Isaiah 42:1-9; Matthew 3:13-17; Acts 10:34-34
When I was reading today’s Gospel, I concluded that sometimes scholars ask what they believe are important questions and by doing so, they complicate everything. Matthew 3:13-17 is a good example, the first question they ask is, “Why was Jesus baptized by John?” and, since John’s baptism was for repentance, the next question is, did Jesus have something to repent of? Did he have sins to confess? And little by little more and more similar questions are being asked. And little by little things get complicated.
For me, the question should not be why was Jesus baptized? But what can we learn from Jesus’ baptism? Let us remember that Jesus’s baptism inaugurated his public ministry, and according to Luke’s narrative, Jesus was baptized, “When all the people were being baptized,” he did not have a special ceremony just for Him, neither John had a special time set for Jesus. Our Lord was there surrounded by ordinary people and by being baptized together with the ordinary people, he made himself one with them; he identified with their faults and failures, with their pains and problems.
What can we learn from Jesus’ baptism? We can learn that he openly and decisively wanted them to know that he came to stand shoulder to shoulder with his creation, with our fears and anxieties. That he intentionally takes sides with people in their needs and says that God is in their side; that He has favored us. With his baptism, he wanted us to know that he has made himself our brother. Later, the writer of Hebrews confirms it. He says, “So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, -meaning Jesus- “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation, I will sing your praises.” Thru his baptism and his life, Jesus identified with our human experiences. The Book of Hebrews continues saying, “for we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:15–16, NIV).
We can also learn that by going into the waters with the people, Jesus declares that God’s presence is among the least, and his abundant love and mercy is available to them, because he is Emmanuel. With his baptism Jesus wanted us to know that his compassion for and in solidarity with the broken people is celebrated and confirmed by God his father. Our Gospel reading says that “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Apparently not only Jesus and John but everybody saw the dove and heard God the Father say, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
The Dove was the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus. John 1:33 says, -this is John the Baptist speaking-, “And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain, is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.”
The voice and the Dove were signs of God’s presence, of God’s approval of Jesus’ ministry. God’s approval is found in every stage of Jesus’ life. When Jesus was born; angels appeared to the shepherds saying, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” These angels were God’s messengers, and sign of God’s approval too. We can say the same about Jesus’ presentation in the temple; that presentation also had God’s approval. Do you remember Simeon and Anna telling everybody who this baby was?
Again, the same happened when He was 12, He was talking to the teachers in the temple, at the end of chapter 3, Luke says that “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.” Jesus had His Heavenly Father’s approval in every stage of His life.
Now, what God’s appearing and approval at Jesus’ baptism mean to us? It means sisters and brothers that everything Jesus did, everything He said was supported and approved by God the Father. Therefore, every promise He made is trustful; it means that we can truly say that Heaven and earth will pass away, but His words will never pass away. Therefore, we can trust Jesus because the greatest power of the universe is in Him and with him.
This approval and authority from the Father, made the difference between Jesus and those others who came calling themselves messiahs. Mark 1:28 “The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits, and they obey him.” Jesus’ teachings had authority, not only because He was a great teacher, but because he had his Father’s approval and authority; and he allowed John to baptize him for us to know that.
What else can we learn from Jesus’ baptism? We can learn that as His children we also have God’s authority, and we must too please Him with our life. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus said to his disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” The authority Jesus received from his father, he has passed on to us, to you and me, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples…. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Do you see it? Jesus’ presence gives us authority and power to do as he did and to live as he lived.
What else did Jesus try to teach us with his baptism? With his baptism Jesus set the example to all of us to live a life pleasing our God. Paul reminds us that in 1 Thessalonians 4:1, he says, “As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how-to live-in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.” we instructed you how-to live-in order to please God.
How can we please God? By living according to His word. By “Being strong and courageous. By being careful to obey God’s word and not turning from it to the right or the left” as Joshua 1:7 says.
How can we please God? Psalm 147:11 “the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” God, our God, pleases in those who trust in Him as the source of their strength and hope.
My brothers and sisters, when Jesus was baptized, He took His place among us his people, and when He was among us, He set an example for us of how to live and obey God, therefore, let us live in such a way that when God sees us, He can say once again: “You are my Son, or you are my daughter whom I love; with you, I am well pleased.” Amen.