At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
There are times in life when surreal things happen and you just can’t fully describe what it is like to be there. This year, I think of the assassination attempt on President Trump and the others who were shot. And then he stood and raised his fist in the air, with his ear bleeding.
I remember when the Cold War ended and then the Berlin Wall came down, and we were all in shock. This was surreal. And I also remember when the great earthquake of 1989 happened in the San Francisco Bay Area. I was there and it was quite a life-changing event for a week or so.
Being at Jesus’ baptism would have trumped all of these. Seeing a dove land on him and hearing God speak to his Son, the heavens being torn open… it would have probably seemed as if time and space stood still.
What is interesting to me about this event is that Jesus was obedient to God’s will to be baptized by John, even though John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance and Jesus had not sinned. This is a good model for me that obedience to God’s heart will always trump whether or not I feel like I should have to do something. For example, sometimes in hurting someone you love, you may not be technically in the wrong, but expressing remorse that they felt hurt is important. Jesus was humble. He simply obeyed. And this was to his credit.
Secondly, God honored him as his Son, who he was PLEASED WITH BEFORE he started his ministry. Then he finally paid the ultimate price on the cross. He was pleased with him for who he was in his heart, first. Then, he was also later pleased with his Godly actions.
How can I view people, more and more, through the eyes of God and see their potential and their worth as children of God?
Lord, thank you that you loved Jesus and honored him for who he was. This takes a lot of pressure off of me to perform. May I extend the grace and belief you have in me to those in my care. Help me to see them as highly valued.
Good post. There were many life changing events in Jesus life. His Birth, Baptism, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension. Can you imagine looking back how the disciples must have been amazed that they were allowed to be personal witnesses observers of the most significant events in time.