Matthew 3:15-17

“And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’” vs. 17

Jesus’ baptism was likely quite routine. We don’t know John’s method but it was likely full immersion. That was the tradition in Judaism, and many homes would have had a mikvah or bathtub for use in purification rituals. Since John wouldn’t have had a mikvah handy, he likely just used a pool in the river. But what happened after the baptism wasn’t at all what Jesus anticipated. He had a full-blown encounter with the Spirit of God and even heard a voice affirming him as God’s beloved Son. That experience changed the trajectory of his life in a big way–in fact it changed the course of human history. From that point on Jesus believed that he had received the stamp of God’s approval, and that he had a divine mission, though he didn’t quite know what that might be. In our experience baptism has taken on a different meaning. Only occasionally does it involve a life-changing encounter with the Divine. For many it’s a ritual that comes so early in our lives that no memory remains. But that doesn’t mean that it’s meaningless! On the contrary it’s the most powerful celebration of God’s love and grace we will ever experience. In the waters of baptism we are named and claimed as God’s own children, and its cleansing power is forever.

Thought for the Day: How do I remember my baptism?