Jesus’ Baptism and Ours

The baptism of Jesus is recorded in some way, shape, or form in all four Gospels. Each evangelist emphasizes a specific aspect of Jesus’ baptism. Matthew looks at the whole ministry of Jesus through Mosaic lenses primarily and puts the baptism of Jesus in a flow of events that recalls the Exodus from Egypt. (There are resonances of this in Mark and Luke as well, but the Mosaic themes stand out in Matthew.) Mark focuses on Jesus as a new David and situates the telling of the story of his baptism in Davidic terms. Luke widens the scope out to the entire world and, with the genealogy of Jesus placed in conjunction with his baptism, homes in Jesus as the new and last Adam.

Luke’s primary concern, it seems, is to put to the forefront how Jesus is anointed to replace all of the old-world, first-Adam rulers he mentions at the beginning of chapter 3. In Christ God is making a new creation, and Jesus’ baptism is integral to that work. Through God’s actions at the baptism of Jesus, we see and hear the patterns clearly established in Genesis 1: the Spirit proceeds out of heaven and God speaks. In the beginning, we saw a formless and empty mass of water hanging in nothingness be shaped and filled. Here we see Jesus, the new creation; the one in whom all things consist. He is the new and last Adam who is appointed to have dominion over the creation by the blessing of being fruitful and multiplying with his bride.

The baptism of Jesus’ isn’t a theological and/or historical curiosity to us. Jesus is not only baptized here and at the cross on our behalf but what happens at Jesus’ baptism becomes the pattern for everyone who is baptized into him. That is, we share in Jesus’ baptism. Though we don’t see the firmament-heaven open, see the Spirit descending in bodily form, and hear words spoken directly from heaven, the same things happen every time someone is baptized into Christ. God did this with Jesus so that we will know what he does for us when we are baptized into Christ.

There are at least seven truths in the baptism of Christ that we should acknowledge happens in our baptism.

1. Baptism is a Trinitarian event.

We are baptized into Christ, anointed by the Spirit, and the Father declares that we are his children. Being united to Christ, we share in his relationship with the Father and. Spirit. We become a part of the divine community

2. Baptism gives access to heaven.

When Jesus was baptized the heavens were opened. In our baptism into Christ, we are given this same heavenly access because what belongs to him belongs to us. When heaven opens, because we are baptized into Christ, the Father sees us in Christ and doesn’t respond in wrath. Our access is not to the types and shadows of the heavenly sanctuary that our fathers had in the Temple. Our access is to the reality of heaven itself. Here we sit in the Divine Council and eat and drink with God.

3. In baptism we receive the Spirit.

As Jesus received the Spirit, so now being in union with Christ we receive the Spirit. When Jesus shared his baptism with his body, the church, on the Day of Pentecost, the Spirit was poured out on the church. The Spirit descends from heaven and unites us with heaven. We become the place in the Spirit where heaven and earth unite.

4. Baptism is a declaration of sonship.

When the firmament opens and the Father speaks, he declares that we are his children with whom he is well-pleased; he declares that he delights in us. United with him we are loved and delighted in by the Father just as Jesus himself is loved and delighted in.

What a comfort in time of temptation! When our status is challenged by Satan as he did with Jesus in the wilderness—”if you are the Son of God”—our recourse is to what God said about us in our baptism. “I am a son of God because God himself has declared it about me!” We look to God’s declaration about us in water and not to our personal feelings of worth and acceptance.

5. Baptism is the declaration of God about us, not our declaration about God.

God is doing the speaking in baptism and we are to listen. The meaning of baptism depends solely upon what God says and not our thoughts or feelings about it. Whatever God says about us is true. God is the One speaking. You listen, receive his word, and respond in faith.

6. Baptism is an act of new creation.

You are not the same after baptism. In his own body, Jesus makes a new creation, and in that a new humanity. His church is this new humanity. To be incorporated into this new humanity is to be a part of the new creation. God gives you a new identity in baptism. You are a new person. You are delivered.

7. Baptism is a calling to mission.

To be declared all of these things by God is a tremendous privilege. But to be sons of God is not only a privilege but a responsibility, a mission, a vocation. To be a “son of God” is to be God’s mission in, to, and for the world. We live as a part of God’s family and new humanity to bring the entirety of creation into conformity with the life of God himself so that his will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

In the baptism of Jesus God announces that he is re-creating the world. In your baptism into Christ, he is.