When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. As he was praying, the Holy Spirit descended on him … and a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” – Luke 3:21-22

All four gospels record the story of Jesus’ baptism. All four have John performing the act. All four mention a dove descending in some way. All four mention John baptizing with water but Jesus baptizing with the Holy Spirit.

But Luke’s version is unique in a couple of ways. For one, there is the observation that “when all the people were baptized, and Jesus also baptized with them.” Jesus was baptized with all the people. You can almost imagine him standing in line, waiting his turn. Just one amongst the crowd. Sinners and saints and seekers. The hopeful and hopeless. All hoping John could turn their lives around. 

That helps us understand that as we consider Jesus’ baptism, we may also consider our own, like one of those in the crowd on the banks of the Jordan that day. This story offers us the ability to compare ourselves as a reminder that Jesus is God with us. As he begins his ministry, it is a ministry as much with us as it ever was for us. Jesus, as the bringer of God’s kingdom is welcoming all the people into the realm of God’s grace. 

Immediately after his baptism, Jesus was led into a wilderness. There he struggled with a Tempter who tried to make him doubt the voice that named him Beloved Child. “If you are God’s son…”, Satan prefaced the temptations. But Jesus remembered who he was. There was no “if.” Assured of God’s approval and drenched with the Spirit, he blew the Tempter away.

In teaching our congregation’s children about Jesus’ baptism, I read the story The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. It’s the story of Chester racoon who is afraid to go to a new school. To reassure him, Chester’s mother tells him an old secret; the Kissing Hand. She kisses him on the palm of his hand and tells him, “Whenever you feel lonely or anxious or scared, place your hand to your cheek and remember, ‘Mommy loves you.’”

When Jesus was baptized, there was that same reassurance in the form of a voice from heaven saying, “you are my Son, whom I love.” It is the same for us, we share that connection through our baptisms. When we are anxious or scared, we remember, and we hear the voice, “you are loved.” 

Whenever the great reformer Martin Luther was in trouble, tormented, tempted, and afraid (he often was), he’d tell himself that he was baptized: “Baptizatus sum” or “I am baptized.” Over and over, he’d remind his beleaguered heart who he was: a beloved child of God whose life was forever entwined with Christ’s. He said it blew the demons away.

So, take a moment, especially in these anxious times, to remember your baptism. If this has not been a part of your journey, seek out a faith community to share that moment with you. For all of us, no matter who we are or where we are on life’s journey, we are to remember we are God’s beloved children, who God loves so dearly. 

— Todd Hackman is senior pastor at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Monroe.Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group.