Matthew 3:13-17 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 3:13-17 on biblegateway.com
Verse 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. Verse 14John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Verse 15But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. Verse 16And 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. Verse 17And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."
Devotion
Each Synoptic Gospel offers an account of Jesus’ baptism that is distinct. In Mark’s Gospel, for instance, the heavens are torn open, signaling God is not only on the loose, but also that the way between God and God’s people was not repairable. In Luke, the Spirit appears and settles on Jesus in bodily form. In Matthew, Jesus and John have a bit of a disagreement about the necessity of Jesus’ baptism. More telling perhaps is to whom the voice declares Jesus’ identity. In Mark and Luke, the voice declares directly to Jesus that he is, “my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” In Matthew, the voice speaks to those assembled. “This is my Son, the Beloved.” In our own baptisms, this news is public: “You are God’s Beloved One; with you I am well pleased.” This word isn’t an internal memo. It’s a public announcement, no matter what!
Prayer
Thank you for the ways you declare us to be your own, O God. Set us loose to live out this identity, each in our own way, in the world you so love. Amen.
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