An Exegesis on the day of the Lord's Baptism
By Saint Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neocaesarea
THEN COMETH JESUS from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptised of him
(Matt. 3:13). What meekness and humility the Lord has! What
condescension! The Heavenly King approaches John, His own forerunner,
not surrounded by the armies of the angels, and without sending His
heralds, that is the bodiless powers, before Him, but just as a simple
and normal soldier. Thus it is that he comes up to His own soldier; He
approaches just as everyone else in the midst of the common people. He
circulates among the company of the prisoners, though He is their
Redeemer and their Judge. He joins Himself to the sheep who are astray,
even though He is the Good Shepherd, Who for the sake of the lost sheep
came down from Heaven and yet did not leave Heaven. The Heavenly
Wheat is mixed with the the tares, He who was conceived without seed.
Seeing Him, John the Baptist recognised that this was indeed the Very One, Whom he had confessed and honoured while he was yet in his mother’s womb, for Whose sake he had, surpassing the bounds of nature, leaped so early in his mother’s womb. Withdrawing his hand and bowing his head like a servant beloved of his Lord, John besought Him: I have need to be baptised of Thee, and comest Thou to me? (Matt. 3:14). What art Thou doing, Lord? Why dost Thou reverse the order of things? Why, on a par with a slave, dost Thou request that which befitteth slaves? Why dost Thou desire to receive that, of which Thou hast no need? Why dost Thou burden me through Thy so great condescension and humility? I have need to be baptised of Thee; but Thou hast no need to be baptised of me. The lesser is blessed by the greater and the mightier; rather than the greater being blessed and sanctified by the lesser. The light is kindled from the sun, rather than the sun being set aflame by a lamp. The potter’s clay receives form from the potter, and not the potter from the clay. Creation is renewed by the Creator, rather than the Creator being directed aright by creation. The patient is treated by the physician, rather than the physician being given prescriptions by the sick. The poor man takes alms from the rich, not the rich from the poor. I have need to be baptised of Thee, and comest Thou to me? Can I be ignorant of Who Thou art, from whence Thou hast shone forth, and from whence Thou hast come? Can I deny the majesty of Thy Divinity, simply because Thou hast been made like unto me? Can I reject the Divinity which my mind perceiveth, on account of what my fleshly eyes see, simply because Thou hast appeared to me with such condescension? - that is, having taken flesh upon Thyself Thou bearest all that is mine within Thyself, so that Thou mightest save the whole man. Can I be ignorant that Thou clothest Thyself in light as with a garment, simply because, for my salvation, Thou hast garbed Thyself in my nature? Or can the brilliant light of Thy Divinity be concealed from me, simply because Thou now bearest my flesh and art visible to all? Or, mentally straying, can I dare to deny Thy Divine, invisible and inapproachable Essence, simply because I now see in Thee my own form? No, I know Thee, O Lord; I know Thee, being instructed of Thee Thyself, for none may know Thee unless they are illumined with the light of Thy grace. I know Thee clearly, O Lord, for I saw Thee in the spirit, even before I beheld this light. When Thou wast altogether in the incorporeal bosom of the Heavenly Father, Thou wast also altogether in the womb of Thy handmaiden and Mother. And I, yet being contained by nature within the womb of Elizabeth as it were in a prison, and being bound by the indissoluble bonds of infancy, I leapt up, and lauded and praised Thee, even before Thou wast born. Thus can it be that I, who thus preached Thy coming even before Thy nativity, should not recognise Thine advent? Shall I who learned of Thy coming while yet in the womb, having now come to full understanding, appear as a babe [in understanding]? No, I cannot but honour and glorify Thee, Whom all creation holds in reverence. I cannot but proclaim Thee, Whom heaven announced through the wandering star, to Whom the earth offered worship through the magi, Whom the choirs of the Angels hymned, rejoicing in Thy condescension towards us, Whom the shepherds who were keeping watch by night in the fields confessed to be the Chief Shepherd of the rational sheep. I cannot keep silent while Thou art present, for I am a voice. Indeed, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare ye the way of the Lord. I have need to be baptised of Thee and comest Thou to me?
