From The Inside Out

From the Inside Out

Mark 1:10-11, NLT

As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

Setting the Scene

How do you picture this event? Some imagine Jesus standing waist-deep in the Jordan as John pours or sprinkles water over his head. Others imagine Jesus erupting from full immersion in the river. Either picture includes a similar point of identification—we know what it would be like to be suddenly wet on a hot day. We can sense the delightful refreshment of cold water and the satisfaction of publicly declaring our submission to God. For those who have struggled to surrender to God, the release that comes through baptism is often accompanied by laughter, tears, shouts, and even a holy sense of awe as the reality of the wetness connects with the reality of forgiveness.

John baptized hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people while he was preparing the way for Jesus; but no one experienced what Jesus did when he “came up out of the water.” The Holy Spirit gave his dove-like approval, and God the Father voiced his pleasure in the moment. At Jesus’ baptism, God unmistakably certified Jesus as his Son. The Trinity made an appearance. For those who wonder how God can be “three in one,” Jesus’ baptism captures the Trinity in action, expressing one mind and purpose yet in three distinct ways.

Getting Personal

What difference does it make that God the Father and God the Holy Spirit were present with Jesus at his baptism?

What does your baptism mean to you today?

We can guess at other reactions to baptisms. Notorious sinners may have been greeted with jeers of incredulity, and humble penitents may have been welcomed with encouraging cheers by those who had gone ahead of them. Others, like the Pharisees, stood to one side, refusing to repent and offering criticisms and ridicule of the whole process. But they could not deny what was happening in the lives of those who repented and prepared their lives for the one who was coming. That’s what Jesus does—he comes into your life, forgives, cleanses, and renews from the inside out.

Talking to God

Meditate on the mystery of the Trinity—God as Father, Son, and Spirit all at once. Thank the Lord for his all-encompassing forgiveness and his continual renewal in your life.