The Baptism of Jesus

Out in the wilderness, by the river Jordan, there was a preacher named John. People called him John the Baptist. He wore rough clothes made of camel’s hair and told everyone who would listen, “Get your hearts ready — someone very special is coming!”

Crowds came from all over to hear John and to be baptized in the river. Baptism was a way of saying, “I want to start fresh and follow God.”

One day, Jesus himself walked down to the river and asked John to baptize him.

John could hardly believe it. “I should be baptized by you,” he said. “Why are you coming to me?”

But Jesus gently insisted, and so John led him out into the water and baptized him.

As Jesus came up out of the river, something wonderful happened. The sky opened up, and the Holy Spirit came down gently — looking just like a soft white dove — and rested on him.

Then a voice spoke from heaven, warm and full of love. It was the voice of God the Father, and he said:

“This is my Son, whom I love. With him I am well pleased.”

In that one moment by the river, you can see the whole of God’s love at once: the Father speaking, the Son standing in the water, and the Spirit coming down like a dove.

And here is the gentle secret of this story — the same God who was so pleased with Jesus looks at you, too, as his beloved child.