Baptism

Matthew 3: 13

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.

There are times in life when we want to mark something as new and life defining. A new beginning may be celebrated as the start of something that will be a hallmark on our lives. We sometimes want to symbolise the completeness of our decision of embarking on a course of action that will characterise the rest of our lives. The graduation ceremony, the wedding, the special birthday celebration and retirement are all examples of how life is punctuated and given meaning by marking occasions and identifying ourselves with something new; a new beginning. John the baptiser spent an important part of his life offering people the opportunity to mark the occasion of beginning a new way of life through offering them the opportunity to be baptised. This involved people publically identifying with an old and new way of life. They publically turned from the old way of doing things and turned to a new yet not totally unknown life to them. John baptised Jewish people who were acknowledging that they were not living out their true identity. They were not meeting their needs and the needs of their community in the way God intended. It was time to make a fresh start and turn again and be the people God created them to be. That’s why John is so surprised when Jesus comes to be baptised. John knew Jesus was the new way of life and did not need to turn from anything. But Jesus insists on being baptised; He insists in joining ordinary people like you and me in the waters of change, sorrow and repentance; He insists in the gospel the of Matthew on being a King who joins the people in their watery struggle to be part of a new Kingdom based on the love of God; in the gospel of Mark Jesus insists on being present with the people in the immersion of the deluge of change as a servant King for the people; in the gospel of Luke Jesus joins the people in the immersion act but as the representative of the possibilities of inclusion offered by unspoiled humanity; and in John’s gospel Jesus joins the people in the waters of baptism as the Creator Redeemer God and plunges Himself into the cause of establishing something new for ordinary people; eternal life. Jesus does not need to be baptised; but we need Him to be baptised. He plunges into a symbolic death and rises again with the seal of approval from both the God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus baptism announces the solidarity of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit with us in our turning to Him in order to receive New Life. The water baptism of Jesus is followed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the approval of God the Father and this signifies what Jesus will carry on and complete through His baptism on the cross and in His resurrection life. Jesus identified with us in His baptism; have we identified with Him? Anybody for baptism?