Read Matt 3:1–17
Mat 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. (14) John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (15) But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. (16) And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; (17) and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
John came preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He called both sinners and the religious establishment to this new rite. He warned that they should bear fruit in keeping with repentance meaning faith and good works. No longer would circumcision be enough. No longer would the temple rituals be enough. But they never were enough. Faith in God was always needed. While the establishment might not admit it, everyone was a sinner. Being baptized by John would confess that one is a sinner. Many resisted because of this.
Enter Jesus. Jesus is not a sinner. Yet Jesus seeks to be baptized into a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. John knows this. He knows he needs to be baptized by Jesus and he tries to prevent Jesus. But Jesus has come to fulfill a mission given him by his Father-to redeem mankind. Jesus is baptized by John. In doing so he is identifying himself as a sinner. Jesus has been baptized into our sin, into our death, into our hell.
This is well pleasing to the Father in heaven. It is why he sent the son, the Word of God. God loves the world and wants to save it. This is how he is doing it. As Jesus does this, the Father affirms the mission for which Jesus has been sent. He identifies Jesus as his only begotten son, his beloved Son.
The good news is what God the Father spoke to Jesus he speaks to you when you are baptized. Paul reminds us in Romans 6 that we are baptized into Christ’s crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection. In Galatians and Titus we are reminded the Father adopts us there, putting Christ’s righteousness upon us and giving us his name. We become his children in Christ as we put on Christ in baptism. As we are baptized into God’s name, the Father speaks from above to us, “This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Lord God heavenly Father, as you spoke those words, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased at Jesus’ baptism, grant us faith to believe as we are baptized into Christ you speak these words over us as well. In Jesus’ name. Amen.