Listen

At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River so that John would baptize him. John tried to stop him and said, “I need to be baptized by you, yet you come to me?”

Jesus answered, “Allow me to be baptized now. This is necessary to fulfill all righteousness.”

So John agreed to baptize Jesus. When Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up out of the water. Heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting on him. A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him.”

Matthew 3:13-17

Think

John couldn’t believe it! Jesus was asking to be baptized by him. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? John had called people to confess their sins, to change their hearts and lives, and to be baptized in the Jordan River. It was about “getting right” with God. So it doesn’t make sense to John that Jesus should be baptized. Aren’t Jesus and God pretty tight already?

But Jesus insists. We can only suppose why he thought it necessary. Did he want to set a good example for future followers? Was he showing solidarity with sinners?

I think it’s about the relationship. Baptism is an act of commitment to God; it’s like divine DTRing (“defining the relationship”). In baptism, Jesus expresses his commitment to follow God’s will for his life. And when Jesus comes up from the water, God’s Spirit floats down from heaven and rests upon him with words of blessing and belonging.

What next step might you take to deepen your relationship with God?

Meredith Forssman

Pray

God, I want to be committed to following your will. Sometimes I lose sight of this goal in my daily life. I get off track.

Thank you for your mercy, for allowing me to renew my commitment to you again and again.

Speak fresh words of blessing to me.

Amen.

Go

Go forth.

Grow in the grace Christ.

Reflect God’s glory to the world.

words from an Anglican liturgy