Seeing Him, John the Baptist recognised that this was indeed the Very One, Whom he had confessed and honoured while he was yet in his mother’s womb, for Whose sake he had, surpassing the bounds of nature, leaped so early in his mother’s womb. Withdrawing his hand and bowing his head like a servant beloved of his Lord, John besought Him: I have need to be baptised of Thee, and comest Thou to me? (Matt. 3:14). What art Thou doing, Lord? Why dost Thou reverse the order of things? Why, on a par with a slave, dost Thou request that which befitteth slaves? Why dost Thou desire to receive that, of which Thou hast no need? Why dost Thou burden me through Thy so great condescension and humility? I have need to be baptised of Thee; but Thou hast no need to be baptised of me. The lesser is blessed by the greater and the mightier; rather than the greater being blessed and sanctified by the lesser. The light is kindled from the sun, rather than the sun being set aflame by a lamp. The potter’s clay receives form from the potter, and not the potter from the clay. Creation is renewed by the Creator, rather than the Creator being directed aright by creation. The patient is treated by the physician, rather than the physician being given prescriptions by the sick. The poor man takes alms from the rich, not the rich from the poor. I have need to be baptised of Thee, and comest Thou to me? Can I be ignorant of Who Thou art, from whence Thou hast shone forth, and from whence Thou hast come? Can I deny the majesty of Thy Divinity, simply because Thou hast been made like unto me? Can I reject the Divinity which my mind perceiveth, on account of what my fleshly eyes see, simply because Thou hast appeared to me with such condescension? - that is, having taken flesh upon Thyself Thou bearest all that is mine within Thyself, so that Thou mightest save the whole man. Can I be ignorant that Thou clothest Thyself in light as with a garment, simply because, for my salvation, Thou hast garbed Thyself in my nature? Or can the brilliant light of Thy Divinity be concealed from me, simply because Thou now bearest my flesh and art visible to all? Or, mentally straying, can I dare to deny Thy Divine, invisible and inapproachable Essence, simply because I now see in Thee my own form? No, I know Thee, O Lord; I know Thee, being instructed of Thee Thyself, for none may know Thee unless they are illumined with the light of Thy grace. I know Thee clearly, O Lord, for I saw Thee in the spirit, even before I beheld this light. When Thou wast altogether in the incorporeal bosom of the Heavenly Father, Thou wast also altogether in the womb of Thy handmaiden and Mother. And I, yet being contained by nature within the womb of Elizabeth as it were in a prison, and being bound by the indissoluble bonds of infancy, I leapt up, and lauded and praised Thee, even before Thou wast born. Thus can it be that I, who thus preached Thy coming even before Thy nativity, should not recognise Thine advent? Shall I who learned of Thy coming while yet in the womb, having now come to full understanding, appear as a babe [in understanding]? No, I cannot but honour and glorify Thee, Whom all creation holds in reverence. I cannot but proclaim Thee, Whom heaven announced through the wandering star, to Whom the earth offered worship through the magi, Whom the choirs of the Angels hymned, rejoicing in Thy condescension towards us, Whom the shepherds who were keeping watch by night in the fields confessed to be the Chief Shepherd of the rational sheep. I cannot keep silent while Thou art present, for I am a voice. Indeed, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare ye the way of the Lord. I have need to be baptised of Thee and comest Thou to me?
By my birth I destroyed the barrenness of the mother who had borne me,
and being yet a babe I cured the dumbness of my father, having received
from Thee the gift of working wonders. But Thou wast born of the Virgin
Mary, as Thou hadst blessed and as Thou alone knowest, and Thou didst
not destroy her virginity but didst safeguard it and grant her the name
of Mother, in such a way that neither did her virginity preclude Thy
being born, nor did Thy being born destroy her virginity. Thus things
that were completely contrary, giving birth and virginity, were
conjoined and united, for this was easy and possible for Thee, as Thou
art the Creator of nature. I am but a man and simply a communicant of
God’s grace; Thou art God and simultaneously a man, and consequently
Thou art full of love and goodness towards the race of man. I have need to be baptised of Thee, and comest Thou to me?
