The Baptism of Jesus
Prayer for Understanding
Holy Spirit, You blessed Jesus in His baptism, proclaiming Him beloved of God. As we give our attention to God’s holy Word, descend upon us, we pray. Speak to us of God’s love for us and renew our faith and commitment to follow Jesus, God’s Living Word. Amen
Let’s begin with something fun today.
We’re going to watch a short YouTube video.
It will give you a simple task—just follow the instructions. Ready? Let’s see how closely you pay attention!
This is the famous Invisible Gorilla Experiment.
Back in 1999, psychologists Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons revealed something fascinating - when we’re deeply focused on one thing, we can completely miss something else, even if it’s right in front of us.
A person in a gorilla suit walks through the scene, but many people are so focused on counting basketball passes, they don’t even notice it.
This same phenomenon—missing the bigger picture—happened by the Jordan River 2,000 years ago.
Crowds of people were flocking to hear John the Baptist preach.
They listened, they watched, and they were captivated by John’s fiery words and unusual lifestyle.
But in their focus on John, they missed something far more significant happening that day.
John was calling people to repentance, challenging them to turn from sin and live lives that reflected real change.
When they stepped into the waters of baptism, they likely felt the excitement and hope of starting fresh.
But what they didn’t realize was that this moment was bigger than a ritual. God’s bold and beautiful plans were unfolding right in front of them.
You see, John was not the main event. He was the opening act.
The crowds were wondering if he might be the Christ, the long-awaited Savior. But John made it clear: he wasn’t the one.
His mission was to point everyone toward Jesus—the true Messiah.
He said, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals.”
Now, think about this for a moment.
In those days, people walked dusty, dirty paths in sandals.
Touching someone’s feet was considered one of the most humbling tasks—reserved for the lowest servant.
Yet John said he wasn’t even worthy to do that for the Messiah.
This humility echoes Jesus’ ministry later when, at the Last Supper, He washed His disciples’ feet to show them what true servant-hearted love looks like. John took it a step further, saying, “I’m not even qualified to untie His sandals.”
Then, one day, Jesus arrived.
Quietly, He joined the line of people waiting to be baptized by John. Imagine the scene: the Son of God standing among sinners, waiting His turn.
Have you ever paused to wonder why?
Why would God’s perfect Son step forward to receive a baptism of repentance?
I once heard a preacher jokingly imagine Mary and Elizabeth chatting about their sons.
Mary might have asked, “So, how’s John doing?”
Elizabeth could’ve sighed and said, “Odd. Very odd.”
Then Elizabeth might’ve asked, “And how’s Jesus?”
Mary’s response? “Perfect. Just perfect.”
It’s a funny thought, but it highlights something profound.
Jesus was fully God, but also fully human.
He entered our world and shared in our experience.
He felt hunger, thirst, fatigue, and sorrow—just like we do.
Yet Scripture reminds us of this crucial truth: He was without sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “He had no sin,” and
1 Peter 2:22 tells us, “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”
So, if Jesus had no sin to repent of, why was He baptized?
This question has intrigued Christians for centuries.
The Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—all tell us about Jesus’ baptism, but they don’t stop there.
They invite us to see this moment in the context of God’s bigger story — a story of humility, obedience, and identification with humanity.
There are several reasons why it was fitting for John to baptize Jesus before the beginning of His public ministry.
First, the Gospels place Jesus’ baptism within God’s redemptive plan, which has been unfolding throughout history.
Jesus didn’t need to be baptized—He had no sin to repent.
But by stepping into the waters, He demonstrated perfect obedience to the Father — a declaration that He was fully aligned with the Father’s mission to save humanity.
His actions remind us that obedience to God often goes beyond our understanding or personal logic.
Think about this in your own life.
Have you ever faced a moment where God’s plan didn’t make sense, especially in challenging circumstances?
Jesus shows us that trusting God’s will, even when it’s hard, isn’t about diminishing ourselves but about joyfully taking our place in His greater plan.
God’s will is always good, even when it stretches us.
Jesus’ baptism also served as an affirmation of John’s ministry.
By coming to John, Jesus publicly showed His approval of John’s baptism and declared it to be from heaven.
This was especially important because John’s authority would later be questioned, particularly after his arrest by Herod.
John’s role was to prepare the way for Jesus, to make straight paths for the Messiah.
By being baptized by John, Jesus was saying, “Yes, this is the one who has been sent to prepare the way.”
It was a public recognition that John was the voice crying out in the wilderness—the forerunner of Christ.
Most importantly, this moment marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.
For 30 years, He lived a quiet life in Nazareth as the son of Mary and Joseph.
Now, through this solemn and significant act, He was stepping into His role as the Son of God.
It was His inauguration, His commission, His anointing.
After Jesus was baptized and as He prayed, something extraordinary happened: heaven was opened.
The Spirit of God descended on Him like a dove and rested on Him.
In the Old Testament, the dove symbolized peace, reconciliation, and hope.
Remember Noah? After the flood, the dove returned with an olive leaf, signaling that the waters had receded and that new possibilities were ahead.
And then a voice from heaven declared, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you, I am well pleased.”
Imagine that moment! God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit were all present.
The heavens opened, and God came down to us as the Triune God to mark the beginning of Christ’s ministry on earth.
On that day at the Jordan River, the crowds were buzzing with expectation.
They were captivated by John the Baptist, wondering if he might be the long-awaited Messiah.
But their eyes, ears, and minds were so focused on the one point that they missed the one he was pointing to.
Heaven opened, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, and Sovereign God declared His love and delight in His Son, affirming publicly Jesus’ identity and mission.
It was a moment of divine revelation!
Yet the crowds didn’t grasp it.
Their attention was still fixed on the herald, the rituals, or their own lives.
They didn’t recognize Jesus, the true Messiah.
Tragically, many in that same crowd would later be among those who mocked, ridiculed, and shouted, “Crucify Him!”
How could they have missed Him?
So here’s the question I want to leave with you today: Who is Jesus to you?
Is He just a great teacher or a moral example?
A miracle worker?
Is He someone you admire from a distance?
Or is He the Lord of your life — the one who transforms you into a new creation?
During this Epiphany season, don’t be like the crowds who were too distracted to see the main character—the Son of God standing right in front of them.
It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of life, even in church activities and good works, and miss the Lord Himself.
Pay attention to Jesus.
Pay attention to the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life.
See Jesus for who He truly is — the Savior who humbled Himself, obeyed the Father’s will and stepped into the waters of baptism to identify with us.
As we reflect on Jesus’ baptism, we are reminded of His perfect obedience, humility, and trust in the Father’s plan.
Let this inspire us to live the same way—pursuing lives that honor God, striving to fulfill all righteousness, and walking daily in step with Him.
Heaven has been opened, and God has come down to us.
Don’t miss Him.
See Him for who He is: your Savior, your Redeemer, your Lord.
He’s here, inviting you into a life of purpose, hope, and transformation. How will you respond?
Let Him transform your life today.
Let us pray.
Loving God,
In this Epiphany season, we thank You for Your Word that inspires and awakens us.
Help us keep our hearts open to Jesus, following His example of humility, obedience, and trust in Your perfect plan.
May we never miss the opportunities to see Him at work in our lives and in the world around us.
Let the light of epiphany shine upon us, revealing Your presence in the most unexpected moments of our lives.
In the Savior’s name, we pray. Amen.