15. The Baptism of Jesus (Mt 3:3-17; Mk 1:9-11; Lk 3:21-22; Jn 1:29-34)

Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. But John questioned him: “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”

But Jesus, answered, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” 

Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water, and the heavens opened before him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. A voice out of the heavens said, “You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased.”

The next day, John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is above me, for he was before me.’ I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.” John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him. I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending and remaining, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

Reflections

Jesus was both known and unknown to John. As a relative, John would have known Jesus to be a righteous man, not one who needed to be baptized to signify the forgiveness of his sins. What John had not known before, though, was that Jesus was far more than just a good man. At his baptism, Jesus was touched by God’s Spirit and affirmed in God’s love. Have you been baptized? Did you experience the presence of God’s Spirit and the depth of God’s love? 

Prayer: Help me never imagine, Lord, that I could truly help others without both your Spirit and your love in my life. 

14. The Message of John the Baptist (Mt 3:7-12; Mk 1:7-8; Lk 3:7-18; Jn 1:24-28)

When he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Produce fruit worthy of repentance! Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.” 

The multitudes asked him, “What then must we do?”

He answered them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.”

Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?”

He said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed to you.”

Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?”

He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.”

As everyone was excited, and wondered whether John was the Messiah, he answered them, “I indeed baptize you with water, but one comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. His fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people, 

Reflections

Repentance is not about feeling sorry, but about changing direction. John didn’t tell people to get ready for what God was about to do by becoming more religious; his message was extremely practical: live with honor and integrity; act with compassion and generosity. Many today think our country is headed in the wrong direction. Do you think a message like John's could get us back on track? Is your life on the right path?

Prayer: Turn me around, Lord, when the direction I’m headed isn’t good for me or anyone else.