3 Ways Jesus’ Baptism Affects Your Life

Jesus’ baptism was an extraordinary event. The Holy Spirit shows up visually. The voice of the Father is heard. A message of love, affirmation, and encouragement expressed to, and about, Jesus. 

In reading, one can see it as very celebratory, almost like a divine party. 

We don’t see the Trinity all together in many places. If you are new to this language, the “Trinity” is how Christians have historically described the mystery of one God in perfect unity of relationship in three “persons”. The math doesn’t add up but that’s why it’s a mystery.

These various events in the narrative are powerful by themselves. (In fact, you read about them in all the gospels: Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3,  John 1.) But there is still the questions: What does Jesus’ baptism mean for us? Is it just to tell us about him? If it does impact us, what does it mean for our everyday living and thinking?

For those who use the church calendar, Advent and the early part of the year remember Jesus’ life. And there is a Sunday (January 10 for 2021) on that calendar that celebrates and remembers Jesus’ baptism. 

So, along with remembering the life of Jesus, what does this mean for us? There are three significant connections that we should lean into and consider. 

Jesus’ Association with the Father and Holy Spirit

The first connection we can reflect on is with the other Persons of the Trinity. In this miraculous moment, we find the Father and the Holy Spirit present.

It is rare for the Trinity to narratively be shown together but for this event it is striking that this is a place of all three being present and expressed. Each is distinct but there is a commonality to their existence. And this is not just a being of divine type or substance ontologically but also in relationship with each other. 

Jesus is divine. 

In this event we find the glory of God being poured out upon His Son who has become like us. That the humanity Jesus expresses in the flesh reminds of the close fellowship that was intended at creation. 

Baptism is a central teaching and practice to a follower of Jesus. In fact, it is so important that one who decides to be a follower of Jesus is to express this through being baptized in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus’ Association with God’s Story in Scripture

This passage does not have Jesus operating alone. His cousin is present, John the Baptist. 

We see Jesus is not being specially treated, like in a special “Messiah baptism line”—he is being baptized with ordinary people.  But he is distinct, which is expressed in how John says he is not worthy to untie the Messiah’s sandals. 

Although Jesus’ identity and authority set him apart, he submits himself to the work of God through this incarnational experience. 

• In this passage we see Matthew and Luke explicitly reference how John the Baptist is fulfilling Isaiah 40:3-5. In these moments, John the Baptist, too, is part of a wider story of God. And these events are not separate from that.
• John, feeling humbled at Jesus’ arrival, feels unworthy to baptize Jesus. But Jesus expresses how this is to be done to fulfill what has been called for in the past as well as to proceed to what is next.  He is not changing the story but fulfilling it. He is not outside these events and story but is the center of these events and story. 

He is not changing the story but fulfilling it. He is not outside these events and story but is the center of these events and story.

Jesus’ Association with Us

In a very significant moment for us, this baptism is also an experience of humanity. As the Son of God, baptism did not have the same significance or meaning it had for the others. 

So why did he do it? 

John is baptizing everyday people to come to the Kingdom of God. And Jesus is a part of this. Not only is he part of this significant practice but he is being baptized alongside the rest of humanity. He is being baptized with others.

In this action, he is expressing what some know: he is human. 

In the response of the Father and Spirit, there is the expression of what many will come to know: he is divine. 

And in all of that, he is associating with us. He has entered into the very life of fallen humanity. But this is not out of judgment but to help others know the Father. This comes by how his life is lived in fellowship with the Father as well as the life of service and sacrifice he lives. 

By being baptized, we are reminded he is not beyond our human experience. Nor our sufferings. Nor our temptations. But has entered into it all to show a faithful way. 

A way that walks with God. 

What Does This Mean for Us?

In Jesus, we find life (John 10:10). Not in a human-effort-modeling of Jesus’ example, but in living in such a way that Jesus’ life is in us (Galatians 2:20). We are being conformed, formed, and transformed toward his likeness. 

These three expressions of Jesus’ associating reflect how we live as well. They remind us we are enabled by his life in us to live in new ways, ways that will bring a life to the full (John 10:10). 

In tying to the three points above we can see these three:

1. In Jesus, we are in fellowship with the Triune God. We are baptized in one Name, although three Persons. There are various descriptions in Scripture of how faith in Jesus moves us into different dynamics and relationships with each of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (It’s worth further study or talking with your pastor or a spiritual mentor.)
2. In Jesus, God’s story is working through us. We see this individually but especially in our various expressions of gathering like in your local church. The culture of the country or even local community that we live shapes each of us. As a result we want to be aware of what frames our thinking, what is our focus. For some, it will be too much individual focus (e.g., my story). For others, too much community (e.g., my life or choices don’t matter).
3. In Jesus, we go out to connect with others in life. Jesus-life-in-us will result in us going to people, like his example. It might be someone suffering or a person who has “done wrong” in some way. It might be someone in the same economic status or race—or a different one. The life-of-Jesus in us helps us want to share the life of Jesus with others. And we go to others who are not followers of Jesus because he first associated with us. 

The life-of-Jesus in us helps us want to share the life of Jesus with others.

The life of Jesus is not just a nice story for us to read or watch. His life came to transform the world, expressing what His Kingdom can look like—and even what we can look like. 

Here is a classic prayer to help you reflect on this event.

Eternal Father, who at the baptism of Jesus revealed him to be your Son, anointing him with the Holy Spirit: grant to us, who are born again by water and the Spirit, that we may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children; through Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

Getting Started: 

Who is someone that has been on your mind or has come across your path recently? Is there some way God may have for you to live “Jesus-life-in-us” to them?

May your efforts and obedience help others see the wonder of Jesus.

Picture credit: https://www.pexels.com/@pixabay