Remembering Our Baptism

Thursday, 6/2/2011

Reading: Mark 1:9-13

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark%201&version=NIV

Reflection: I often wonder how often Jesus thought about His baptism. Jesus often faced ridicule, opposition, rejection, and plain hatred. Those He came to save turned away from him, and many of those who initially followed would later turn away. Here, in our reading, Jesus faces the devil who seeks to turn Him upon which God has placed Him. In other words, Satan offers Jesus "a way" other than "the way" given by the Father. Over a period of 40 days in a lonely wilderness, Jesus is tempted by physical hunger, personal loneliness, and demonic assaults. It seems to me that in those moments it would have been encouraging for Jesus to think back to His baptism. For there, in that moment, the Father confirmed His identity by calling Him His Son. Second, God the Father revealed His affections by openly declaring His love for Jesus. Finally, God assured His Son of His acceptance by saying He was well-pleased with Him. So, as Satan attacks, Jesus can remember who He is, how He's loved, and the fact that God is pleased with Him. How encouraging would that be for me...to realize I am God's Son...to know that I am loved and accepted by the Father. May God give all of us who have come to faith in Christ a similar assurance.