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Weekly Devotional

January 9, 2012

God’s Peace be with you all.

John 1:28-34  ²⁸ This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.  ²⁹ The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  ³⁰ This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'  ³¹ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel."  ³² And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.  ³³ I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'  ³⁴ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God."

Luke 3:21-23   ²¹ Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened,  ²² and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."  ²³ Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his work.

Matthew 3:13-17  ¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, 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 it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.  ¹⁶ And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.  ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."

Yesterday we heard of the Markan account of Jesus’ baptism.  Above are the accounts as mentioned in the other three Gospels.  As Pr. Amundson mentioned yesterday, perhaps the important message is not all the details (or lack thereof), but instead of the actual event itself.  You will notice several things in each account that are similar, but I hope you also notice some differences.  Those differences are also an important part of the story, because we now have a perspective from 4 different people, instead of 1 or 2.  The different perspectives help us to shape our faith around the issue at hand, which is the Son of God being baptized and starting his ministry.

The baptism for Jesus lays part of the foundation on which Christianity is built.  Baptism for us is a sacrament, a promise from God that comes to us in, through, and under and earthly element.  In the case of baptism, that element in water.  We baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as Jesus taught the disciples (Matthew 28:19   ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit).  We bring our children to the font because our faith tells us to.  Afterall, who are we to hold our children away from God’s free grace that is for everyone?  I hope this week you can reflect on your own baptisms some, and remember, in the words of Martin Luther, “Every time you wash your face, remember your baptism.”

In our prayers this week: Ann, Daniel, David, Scott S., and Mike C.

On a personal note, thanks to everyone who made yesterday so wonderful.  Carrie and I continue to be blessed by each of you.

God’s Peace,