January 11, 2026
Today is the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ, the day we remember that Jesus was baptised in the Jordan River by John. It’s part of the Epiphany season. During this season, we hear from the Bible that Jesus is the Son of God who came as a man to save us and the whole world from our sins. We continue to hear how Jesus is made known as the God-man and the Saviour of the world.
Teaching us about Jesus is the work of the Holy Spirit. Look at this picture of Jesus’ Baptism. What do you notice in the picture? Do you see the Holy Spirit in this picture? He’s pictured as a dove. When Jesus was baptised, the Holy Spirit came down looking like a dove above Jesus’ head. That’s what Matthew’s Gospel tells us. That’s also what the Old Testament Reading from Isaiah is about. The Lord said, “Behold My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen, in whom My soul delights; I have put My Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice for the nations” (Is. 42:1).
That servant is Jesus, and that Spirit is the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ Baptism, the Father marks Jesus with the Holy Spirit so that we can see He is the Servant who brings forth justice to the nations. How does Jesus bring forth justice? Well, what would be just, or fair, would be for us to have to pay for our sins all the times we break the Ten Commandments. The payment for sins is death. But we don’t have to pay that because Jesus brings forth justice for us by taking our sins. He is baptised not because He had sins but because He takes our place; He takes our sins. He is baptised in order to take our sins to the cross and give His life so that our sins would be paid for, forgiven.
The Spirit marked Jesus in His Baptism. He is anointed. That same Holy Spirit has marked you as a Christian in your baptism. In Holy Baptism, which is not just plain water but the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s Word, Jesus forgives your sins, rescues you from death and the devil, and gives you eternal salvation. All the things Isaiah spoke of Jesus and everything Jesus does He also gives you in your baptism.
Thank You, Jesus, for giving me all my sins, and for making me Your child through Holy Baptism. Amen.