Many of us remember “The Tonight Show.” No, I’m not talking about the one hosted by Jay Leno. I’m speaking of Johnny Carson. His partner for many years, Ed McMahon introduced Johnny before he came out on stage. On the television you could sense the anticipation mounting. As Ed ran down the list of guests for the night, you could hear the crowd getting louder with excitement. And then it happened, the introduction that is still, years later, familiar to all of us. Just as Johnny would make his way through that large, multi-colored curtain Ed would say, “And now, Heeeeeeere’s Johnny!” The crowd would go wild for the great and beloved Johnny Carson.

Not so much for Jesus. When John the Baptizer introduced Jesus onto center stage – which happened to be in a shallow river – I’m sure there was not the same kind of mounted anticipation and roar of applause. With Johnny, everyone knew what he was going to do. He was going to entertain and that would make the people feel good. They were awaiting the sight of a celebrity. They were waiting for the show to begin. But with Jesus, the people didn’t know what to expect. The introductions where not all that different, but the reaction, I’m sure, was.

But here is something that is quite similar – and please forgive my “lengthy” analogy comparing the Baptism of Jesus and Johnny Carson’s “The Tonight Show.” I don’t mean to reduce the Baptism of our Savior to mere television entertainment. But none-the-less, bear with me for just a bit longer. Ed prepares the stage – like John the Baptizer. Ed introduces the main character which now takes center stage and the show now begins, just like John. And now the main character is standing where it will all begin. And the beginning is the most important part.

You see, during the monolog, Johnny Carson would bring the audience along by having them “identify” with the world. He did this by telling jokes about current events. He came along side of the people he was speaking to so they could know what is going on – and know a little bit about what would happen. It’s not much different than what Jesus did. Of course, what Jesus did had much further and “far reaching” implications.

Jesus would use that shallow water of the Jordan River as the “means by which” He began the “Divine Drama” of His public ministry. Right there, in a river, Jesus’ public ministry began. And Jesus right away does what perhaps Johnny Carson and many other entertainers would learn from Jesus. He began by “identifying” with His people. John the Baptizer sets the stage for Jesus. And Jesus uses the stage for the sake of His people as the ministry begins. Allow me to explain.

In Baptism Jesus “identified” with who you are. What better way to lay a foundation and begin a ministry than to show you that He has put Himself in the same position as all of us. This is God we are talking about – standing in the Jordan River with this man who lives in the desert who eats locust and wild honey and wears camel’s hair for clothes. This is Jesus the Lord receiving Baptism like His people because He identifies with who we are … poor miserable sinners. And that’s who we are. And that’s who our perfect Lord would identify with.

Our Lord would come and identify with sinners – and even be baptized by one. We are “convicted sinners” by the mere fact that Jesus did what He did. He did what He had to do. He came to identify with sinners because we need Him to do this for us. Our Lord identifies with sinners – why don’t we identify with sinners? It’s who we are.

We don’t have any problem saying that Jesus came to forgive our sins but we do have a problem comparing our sins to those of others. We might think we are bad – but not as bad as that guy – I can’t be identified with that guy. I might have sinned in the past, but my sins today aren’t as severe – I can’t be identified with someone who sins willfully today. I might be having inappropriate relations with someone else. I might take the liberty of watching shows that mom and dad would not allow. I might say or think malicious things about my co-workers or fellow students. I might even be living out these sins each day, but I have an excuse – I have a reason and I can’t be identified with all those other people who do such things to intentionally hurt others like we see on television.

On this day, the celebration of the Baptism of our Lord, Jesus ushers in His public ministry by participating in a Baptism that would put Him in our place. He didn’t need what we get from Baptism – the forgiveness of sins. But He did need to start this Divine Drama with being identified with those He would serve and those He would save.

What Jesus did is put Himself – right from the beginning – in our place. No matter if we think we are the most righteous human currently living on earth – or the chief of sinners – our fate is all the same. We have fallen short. But Jesus identifies with us. At times we don’t like to identify our sins with those of harden criminals or the exposed adulterers – But Jesus does. Jesus doesn’t need the baptism He receives for the forgiveness of sins. No, He is perfect and needs no “washing.” That’s why John says, “I need to be baptized by you.” He doesn’t “need” the benefits of baptism for Himself, but we need Him the very way He decided to come – to be like us in every way – identifying with those He serves. Jesus’ Baptism in the place of sinners foreshadowed and signified His humble death in the place of sinners.

In 1963 a former member of the Hitler Youth, Rolf Hochhuth wrote a play called, “The Deputy.” In it a young priests discovers the truth about Jewish Concentration Camps used to exterminate the Jews during WWII. He makes it his mission to stop the awful orders that began and was keeping in motion the slow extermination of a whole people. He appeals to everyone in authority, even the pope, and all turn a deaf ear. When all avenues of protest have been exhausted, the hero of the play sews the identifying six pointed star on his sleeve and presents himself at one of the camps, where he moves to the ovens with the people whose cause he had taken on himself. This may be one of the most vivid pictures we can relate to what Jesus actually did for us. When Jesus, being baptized by John identifies Himself with you, He identifies Himself with sinners who are on their way to certain death. Jesus, in the Jordan River, was showing us that He was willing to take on our death – for His death began at the water.

Our death begins at the water. Our death is drowned by Holy Baptism. Our Lord would bring us to the font so that He could bring us here to the Lord’s House and His table. The Lord would bring us through death to life so that we can see with our own very eyes the death of Jesus that would bring life to us.

“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” John the Baptizer was the original Ed McMahon. Epiphany brings us to where it all begins for us. Our Lord makes His “appearing” in the midst of His people and begins His Divine Drama on the biggest stage there is. And He doesn’t stop there. Even today, our Lord continues to set the stage for His work and lead His people to the hope and joy He has for us on the last day. That we know for sure. Our Lord will not disappoint His audience in this Divine Drama. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.