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13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, 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, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:13-17 NIV)
I find it difficult to list a date of when I started my "public ministry." I taught Sunday school, even volunteered to be our church's youth director for free, but I can't pinpoint a date. I was hired by a large Houston church after completing my first year of seminary and I was being paid, so I could say I was a professional. And on June 13, 1976 I was ordained a Deacon in the United Methodist Church as was the custom in those days of two ordinations, first as Deacon, then as Elder. That event took place on the campus of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, where our annual conference was held that year. I drove home and sat on the sofa to rest and my youngest sister sat across from me and stared at me. "Why are you staring at me?" I asked. "Well, you're a minister now and I wanted to see how different you are." I laughed and said, "I am still the same person I was before I was ordained. Do you want me to hit you?" She laughed and said no thanks.
The Baptism of the Lord, which most churches will celebrate this coming Sunday, marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, and Matthew's account reveals a moment of profound theological significance. "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John." This is stunning in itself—Jesus travels from Galilee to the wilderness, from His home to the river, to submit to John's baptism of repentance. Why would the sinless Son of God seek a baptism designed for sinners? Baptism was not a ritual for Jews; it was reserved for Gentiles (nonJews) who wanted to become Jews, but John knew repentance was needed by everyohe and so offered it to all who would listen and present themselves for baptism. "But John tried to deter him, saying, 'I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?'" John recognizes the incongruity. He's been baptizing repentant sinners, calling them to confess their sins and prepare for the kingdom. But this is different. John knows who Jesus is—the Lamb of God, the Messiah, the one infinitely greater. John needs what Jesus offers; Jesus doesn't need what John offers. Yet Jesus insists: "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Jesus doesn't explain in detail, but the meaning is clear: His baptism isn't about His need for repentance but about His identification with sinners. From the very beginning of His ministry, Jesus positions Himself in solidarity with those He came to save. He stands in the river with tax collectors and prostitutes, submitting to the same baptism they receive, identifying fully with humanity in our need for cleansing even though He Himself needs no cleansing. This is the pattern of the incarnation—God becoming one of us, not just observing our condition but entering into it, not standing apart in holy separation but standing alongside us in redemptive identification.
When Jesus is baptized, heaven itself responds: "As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him." Notice the sequence—Jesus comes up from the water, and immediately heaven is "opened" or "torn open" (the Greek suggests violent rending, as if the barrier between heaven and earth is being ripped apart). The Spirit descends in visible form "like a dove"—gentle, peaceful, settling upon Jesus and remaining there. This is the anointing of the Messiah, the empowering for ministry, the visible demonstration that Jesus possesses the fullness of the Spirit. Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would have the Spirit of the Lord resting upon Him (Isaiah 11:2, 61:1), and here that prophecy is fulfilled. The dove-like descent suggests peace, purity, and the new creation (recalling Noah's dove bringing news that the flood waters had receded and new life was emerging). At this moment by the Jordan, God is inaugurating new creation through His anointed Son empowered by the Spirit. The Baptism of the Lord reveals the Trinity in action—the Son being baptized, the Spirit descending, the Father speaking. This is one of Scripture's clearest glimpses of the three persons of the Godhead working in perfect unity for our redemption.
Then comes the Father's declaration: "And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'" The voice from heaven is unprecedented—God Himself speaking audibly, publicly affirming His Son. "This is my Son"—declaring Jesus' unique identity and relationship to the Father. Not "a son" among many, but "my Son," the beloved, the only begotten. "Whom I love"—the Greek word agapētos means "beloved," the object of special affection, the one treasured above all others. This is relational language expressing the eternal love between Father and Son. "With him I am well pleased"—complete satisfaction, total delight, perfect approval. Notice the timing: this declaration comes before Jesus has preached a sermon, performed a miracle, or accomplished any public ministry. The Father's pleasure isn't based on Jesus' achievements but on who He is—the beloved Son. This is crucial for us. God's approval of Jesus at His baptism isn't contingent on what Jesus will do but on the relationship they share. Similarly, our identity as God's beloved children isn't earned through performance but received through Christ. In baptism, we're united to Christ, and the Father's declaration over Jesus becomes true for us: we are beloved, we are His children, He is pleased with us—not because of what we've accomplished but because of what Christ has accomplished for us.
The Baptism of the Lord teaches several vital truths. First, Jesus fully identifies with sinners even though He has no sin of His own. He doesn't minister from a safe distance but enters completely into our human experience, including our need for cleansing and renewal. Second, Jesus begins His ministry empowered by the Spirit. He doesn't rely on His own divine nature alone but submits to the Father's will and operates in the Spirit's power—the same Spirit available to us. Third, Jesus is the beloved Son in whom the Father is well pleased, and through baptism into Christ, we share that identity. We are beloved children, recipients of the Father's approval, objects of His delight—not because we've earned it but because we're in Christ. Fourth, the Trinity works together for our salvation. The Father sends, the Son obeys, the Spirit empowers. Our redemption isn't the work of one person of the Godhead but the unified action of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. On this Baptism of the Lord Sunday, we remember that Jesus' baptism inaugurated His saving mission, and our baptism unites us to Him in that mission, making us beloved children empowered by the same Spirit to live as Jesus lived—in obedience to the Father, in solidarity with sinners, and in the power of the Spirit.
PRAYER: Father, thank You for sending Your beloved Son to identify fully with sinners, to be baptized in solidarity with us, and to inaugurate His ministry empowered by Your Spirit; help us remember that through baptism into Christ, we too are Your beloved children in whom You are well pleased, not because of our achievements but because of our union with Jesus; empower us by the same Spirit to live as Jesus lived, in Your holy name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: This Baptism of the Lord Sunday, reflect on your own baptism (or consider being baptized if you haven't been), remembering that through union with Christ, the Father's words over Jesus—"This is my beloved child, in whom I am well pleased"—are spoken over you, and let that identity shape how you live this week.
I love you and I thank God for you. You. matter to God and you matter to me. Make being a better servant your number one resolution for 2026!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
