as important as the day of His birth. In fact Jesus' baptism was celebrated more in the early Church than his birth. Mark and John, begin their story of Jesus' life with his baptism. The other two, Matthew and Luke, begin with his birth.

Giotto's Baptism of the Lord, part of his monumental fresco cycle in the Scrovegni Chapel (1300-1310), is considered one of the earliest large-scale depictions of Jesus' baptism in the West. While still rooted in the Medieval and Byzantine traditions, with its bright colours and lack of true perspective, Giotto's work foreshadows the Renaissance through its focus on the human form and attempts at figure modelling. Jesus stands waist-deep in the Jordan, depicted as a graceful figure, with an emphasis on his physicality that moves beyond the flat, linear style of earlier artists. The stark, rocky shores symbolise both asceticism and a realistic setting, while balanced groups of three figures flank the scene-ethereal angels in white on one side and men of varied ages on the other. Above, a burst of light reveals the anthropomorphised voice of God, His hand extended to declare Jesus' divine Sonship. Also note Jesus' cruciform halo.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-3-15-16-21-22-2025/