Jesus' Baptism

Mt. 3: 13-17

John had completed his dialogue with the Pharisees and the Sadducees. He had warned them about their unrepentant hearts. And with these ominous words, Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire, he had hoped that they would understand the gist of it all. [Even if a person didn't understand these particular words, they would know that the heavy was coming fairly quickly.] As if this were not enough John declared that someone mightier than he was to follow him, someone who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. Someone whose winnowing fork was in His hand, who would clear His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn, and who would burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. Did they have any clue that they were chaff? Did they have any clue about who this person would be? Did they understand their need for repentance?

The day had arrived. Jesus came to the Jordan to be baptized. John knew he was not worthy to baptize Him, but instead he needed to be baptized by Jesus. Jesus told him that all must be done to fulfill Scripture and all righteousness. So the baptism was a-go. When Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened, and the Spirit descended like a dove, and the voice of God was heard to say, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. It is so significant that God's voice and His face were not turned away from Jesus but toward Him in loving confirmation. However, one day it would be the reverse. God would turn away from Jesus, not because of who Jesus was or what He had done, but because of all our sin. We separated God and Jesus because of the heinousness of our sin. So that we might be saved, Jesus willingly took our sin and the penalty that went with it. What a glorious gift and at what amazing sacrifice! How blessed we are by a God who loved us so much! 

Father,

Thank You for sending Your Son, the Son that You loved so much. Thank You for providing a way for my salvation even though the cost was so great. You spared no expense even to the loss of Your beloved Son. Help me to be truly repentant at all times, to be unreservedly obedient, and to be eagerly waiting for the return of Jesus. 

In the name of the well-pleasing Son,

Amen