Last week we were thinking about the hidden years of Jesus \u2013\nfrom his birth to being aged 30. This week we pick up the story as Jesus comes\nfully onto the scene, at his baptism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by\nJohn. But John tried to deter him, saying, \u2018I need to be baptised by you,\nand do you come to me?\u2019<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus replied, <\/em>\u2018Let it be so now. <\/em>For in this way we shall do all that\nGod requires.<\/em>\u2019<\/em> Then John consented.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At\nthat moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a\ndove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, \u2018This is my Son,\nwho I love; I delight in him.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a very striking moment \u2013 Jesus joining the crowds who\nare coming down to the river to be baptised by John. John recognises him and\ntries to stop him \u2013 but Jesus insists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why does he insist? He doesn\u2019t need to repent \u2013 to turn\naround \u2013 to make a new start in the way that everyone else does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But this is a new start for him \u2013 the start of him stepping\nout into a new role \u2013 speaking the message which he has been holding inside\nhimself for so many years \u2013 acting out in his life his radical words about\nGod\u2019s inclusive, transforming love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is something about acceptance and submission in Jesus\nbeing baptised \u2013 \u2018let it be so\u2019 he says. His starting place is the same as the\nending place will be \u2013 \u2018not my will but yours be done.\u2019 He gives himself fully\nto all that the Father has for him to do \u2013whatever the cost will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is something about solidarity too. Jesus comes to John\nas part of flow of people surging out to see him. He identifies himself with\nall those who are looking for a new start. He enters as fully into our humanity\nas he enters into the water \u2013 he is one with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then there are the words. As Jesus comes up out of the\nwater and experiences the Spirit coming down on him, this message comes from\nGod: \u2018This is my Son, who I love. I delight in him.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the real starting place for all that Jesus goes on to\ndo. He knows that he is loved. His Father delights in him. God\u2019s gifts to him\nat the beginning of his ministry are his Spirit \u2013 his presence within \u2013 and this\nassurance of love. Not power, or wisdom, or authority \u2013 love. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is because Jesus knows that he is loved that he is able to\nfollow his own path and speak his own truth even when others do not understand.\nHe has no need to find favour or impress people \u2013 and he has overflowing love\nto share with those around him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether or not we have been baptised, I believe that God says\nthe same words to us as he said to Jesus. He says to each of us: \u2018You are my\nchild who I love. I delight in you\u2019. I\u2019ve been beginning my prayer times for\nthe last 6 months by reminding myself of that truth. And I\u2019ve found that it\nmakes a difference to how I face the day \u2013 how I face meetings that seem\ndaunting, or people who may be difficult, or my own negative judgments of\nmyself. It\u2019s an important truth for us all \u2013 but it\u2019s a hard truth to really take\nin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we remember Jesus being baptised \u2013 and maybe a connection\nwith our own baptism \u2013 we can remind ourselves of those words to us. At our\nservice today I used some water to make the sign of the cross on each person\u2019s\nforehead, saying their name, and reminding them what God says to them: <\/em>You\nare my child, who I love. I delight in you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might like to do the same for yourself (with or without\nthe water) \u2013 make the sign of the cross on your forehead and hear God saying\nyour name and then saying You are my\nchild, who I love. I delight in you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Loving Father, help us to believe more and more deeply in\nyour love for us. And as we receive your love, may it transform our lives\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Loving Father, whenever we feel insecure \u2013 when we feel the\nneed to impress or we are scared of being judged \u2013 when we face the challenge\nof living out our truth in some way, help us to remember your love for us and\nyour delight in us\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Loving Father, we bring to mind those we know who have a particular\nneed to know your love, but find it hard to accept. May they begin to learn how\nmuch you love them \u2013 and may we show them something of that love\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Last week we were thinking about the hidden years of Jesus \u2013 from his birth to being aged 30. 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