THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD
This is day the LORD hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Isaiah 42:1-7
Acts 10:34-38
Matthew 3:13-17
Psalm 45:7-9
-Jesus' baptism marked the beginning of His public ministry. It
identified Him as the promised Messiah. God's Spirit descended and
empowered Him as foretold in Isaiah 42:1, "Here is My Servant I will
put My Spirit on Him as foretold."
Jesus anointing was reflected in His doing good, forgiving sins,
removing the burden of guilt, healing those oppressed by the devil. His
goodness was ultimate: by the giving of . . .
THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD
This is day the LORD hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Isaiah 42:1-7
Acts 10:34-38
Matthew 3:13-17
Psalm 45:7-9
-Jesus' baptism marked the beginning of His public ministry. It identified Him as the promised Messiah. God's Spirit descended and empowered Him as foretold in Isaiah 42:1, "Here is My Servant I will put My Spirit on Him as foretold."
Jesus anointing was reflected in His doing good, forgiving sins, removing the burden of guilt, healing those oppressed by the devil. His goodness was ultimate: by the giving of His very life on Calvary for the sin of all the world. He was the True Light, The Epiphany Morning Star, that enlightened a sin darkened world.
At our baptism we, too, were anointed with the Spirit. On our own we can do nothing. But baptized into Christ we have been reborn into the family of God. As recipients of God's forgiving grace, we have been given the promise of incorruptible resurrection and the power of His Spirit to show forth His mercy in our lives, as we reflect our love for Him who loved and gave Himself for us.
Christian friends, It is a matter of great consolation to us to know that the Triune God, and all the persons of the Godhead, has a definite share in our salvation. By His humble submission to baptism, Jesus identified Himself with sinful humanity after which He entered upon His ministry with the approval and cooperation of the Holy Spirit and the Father. LORD keep us daily in remembrance of our baptism and of Your baptismal promise that we are Your own, now and always.
The Father's voice from Heaven came down,
As Jesus was baptized in the Jordan
"This is My Beloved Son",
To all generations, God Himself had spoken.
PRAY - Father in heaven, as at the baptism in the Jordan river You once proclaimed Jesus Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit, grant that all who are baptized in His name may faithfully keep the covenant into which they have been called, boldly confess their Savior, and with Him be heirs of life eternal. Amen