During the Christmas season, the church wisely chooses to
celebrate the baptism of the Lord. It is an event that demands a little
unpacking.
On the one hand, Jesus’ baptism is puzzling. After all, he was
sinless and John’s baptism was for the repentance of sin. When Jesus shows up
at the River Jordan, John’s initial response is reasonable: “John tried to
prevent him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you … ’”
On the other hand, Jesus’ choice to submit to John’s baptism is
enlightening. While he did not need this baptism in the same way that every one
of us needs it, his choice to present himself to his cousin demonstrates that Our
Lord truly took on our human nature when he was born of Mary. In Nazareth,
Jesus did not simply appear in human form as God did in numerous ways in the
Old Testament when, for instance, he wrestled with Jacob or sat at a meal with
Abraham.
In the womb of Mary, Jesus fully embraced our human condition.
His 33-year journey on this earth would include the countless blessings of
human life, including family, friends, music, the joy of working with your
hands and the beauty of creation.
However, Our Lord also took on the more difficult elements of our
human nature including all sorts of physical suffering such as hunger from
fasting, pain at hitting his finger with a hammer and agony at being scourged.
He also knew a wide range of emotional suffering, including the death of his
friend Lazarus, the murder of his cousin John and the hatred of religious
leaders who desperately sought ways to put him to death. Of course, there was
the moral suffering that stands out; Jesus took upon his shoulders the weight
of every human sin and brought them with him to the cross.
Consequently, at his baptism, Jesus revealed that he truly became
man and embraced our human condition in every way but sin.
The Holy Trinity was also revealed in a simple and powerful way
at this event, which took place at the start of Jesus’ public ministry. The
Spirit of God descended upon him like a dove and the voice of the Father came
from the heavens, proclaiming, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well
pleased.” This warm proclamation speaks volumes about the intimacy that exists
for all eternity between God the Father and his only-begotten Son. In the end,
this manifestation of the presence of the Holy Trinity reveals that Jesus’
mission to redeem the world is not solely a work of the Son, but rather a labor
of the Holy Trinity.
What might be our response to Jesus’ baptism? I suggest three:
marvel, rejoice and go swimming. Marvel at the mystery: God chose to embrace
all that is good and all that is ugly about our human condition (without even
once giving in to sin). Rejoice in the love and generosity of God who was
willing to stoop down, be born of a virgin and truly pitch his tent among us.
Finally, dive in to the River Jordan. Take repentance seriously. Please the
Lord with your humility and genuine contrition. Make a good confession and
experience the warmth of Jesus’ healing, merciful love come down upon you like
a warm blanket on a frigid day.
Fr. Peterson is director of mission and
development for the Youth Apostles.