Daily Devotion for Monday, July 28 Matthew 3:13-17 Jesus is Baptized by John Pictures of Jesus being baptized by John are everywhere—in congregations, museums and cathedrals. Why is this baptism so important to us? Perhaps in this event we both identify and become one with Jesus, while also seeing him as truly God’s son. Like Jesus, we come to the waters to be baptized. Just as Jesus stands before John, we see ourselves standing at the font. Yet we also know most surely that his baptism is not like ours. We know that Jesus is no ordinary person. He is far greater. As Jesus emerges from the waters, this impression of difference is magnified. Suddenly the heavens open, the Spirit of God descends and God says from heaven, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Certainly this water mark on Jesus is different from ours. We are not God. Yet even in this most exalted moment, our identification with Jesus returns. When we are baptized, God’s Spirit descends on us and we are named “child of God.” And in our baptism, God is most certainly pleased. Devotions excerpted from “Book of Faith Lenten Journey: Water Marks” (Augsburg Fortress, 2011)
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 12:30:01 +0000
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