Aug 2| How the Baptism of Jesus Redefines God's Love
The Pressure to Perform vs. The Freedom of Identity
What's the first thing someone asks you when you meet them? More often than not, it's a variation of, "So, what do you do?" Our culture is obsessed with this question. It’s the gateway to understanding who we are through the lens of our accomplishments. We are handed a script from a young age that tells us our value is directly tied to our resume, our job title, our productivity, and our achievements. We feel an unspoken pressure to build a track record of success before we can truly feel that we matter. This performance-based system is the water we swim in, the air we breathe. It dictates how we see ourselves and, often, how we imagine God sees us.
But what if God operates on a completely different system? What if, in the economy of His kingdom, your identity is not something you earn, but something you receive? What if who you are is established before you ever do a single thing to prove your worth? This isn't just wishful thinking; it's the radical truth at the heart of the Gospel.
Today, we journey to the banks of the Jordan River, to a moment at the very beginning of Jesus's public ministry that turns our performance-based world completely upside down. We will witness the baptism of Jesus, a profound event that seems paradoxical at first glance. Why would the perfect, sinless Son of God undergo a baptism of repentance? The answer to that question reveals one of the most liberating truths for every follower of Christ: the divine pattern of identity first, then action. It’s a truth that can free us from the exhausting treadmill of trying to earn God’s love and allow us to rest in the security of being His beloved child.
The Historical Scene: A Nation in Waiting at the Jordan River
To fully grasp the weight of Jesus's arrival, we must first understand the electric atmosphere He stepped into. This wasn't a calm, quiet riverbank. The Jordan River was the epicenter of a massive spiritual awakening sweeping through Judea. The man at the center of it all was a rugged, compelling figure named John the Baptist, Jesus’s own cousin.
Who Was John the Baptist?
John was no ordinary preacher. He was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, the voice "crying in the wilderness" that Isaiah had spoken of centuries before (Isaiah 40:3). He dressed like the prophets of old in camel's hair, ate locusts and wild honey, and delivered a message that was both confrontational and hopeful. His call was simple and direct: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." He was preparing the hearts of the people for the arrival of their long-awaited Messiah.
A Baptism of Repentance
Thousands of people from Jerusalem and the surrounding regions flocked to hear him. They were captivated by his raw authenticity and convicted by his powerful preaching. In an outward sign of their inner change of heart, they confessed their sins and were immersed by John in the waters of the Jordan. This baptism was a public declaration. It symbolized a washing away of the old life and a commitment to turn back to God. It was a ritual for sinners who recognized their need for forgiveness and a fresh start.
It is into this charged environment—a revival buzzing with confession, repentance, and anticipation—that Jesus of Nazareth appears. He has left his quiet, anonymous life as a carpenter and traveled to take His place on the public stage. But His first act is not what anyone would expect. He, the one without sin, approaches John and makes a strange request: He asks to be baptized.
A Profound Reversal: "I Need to Be Baptized By You"
John’s reaction is immediate and completely logical. He is stunned. He understands the spiritual hierarchy at play. He has been preaching about the one who is to come after him, whose sandals he is not worthy to carry (Matthew 3:11). He knows who Jesus is. His entire ministry has been to point to this man.
So, when Jesus stands before him, asking for a sinner's baptism, John tries to prevent it. We see his shock in Matthew 3:14, where he says, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
From a human perspective, John is 100% correct. This is backward. The greater always baptizes the lesser. The one with authority anoints the one without. The sinless one has absolutely no need for a ritual designed specifically for sinners turning back to God. John’s protest highlights the paradox of the moment. What could Jesus possibly have to repent for?
Jesus's response is the key that unlocks the entire meaning of this event. He doesn't dismiss John's concern. Instead, He says in Matthew 3:15, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”
This single phrase, "to fulfill all righteousness," is packed with theological depth. Let's unpack what it means. Jesus isn't being baptized because of any personal sin He needs to confess. He's being baptized for at least two critical reasons:
To Identify with Humanity: This is a profound act of solidarity. Jesus is willingly stepping into the water with us. He is identifying with our brokenness, our sinfulness, and our need for God. He doesn't stand aloof and separate from the human condition; He enters into it fully. By undergoing this baptism, He is saying, "I am with you. I am one of you." It's a beautiful picture of the incarnation—God becoming flesh to be with His people.
