John 1:30-31
Stop.
Get a drink of water. Take a few minutes to drink it slowly. As you drink, reflect on water as a gift of life. Let it remind you of God’s promises for life in baptism.
Listen.
[John said] “This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” – John 1:30-31
Reflect.
This coming Sunday is Baptism of our Lord Sunday. On this day, the church remembers and celebrates that Jesus Christ was baptized. In this event, we also rejoice in the gift of our own baptisms. We get to talk about what baptism is, how it welcomes us into the life of faith, how it unites us with all God’s people, and how God’s promises for life are fulfilled for us.
Every gospel has some account of Jesus’ baptism. We will read from the gospel of John through Easter this year, and admittedly, John’s gospel recounts the event a little differently from any of the other gospels. Most remarkably, John doesn’t actually describe the event – he only has John the Baptist reference the event. He doesn’t even name himself as the one who baptizes. For John, Jesus’ baptism is so special and holy that he doesn’t want anyone to be able to take credit for it.
In a way, this is much like a Lutheran theology of baptism. We believe that God alone acts in baptism. We don’t choose it – we can’t choose it. We don’t get to take credit for the work of faith that enters our lives through the sacrament. Instead, we celebrate that God reveals Jesus to us regardless of our will, interest, or even our worthiness. Baptism comes to us as all gift.
In our own baptisms, we come to know Jesus. We rejoice in the gift of baptism, the gift of Jesus, the gift of life.
Pray.
God, I thank you for the gift of baptism. I praise you that you offer us this promise no matter what we do or how we feel. Let its promises refresh me today as I continue to experience Jesus’ love and grace. Amen.
Carry On.
Were you baptized? What do you know about your baptismal day? Look for pictures, stories, or memories of your baptism from friends and family who might have been there.