The public ministry of Jesus begins; Jesus comes to the Jordan to be baptised by John. As John baptises him, Jesus receives the energising power of the Holy Spirit, and the Father in heaven affirms him as his son. A fact that Luke then proves with a family tree; Jesus is not only a Jew and a descendent of David – and so part of the genuinely royal family – but ultimately the son of God. Through him, the hopes of Israel and of creation will be realised.
• Can you hear the voice of God the Father affirming you today?
• Are you open to receiving the energising power of the Holy Spirit?
• What is it that Jesus is being prepared for?
• What is God preparing you for?
Jesus was fully God, but also fully human, and he needed to hear His Father's affirmation, and receive the power of the Holy Spirit for his mission ahead. In exactly the same way we need to hear the Father's affirmation 'You are my son/daughter and I delight in you', and we need to receive the Spirit's power to be effective followers of Jesus.
ReplyDeleteIn the baptism, we see the dance of love of the Trinity - Father, Son and Spirit. Perhaps the affirmation of his place of love is what enabled the Son to step down and be a servant. Nothing to prove, because he is secure, so he can empty himself for others.
ReplyDeleteThat has to be right. For only when we know deep in our hearts that we are God's children - that our identity, significance, approval, meaning, purpose, value and self-worth can be found only in what God in Jesus Christ can give -will we be secure enough to live truly for the sake of the other and not for ourselves.
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