To Model Perfect Obedience: This act was also part of God the Father's will. By submitting to this baptism, Jesus is modeling a life of perfect submission and obedience from the very start of His ministry. He is demonstrating what it looks like to follow God's plan without hesitation, providing the ultimate example for us, His followers. He is perfectly fulfilling every requirement of God's law and will.
John, hearing this, understands and consents. He baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River. And what happens next elevates this moment from a symbolic act to a cosmic revelation.
The "Aha!" Moment: When the Heavens Were Torn Open
As Jesus comes up out of the water, the physical reality of the moment is torn open. Scripture gives us three incredible, supernatural signs that confirm the significance of what just took place:
The Heavens Opened: This wasn't just a break in the clouds. This signifies a divine breakthrough, a direct and open communication channel between heaven and earth. God is rending the veil.
The Spirit Descends Like a Dove: The Spirit of God, the third person of the Trinity, visibly descends and rests upon Jesus. The dove is a rich symbol of peace, purity, and new creation. This is Jesus's anointing for ministry, the divine empowerment for the mission that lies ahead.
The Father's Voice Speaks: Then comes the climax of the story. A voice thunders from heaven—the voice of God the Father Himself.
And what does the Father say? This is the declaration that changes everything. This is the foundation upon which Jesus’s entire ministry will be built.
In Matthew 3:17, the Father declares, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Let this sink in. This is the divine inauguration. The official launch party for the Messiah's public work. And it happens before Jesus has healed a single blind eye. It happens before He has preached the Sermon on the Mount. It happens before He has called a single disciple, cast out a single demon, or performed a single world-altering miracle.
Before Jesus did anything, God declared who He was.
His identity as the beloved, well-pleased Son was not a reward for His ministry; His ministry was the natural overflow of His secure identity. God wasn't waiting for Jesus to build up a resume or prove Himself worthy of the title. The Father's love, delight, and pleasure were already His. This is the divine pattern, the heavenly operating system: Identity first, then action.
Application: Working FROM Approval, Not FOR It
This biblical account is more than just a historical event; it is a profound and personal relief for every one of us. How many of us live our spiritual lives with a nagging sense of insecurity? We feel, deep down, that we have to constantly perform for God. We read our Bibles, we pray, we serve at church, we try to be good people, and we secretly hope that we're doing enough to earn His approval and stay in His good graces. We build our own spiritual resumes, hoping they are impressive enough to present to God.
But the baptism of Jesus shatters that entire way of thinking. It shows us that this is not how the Gospel works. Because of what Jesus accomplished for us through His life, death, and resurrection, when we place our faith in Him, we are united with Christ. We are "in Christ." And because we are in Him, the Father looks at us and says the very same thing He said to Jesus: "This is my child, whom I love. With you, I am well pleased."
That is your new identity. It is not earned by your good deeds. It is not fragile, disappearing when you make a mistake. It is a gift, secured by Jesus.
This changes everything. Our service, our obedience, our good works—they are no longer frantic attempts to get God to love us. They become our joyful, grateful response to the unconditional love we have already freely received. We don't work for His approval; we work from a place of absolute security in His approval. We serve not out of fear, but out of love. We obey not out of duty, but out of delight.
So today, let this truth sink deep into your heart. Let it be the foundation of your day. Your value is not in what you produce. Your worth is not in your success or failure. Your value is in who you are: a deeply, completely, and eternally loved child of God. Rest in that truth.
An Invitation to go Deeper….
If today’s message spoke to you, join the FaithLabz 30-Day Prayer Challenge and strengthen your connection with God’s unshakable love. You are never alone—let’s grow together!
