Mark 1:4-11—Sunday’s Gospel reading is St. Mark’s account of the
baptism of our Lord. In Jesus’ baptism, God the Father proclaimed Jesus His
Son, whom He loves.
In His baptism, our sins are washed onto Jesus, and
the baptismal waters sanctified, that they might wash our sins off us. We, too,
are beloved of God. The day of our Baptism is one of the greatest days in our
lives, when our old man was drowned in those sacred waters, and our new selves,
righteous and holy, were brought forth to “live before God in righteousness and
purity forever.”
The Father declares that Jesus is His Son. Here Jesus receives the knowledge of His identity, His self-understanding, and of His mission in life as the Messiah. Wasn’t Jesus God’s Son prior to His baptism or does this mean that this is the first time Jesus came to a realization of who He was? It is important to note that we only know who we are and what we are to do in relation to the Father. When we know whose we are, we know who we are. Baptism for us is the time of adoption as children of God. By His grace we are accepted as children of His kingdom. Baptism is the initiation and incorporation into the body of Christ.
Almighty God,
You have poured into our hearts the true Light of Your incarnate Word. Grant
that this Light may shine forth in our lives; through the same Jesus Christ,
Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and forever. Amen.[1]
[1] Collect for the season of Epiphany, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St., Louis
The Baptism of Jesus copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
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