Lenten Reflection: Luke 3:21-22
In obedience to the Father, Jesus went down into the water to pray.
Jesus followed sinners into the water as they repented and confessed their sins. Jesus identified with sinners by sharing this water ritual with them. He underwent a ritual designed for sinners!
In response the Father anointed the Messiah with the Holy Spirit, affirmed his son, and declared his delight in his son.
This is our experience as well.
Through baptism we join other sinners in the water, confess our sins and pray for divine forgiveness. In response, the Father anoints us with the Holy Spirit, affirms our adoption, and declares his delight in us.
Our baptisms are moments when we follow Jesus into the water in obedience to the Father.
Our baptisms are moments when the Father says over us, “You are my child in whom I delight.”
Our baptisms are moments when the Father sends the Spirit into our hearts so that we, along with Jesus, might cry, “Abba, Father.”
Our baptisms are moments when we follow Jesus out of the water committed to the ministry of the kingdom.
We follow Jesus, led by the Spirit, from the water into the wilderness. During Lent, we sit with Jesus in the wilderness for forty days.
May our 40 days of Lent enrich our relationship with God.