Matthew’s version of Jesus’ baptism has more dialogue
than Mark or Luke but all three end in the same way. God declares Jesus the
beloved Son with something like a dove coming out of heaven to “alight” on him after
which Jesus is driven (Mark) or led (Matthew, Luke) into the wilderness to be
tested, tried and/or tempted for forty days. The point is not to be missed.
Jesus baptism is followed by forty days of fasting followed by three
temptations that target the very words that sustained Jesus through the forty
days. “You are my beloved Son.” Our baptisms are intended to give us the same confidence
so that like Jesus being tempted after suffering solitary silence in the wilderness
we might declare, “I am baptized!” as a statement of defiance against all that would
make us believe we are less than loved. It doesn't mean all will go well with us in our
everyday but rather that we might claim the promise of the future; “Do not
fear. I have called you by name. You are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1) in the present. “In
this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John
16:33) The promise of God that operates outside of human institutions allows those
of us who were baptized before our ability to remember to none-the-less name the day we were saved as the moment when the Spirit of God alighted upon us and declared us
beloved. But that is only because In the end “I am baptized” is not about our decision but rather God’s declaration,
“You are my beloved.”
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