The baptism of Jesus was a major turning point in his life. When Peter suggests criteria for someone to replace Judas in the college of apostles he says the candidates must be those who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism (Acts 1:21-22). All four of the gospel writers talk about the baptism but each interprets it slightly differently. St. Mark, for example, sees the baptism as God’s affirmation of Jesus which empowers him to begin his ministry. The heavenly voice addresses Jesus directly. “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” What is fascinating about the passage is that Jesus hadn’t done anything yet. God is well pleased with him just because of who he was, not because of his actions. That is our story as well. God is well pleased with us just as we are. We don’t need to do anything to get, deserve, earn, merit God’s favor. God loves us first, before we do anything. That is truly good news.
