The Baptism of the Lord

When we are baptized the stain of original sin is washed away, the gates of heaven are opened to us, and eternal life with God is offered to us. More importantly, we are adopted as children of God and through that adoption we inherit the royal nature of God. We become priests, prophets, and kings, and part of the Holy Family of God. This makes baptism the most important day of our lives.

This is only possible because Jesus was baptized first and in doing so he raised baptism from simply a cleansing bath that forgives sins to a sacrament that delivers both sanctifying grace, that is a grace that saves, as well as actual grace, a grace that assists us in living the divine life which we have been adopted into. We do not just receive a sacrament. Every sacrament is a profound encounter with God where we enter into a covenant with God. A covenant with God requires an oath, comes with a responsibility, and requires a sacrifice where we put our lives down as collateral on our oath. To willfully neglect the responsibilities that come with receiving a sacrament leads one into mortal sin and death.

When Jesus descended into the waters of the Jordan to be baptized by John he did not do so as to receive forgiveness for his sins as he was sinless. Instead, he opened the door for forgiveness of sin, allowing our sins to flow to him instead. He would carry these sins to the cross where we would pay the price for our sins, which is death. When we are baptized the sins of our life are given to Jesus so he can satisfy the debt they have accumulated. Washed free from this debt, we are free accept the offer of eternal life with God.

Jesus accepted the burden and punishment of our sins out of love for us. It is this sacrificial love, the love shared between the Father and the Son, that was now being shared with all humanity, that greatly pleased the Father. We are instructed by the Holy Spirit to listen to Jesus. The entirety of Jesus’s public ministry for the next three years is aimed at accomplishing only one thing – to teach us to love the way that God loves. We were created in the image and likeness of God. That image is sacrificial love. We have been given this life to reclaim that image which was veiled by the disobedience of our first parents. We have been given this life to learn to love the way that God loves.

Isaiah foretells the coming of the Lord. He spells out the mission Jesus will accomplish. He will bring liberation from slavery to all of the peoples of the earth. He will not do so as a warrior king but as a sacrifice made out of love. We see this prophesy begin to unfold with the baptism of the Lord when the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus and the glory of God shown upon him. The Holy Spirit descends upon us in our own baptisms so that we too may know the glory of God as we become members of his royal family. If we do as the Holy Spirit tells us, if we listen to what Jesus says, the Father will be well pleased with us as well.