The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God's Spirit — it looked like a dove — descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: "This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life."
This moment is one of incredible holiness and transcendence. The Father looks down and delights in the Son. The Spirit descends from the Father to rest on and in the Son (
Luke 4:1). The Father's words are crucial for Jesus as he prepares to battle the evil one in
the wilderness as he is tempted after fasting for 40 days (Matthew 4:1-11). As incredible as Jesus' baptism is, we also share in this moment
of God's assurance at our baptism. We are baptized in the name and by the authority of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (
Matthew 28:19-20) and receive the Spirit to live in us (
Acts 2:38-39).
We also share with the Son in his death, burial, and resurrection for us (
Romans 6:3-6). The Holy Spirit works the miraculous in us (
1 Corinthians 6:11) as we are reborn (
John 3:3-7) by our faith in God, who raised Jesus from the dead (
Colossians 2:12;
Titus 3:3-7). We are born from above through the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit (
John 1:12;
John 3:3-6). By faith, we also know just what God thinks about us:
We are his children, chosen and marked by his love, the delight of his life!
O Father, thank you! Thank you for the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. I believe he died for my sins and was raised so I could be made perfect and righteous in your sight. Thank you for the cleansing and transforming work of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for the example of Jesus, who though perfect and not in need of repentance or baptism, was baptized anyway to fulfill all righteousness. And thank you, dear Father, for your words to Jesus when he was baptized. Through them, I know that my baptism brought you joy and delight. I thank you for these gifts, in Jesus' name. Amen.
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