Thou Who wast in the beginning, Who wast with God, and was Thyself God
(John 1:1)? Thou Who art the effulgence of the Father’s Glory? Thou,
Who art the perfect image of the perfect Father? Thou,Who art the Light
that lighteneth every man that cometh into the world? Thou,Who being
in the world, goest whither Thou wast aforetime? Thou,Who was made
flesh, but wast not changed into flesh? Thou,Who hast tabernacled among
us, and has been seen by Thy servants in the form of a servant? Thou,
Who hast in Thy holy name joined heaven to earth, as though by a bridge?
Thou comest to me: One so Great to one so small? The King cometh to
the herald? The Master to the slave? Though Thou wast not ashamed to
be born in the most humble human way; yet I cannot transgress the bounds
of nature. I know how great is the difference between the earth and
the Creator; I know what a distinction there is between the finger of
clay and its Creator. I know the measure of that which separateth the
light of Thy righteousness from me, who am no more than the lamp of Thy
grace. Even though Thou art clothed with the body as with a pure cloud,
yet I perceive Thy lordship. I confess my own servile status and
proclaim Thy greatness. I recognise the mightiness of Thy power, and I
do not conceal my own lowliness and unworthiness. I am not worthy to unloose the latchets of Thy shoes
(John 1:27); then how shall I dare to touch the immaculate crown of
Thy head? How shall I stretch out my right hand upon Thee,Who hast
stretched out the heavens as if they were a curtain, and hast set the
earth upon the waters? How shall I place my servant’s fingers upon Thy
Divine head? How shall I wash One Who is immaculate and no participant
in any sin? How shall I illumine the Light? What prayer shall I offer
over Thee,Who dost receive the petitions even of those who do not know
Thee? When I baptise others, I do so in Thy name, that they might
believe on Thee,Who art to come in glory. But in baptising Thee, whom
shall I call upon? In whose name shall I baptise Thee? In the name of
the Father? But Thou hast the Father altogether in Thyself, and art
Thyself altogether in the Father. In the name of the Son? But other
than Thee, there is no other Son of God by nature. In the name of the
Holy Spirit? But He is always with Thee, being of one essence with
Thee, of one mind, of one power, of one honour, and one worship, which
He receiveth from all. Wherefore, if it so please Thee, baptise me, O
Lord; baptise me, the baptiser. Regenerate one, whom Thou didst call
into this world. Stretch forth Thy right hand, which Thou hast prepared
for Thyself, and by Thy touch crown my head, so that, in heralding Thy
kingdom, I may, like a crowned forerunner, in great voice make
announcement to sinners, crying out to them: Behold the Lamb of God, Which taketh away the sins of the world!
(John 1:29). And thou, O river Jordan, be glad with me and rejoice,
stir thy waters rhythmically, for the Creator standeth before thee in
the flesh. Thou didst once of old see Israel cross through thee and,
dividing thy waters, thou didst await the passing over of the people of
God; now though be thou divided yet more mightily, let thy streams be
more majestic so as the enfold the immaculate limbs of the One,Who in
times past brought the Jews through thee. O ye mountains and hills, ye
springs and torrents, ye seas and rivers, bless ye the Lord, Who hath
come to the River Jordan, for through her waters He imparteth
sanctification to all waters!
But in reply, Jesus said to John: Suffer it to be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Suffer it to be so now: be
silent, O Baptist! - and do it unto Me. Learn to desire that which I
desire. Learn to minister unto Me in those things which I require of
thee. And do not pry beyond measure into that which I wish to achieve. Suffer it to be so now:
do not yet proclaim My Divinity; do not yet proclaim with thy lips My
Kingdom, lest the tyrant, learning of it, should abandon the course
which he hath taken against Me. Allow the devil to come upon Me and to
engage with Me as if I were a simple man; allow him to enter into
conflict with Me, that he might then receive a mortal wound. Permit Me
to accomplish My course and My desire, for which cause I came upon
earth. A mystery and a hidden thing let that be which is being
accomplished today in the Jordan. It is a hidden thing that I accomplish
here, not for some need of My Own, but for the cure of those who have
been wounded. A mystery and a hidden thing let that be by which mankind
is regenerated in these waters, even before the heavenly floods are
manifest. Suffer it to be so now: When thou seest that I, as God,
do that amidst My creations which is according to My dispensation, then
do thou praise that which is accomplished. When thou seest that I
cleanse the lepers, then do thou preach concerning Me, that I am the
Creator of nature. When thou seest me made the lame quick to run, then
with metal agility do thou employ thy tongue in glorifying Me. When thou
seest that I cast out demons, then is My Kingdom nigh. When thou seest
that with one word I recall the dead from the grave, then do thou, along
with those who are resurrected, praise me as the Perpetrator and Giver
of life. When thou seest Me sitting on the right hand of the Father,
then do thou acknowledge and confess Me as God, co-enthroned, co-eternal
and of one honour with the Father and the HolySpirit. Suffer it to be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.
