Today’s Reading: Matthew 3:13-17

Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 34:1-24; Romans 3:19-31

 

But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. (Matthew 3:15)

 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. There’s a lot of confusion over who God is. We do that on purpose. It leaves room for us to invent the god we want, who believes what we believe and hates who we hate. This god follows the laws we make and only wants us to be happy. Sin always tries to create God in our own image.

In the Baptism of our Lord, we see who God is: triune, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But if we look closer, we see more. God is more to us than just triune. The Epiphany is seeing God at work. We know Him by more than just His Name. He reveals Himself in action. The Father speaks from on high, the Son is incarnate to fulfill all righteousness, and the Spirit remains with and conveys Jesus. God is what He does.

God does something. The revelation of the triune God was shown to us through the Baptism of Christ in order to fulfill all righteousness. God is what He does. He fulfills all righteousness for us. Jesus climbs down into filthy waters for forgiveness He doesn’t need. He assumes our sin and carries it to Calvary. There, the Father is well pleased. Wrath is abated. Love abounds. The Spirit conveys this Jesus to us in the same waters. You are baptized, not into syllables, but into the triune God who fulfills all righteousness for you. You have life in His Name. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. –Rev. Harrison Goodman

 

Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, on God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for the Baptism of Our Lord)