At the start of the Gospel, John the Baptist sees himself as unworthy to untie the Messiah’s sandals. The Messiah is “one more powerful” and will baptize “with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Lk 3:16).”
In three steps, Jesus’ baptism reveals what it means to be a beloved child of God because He is the Beloved Son. The first is that Jesus is baptized and prays (Lk 3:21). Jesus’ baptism is different from the others baptized by John. Those baptized by John need to be cleansed of their sins (Lk 3:3). Jesus does not. Rather, Jesus enters the waters of the Jordan to “take away the sins of the world” by drawing them unto Himself. Jesus consecrates Himself to the Father’s will. He accepts the cross because “the wages of sin is death (Rm 6:23).” Here, we see Jesus putting His prayer and intimacy with the Father into action.
The second part is the Holy Spirit descends on Jesus in the form of a dove. This parallels Noah sending the dove from the ark after the Great Flood (Gen 8:11). In both the flood and baptism, God renews with water. Noah’s dove returns with an olive branch – a symbol of peace. Likewise, the Holy Spirit, taking on the “bodily form of a dove,” descends on Jesus with “the peace of God which surpasses all understanding (Ph 4:7).” Death makes anyone anxious (cf Lk 22:43-44). In this case, the Father sends the Holy Spirit, bringing Jesus the peace needed to drink the cup of suffering.
The third part is the Father speaking to the Son: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased (Lk 3:22).” Here at the baptism, we hear the Father’s eternal love for the Son. Who could not be encouraged by the Father’s words? Upon hearing the Father’s love, the Son sets off and begins to claim “the victory of justice (Is 42:6)” for the Father: a justice that Jesus takes upon Himself on Good Friday, and a victory revealed at Easter.
For us baptized in Christ Jesus, we are called first to accept the Father’s love in Jesus Christ, and second to proclaim “Jesus Christ is Lord (Ph 2:11).” But the Father’s love demands everything of us. Love demands we follow Christ by embracing our cross in the certain hope of receiving the glorious crown of life. Hans Urs von Balthasar says faith, which produces love, demands moving from loving God by gazing at his face to loving God by obeying His will in the world – from adoration to obedience.
But Jesus does not abandon us (cf Lk 24:49). He sends the Holy Spirit to “enkindle in us the fire of [His] love.” The Holy Spirit gives us the peace and boldness to go out and proclaim the Gospel both in word and deed. Let us live as a beloved child of God following the steps of the Beloved Son.
Joseph Yuson – St. Joseph Seminary, Edmonton, Alberta
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