I am the Lawgiver and the Son of the Lawgiver; and thus before all else
it befitteth Me to fulfil that which is commanded, and only then to
manifest everywhere the trophies of My power. I must needs first fulfil
the Law and then impart Grace. I must needs first pass through the
shadow, and then the truth itself. I must needs set an end to the old
covenant, and only then to proclaim the new, imprinting it on the hearts
of men, inscribing it with My blood and sealing it with My Spirit. I
must needs ascend the Cross and be nailed thereto, and in this [human]
nature endure all that it is capable of enduring, by My sufferings
healing the passions of others, and by the wood curing that wound, which
was inflicted upon people by means of the wood. I must needs descend
into the very depths of the nether regions for the sake of those, the
dead, who are held there. I must needs, by My three-day death in the
flesh, destroy and annihilate the long-standing dominion of death. I
must needs light the lamp of My body for those who sit in darkness and
in the shadow of death. I must needs ascend thither in the flesh where I
abide in Divinity. I must needs bring to the Father the Adam who
reigneth within Me. I must needs now accept this baptism, and hereafter
impart the baptism of the Trinity, One in Essence, to all peoples. Now
lay thy right hand upon Me, O Baptist, just as Mary lent Me her womb
that I might be born. Immerse Me now in the streams of the Jordan, just
as she who gave Me birth wrapped Me in swaddling bands as a Child.
Impart baptism unto Me, just as the Virgin imparted milk unto Me. Touch
thou My head, before which the Seraphim do reverence and which they
worship. Touch thou with thy right hand that head, which is related to
thee by blood. Touch that which by nature may be touched. Touch that,
which for this very purpose was prepared by Myself and the Father. Touch
thou My head, for if one toucheth it with reverence, he shall not
suffer shipwreck. Baptise Me, Who with water, the Spirit and with fire
shall baptise believers: with water which washeth away the impurity of
sin; with the Spirit, Which maketh the earthly spiritual; with fire
which is able to burn up the thorns of transgressions.
On hearing these things, the Baptist gave heed to the purpose of salvation and comprehended the mystery; he discharged the Divine command and, with joy and with trembling, stretching forth his right hand, he baptised the Saviour. Then He Who is by nature the Father of the Only-Begotten, He Who alone genuinely and perfectly knew Him Whom He had begotten, opened the gates of heaven, and sent down upon Jesus’ head the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, as if by a finger pointing out the new Noah Who is also the Creator of Noah and the wise Pilot for that nature, which was in danger of suffering shipwreck. And He Himself announced from heaven, speaking clearly: This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased - the Son of the Same Essence, and not of some other nature. My Son is not other than the Son of Mary; rather the Very Same is My Beloved Son, Who is now both seen with the eyes and apprehended by the mind.
On hearing these things, the Baptist gave heed to the purpose of salvation and comprehended the mystery; he discharged the Divine command and, with joy and with trembling, stretching forth his right hand, he baptised the Saviour. Then He Who is by nature the Father of the Only-Begotten, He Who alone genuinely and perfectly knew Him Whom He had begotten, opened the gates of heaven, and sent down upon Jesus’ head the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, as if by a finger pointing out the new Noah Who is also the Creator of Noah and the wise Pilot for that nature, which was in danger of suffering shipwreck. And He Himself announced from heaven, speaking clearly: This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased - the Son of the Same Essence, and not of some other nature. My Son is not other than the Son of Mary; rather the Very Same is My Beloved Son, Who is now both seen with the eyes and apprehended by the mind.
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