The Baptism of Our Lord
Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29; Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
On the Festival of The Baptism of our Lord, a voice comes down from heaven to anoint as Jesus, the rabbi from Nazareth, son of Mary, Joseph’s adopted child, born in a manger and wrapped in bands of cloth as a sign of good news and great joy for all the people (Luke 2: 10-12), our Messiah, the Word made flesh, God’s beloved son, with whom God is well pleased (Luke 3:22). This is indeed very good news for those who will listen and dwell with this Word (see Psalm 2).
Speaking on God’s behalf, Isaiah declares the compassionate love of the Lord for those claimed, through the history of our salvation, to be God’s own (verse 4) and affirms God’s promise to gather all the remnants into one people (5-7).
For the ones claimed to belong to Christ, the ingathering happens when the person is welcomed into the royal priesthood of all believers by the power of the triune God (see Acts). Even the ones once deemed disinherited – the Samaritans, for instance (14) – are not beyond the grace poured lavishly upon us out of God’s good pleasure (Ephesians 1:3-14).
“The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD, over mighty waters.
The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl,
and strips the forest bare;
and in his temple all say, ‘Glory!’
May the LORD give strength to his people!
May the LORD bless his people with peace! (Psalm 29:3-4, 9, 11; NRSVue)”
Bridging Faith 