“Now in those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River. And just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my one dear Son; in you I take great delight.” —Mark 1:9–11
Coming out of the obscure village of Nazareth, the unknown Jesus now makes His first public appearance by humbly acknowledging God through baptism though sinless. We are told in the gospel of Luke that our Lord was about thirty years old when He began to make His way known (see Luke 3:23).
All four Gospels record this significant occasion of Jesus’ entry into the public limelight. How fitting for Him to initiate His ministry with baptism, signifying His acceptance into His mission. The Gospel of Matthew records Jesus’ words regarding His purpose in baptism:
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John to be baptized by him in the Jordan River. But John tried to prevent him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?’ So Jesus replied to him, ‘Let it happen now, for it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then John yielded to him.” —Matthew 3:13–15
The sinless, pure, unspotted Savior completely fulfilled all righteousness in order to be the perfect sacrifice for you and for me. He was made sin for us on the cross so that those who would put their faith in Him would then be made righteous. We are made whole when we trust in Him. Jesus’ death satisfied the wrath of God against sin. He paid for it in full by His substitutionary death for us on the cross.
Paul tells us:
“God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.” —2 Corinthians 5:21
Isaiah had prophesized:
“He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed.” —Isaiah 53:5
In our verse for today we see all three members of the Trinity present—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is the inauguration of the work of redemption. The same three were active in the world’s creation and now all three are active in its redemption. In his wonderful book King’s Cross, Timothy Keller says:
“Mark is deliberately pointing us back to the creation, to the very beginning of history. Just as the original creation of the world was a project of the triune God, Mark says, so the redemption of the world, the rescue and renewal of all things that is beginning now with the arrival of the King, is also a project of the Triune God.”
The Trinity—one God in three persons—is mysterious and difficult for us to understand. The Godhead, who throughout all eternity, past and future, knows and loves and communes with one another. They glorify and love one another and are of one will, one heart, and one mind. They are characterized by a self-giving love, each voluntarily orbiting around the other. Their love encompasses who they are, and it flows out and through us as well. Paul tells us in Romans:
“And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” —Romans 5:5
Become More
God’s love as shown through each person in the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is not a patronizing love nor is it a love that we will be able to exhibit overnight. Biblical love is cultivated and nurtured—developed and refined as we grow up in Christ. It does not often happen miraculously and it is maintained through discipline that only is empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is the joy of life. It is experiencing life in the full.
“God’s love is always supernatural, always a miracle, always the last thing we deserve.” —Robert Horn
Further Reflection
“God loved me not because I was lovable, but because it was His nature to do so. Now He commands me to show the same love to others by saying, ‘love one another as I have loved you.’” —Oswald Chambers