130 Baptism of Jesus in Luke 3
Ian Paul
30.32
6 January 2025
12 November 2025
The Sunday lectionary reading for Epiphany 1, which is the Baptism of Christ, is Luke 3.15–17 and 21–22. The reading feels odd, since it was back in Advent when we read the previous verses in Luke 3 over two Sundays, and this sets the context for our passage.
The lectionary also drops the verses about Herod Antipas' imprisonment of John, which are important to the narrative. And the passage raises some key questions about John's ministry, and his understanding of Jesus. Did Jesus really come to bring 'fire' and the judgment indicated by the winnowing fork? Was John mistaken, or does Luke pick up these themes as the gospel unfolds?
Come and join Ian and James as they explore these questions! Revd James Blandford-Baker is vicar of Histon and Impington, two villages just north of Cambridge. Revd Dr Ian Paul is Associate Minister of St Nic's, Nottingham, and writes the widely-read blog www.psephizo.com.
Full written commentary behind the discussion can be found on the blog.