#DailyDevotion Jesus Being Baptized Is Outlandish

Lent Day 7

Mark 1: 9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.”

 

Jesus was baptized? Why that is one of the most outlandish things ever. Why is that? Because baptism, as used by the Jews in Jesus’ day, was normally something done to bring
Gentiles into the Jewish faith.  Jesus was already Jewish. But John was baptizing Jews. This is true, which is why it was outlandish to the Jewish leaders that John calls to repentance and baptism. Indeed Jesus was baptized into John’s baptism, a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. That’s really crazy. Why? Well we know Jesus had never sinned. He is God in the flesh, perfect and holy. He has nothing to repent of and has no sin.

 

So what is going on here? Well what happens when we are baptized? Our sins are washed away. We are justified by God freely by his grace. We are identified with Jesus for we are joined with him and made one with him.

 

So what happened to Jesus? Well just the opposite. He is identified with us sinner and made one with us. He is joined to us. Jesus is pronounced guilty and our sins are washed over him. Like the scapegoats in the Mosaic Law, our sins, the sins of the world are laid upon him that he may become the sacrifice, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, your sin.

 

So when the Father speaks from heaven, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” it is because Jesus has voluntarily taken on the task of redeeming us, ransoming us and being the atoning sacrifice for fallen humanity. Now when we are baptized into Christ, the Father speaks these words to us. We have been joined to Christ and his work is applied to us. His righteousness is now ours and he gives us the Holy Spirit.

 

Gracious Father, at the baptism of Jesus you made him one with us in our sin, may we, when we are baptized into Christ grant us faith that we are made one with him and his righteousness that our consciences are cleansed and we may serve you with new spirit. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.