And when Jesus was baptized, immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16–17 When Jesus was coming up out of the baptismal waters, the voice of the Father proclaimed Him as His Son, in whom He delighted. Those words would be repeated on the Mount of Transfiguration, but with this order to the disciples: “Listen to Him!” Those two events “framed” Jesus’ ministry of obedient service and His revelation of God’s great love even before His sacrifice on the cross. Seeing Him, we learn what it means to be “alive to God in Christ Jesus,” as Paul urges in the Epistle. We are also “framed”—considered God’s children through our Baptism. It is all grace, of course; we never achieve our Lord’s righteousness, but are given it as a gift. Today we listen again to the Gospel, respond with prayer and praise, and are given grace to tell our friends what Christ has done for us all.
BIBLE READINGS
Isaiah 42:1-9
Romans 6:1-11
Matthew 3:13-17