“One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized.”

Luke 3:21 (NLT)

JESUS UNDERSTOOD THE MISSION

Jesus did not need baptism for repentance, as the others John baptized did. He had no sin to confess. John was hesitant to baptize Him, but Jesus insisted and stepped into the water anyway. Why? Because He came to identify with us in our humanity and to live the human experience. Symbolically, He stepped into the water to preview the mission He came to fulfill: to die, be buried, and rise again.

His baptism was a living parable. It showed that He would one day go down into death on our behalf and rise to bring us new life. It was a moment of divine clarity and a clear understanding of His mission. His baptism marked the beginning of a public journey that would culminate in the cross and resurrection.

We often think of baptism as symbolizing our commitment to God. But here, it is Jesus’ commitment to us. He was showing that He would go where we could not, do what we could not, and make a way back to God.

Imagine a lifeguard who sees someone drowning. He does not shout instructions from the shore. He dives in. That is what Jesus did. He did not shout at us from heaven. He did not stay distant from our sin and suffering. He came down into the water with us, not to be cleansed Himself, but to begin the rescue.

Here is another way to look at it. During the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, Dr. Kent Brantly volunteered to treat patients even though it put him at risk. Eventually, he contracted the virus himself. When asked why he went, he said, “God called me to go. I was not called to comfort but to obedience.” Jesus did something even greater. He did not just risk His life. He gave it out of obedience to the mission of His Father.

Have you stepped into the waters to be baptized to show that you have turned from sin and turned to Christ in repentance and surrender? If not, register for our next baptism in The Springs at NorthStar. You can find all the information about how to register and what to expect by following this link: https://northstarchurch.org/baptism.

Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Growth at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.