The last ten days of the plan examine important events from Jesus' life.

To Begin With

It was time. Jesus went to the Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptist. This was not an ordinary event. Jesus’ baptism kickstarted his ministry, making public His willingness and determination to do His Father’s business.

God the Father and God the Holy Spirit made their presence known at Jesus’ baptism in a powerful way. The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus, not to convict Him, for He was sinless, but to equip and strengthen Him for His mission. God manifested His presence through an audible voice that boomed in the sky. The voice affirmed Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, chosen, and loved by Him.

The baptism of Jesus indicated that He was approved by and consecrated to God. Jesus was the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. He was on the earth for a pre-determined mission: to bring salvation to the world through His death and resurrection.

Jesus came to also baptize us with the Holy Spirit. Baptism with the Holy Spirit is God’s gift to all who receive new life through faith in Christ. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a seal of our new identity in Christ and a guarantee of our eternal future.

When we are baptized by immersion, we identify with Jesus’ death and resurrection. We declare to the world that we are launching new lives—lives with purpose, meaning, and destiny. Our baptism is a public commitment to follow Jesus with passionate devotion. Our identity as Christ-followers is sealed with His. Our calling is intertwined with His. And God’s voice, audible to us through the Bible, reassures us that we are His children, and that we too, like Jesus, are chosen, loved, and given purpose by Him.

Respond

• What difference has your baptism made to your life?
• What steps are you going to take to tune into God’s voice to let Him guide your identity, self-worth, and purpose?