Day 31~ The Baptism

Let's go on a journey through time; across raging seas and thirsty deserts, lush flowering meddows and mountains whose peaks reach into the heavens. Let's go back over 2000 years into the past to the bank of a cool flowing river in Palistine, Israel.

Here we are, hidden amist a crowd of people witnessing a great spectacle. Before us stand two men, related, not only by lineage, but also by faith.
One man tells the other "I ought to be baptized by you, and yet you have come to me!"
The other man responds "Let it be so for now. For in this way we shall do all that God requires."

You look on as the man is baptised within the cool sparkling waters of the Jordan river. Suddenly, as he comes out of the river, the most miraculous thing happens, the heavens open up casting a light on him, a dove descends, and along with it a voice rings out saying "This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased." You stand there awestruck and dumbfounded.

Now, retuning to our own time, if you recognize that story, you would be aware that the man being baptised was none other than our Lord, Jesus Christ and the other man was the prophet; John the Baptist.

This passage can be found in the book of Matthew chapter 3 verses 13-17. The other books  which mention this scene can be found in the Gospels' according to Mark and Luke, however it is related in much less detail. 

Before I continue, it's  important that we note the significance of baptism. Baptism can be thought of in two ways; firstly it can be seen as a symbol of conversion; so basically, the washing away of sins and starting anew, but as we all know, Jesus was perfect! This is why John stated that he should be baptized by Jesus.

The second way baptism can be seen is as a pledge of alligence to God. It is a symbol through which we profess our faith.

In the aforementioned scene, Jesus isn't baptised for the clensing of his sins but as an open declaration of his faith and alligence to his father. 

Soon after his baptism, Jesus began his ministry on Earth, but not before fasting and praying to God, that, however, is another story for another time.