Sunday 07 January 2024

Background

The English poet, Philip Larkin, wrote a poem on water, in which he said "If I were called in / To construct a religion / I should make use of water."  It is an interesting thought, given that the public ministry of Jesus was inaugurated at his baptism in water by the hand of his cousin, John. 

The other gospel writers also give accounts of the baptism of Jesus – see Matthew 3:3-17; Luke 3:21-22 and John 1:29-34. Mark and Matthew record that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee to the banks of the River Jordan where John was baptising people – it was a walk of 85 miles. The traditional site is at Al-Maghtas in the southern Jordan Valley, some six miles east of Jericho and five miles north of the Dead Sea.  

John called on people to be baptised as a sign of repentance for sin. Jesus had no need for this sign of repentance – Matthew records John as remonstrating with him, but, in his response, Jesus associated himself with the human condition. He said "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15).  

All the gospel writers note an important detail: when Jesus emerged from the water, the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove. The dove was the sign of rescue, of salvation, if you like. It was given to Noah in the Old Testament as the waters of the flood  receded, allowing the ark containing the people of God (and the animals) to come to rest on dry land ( Genesis 8:11). In the account of the dove descending on Jesus at his baptism, God is again announcing salvation to God’s people – this time through the son with whom God is well pleased.   

To Ponder:

• How are you feeling now 2023 has drawn to a close and 2024 lies before you? What is your vision of salvation/flourishing for the world?  
• What does it mean to you that Jesus underwent baptism ‘to fulfil all righteousness’? 

Prayer

Loving God, may I be encouraged by the thought that Jesus went through the waters of baptism to associate fully with me. Amen.