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The Baptism of Jesus

We have listened to Gospel stories and read about the life of Jesus all our lives. Yet no where do we find in all of the Gospels written a picture of what Jesus looked like. No where do we find any physical details of Jesus. The Gospels don't tell us about the color of his eyes, or how much he weighed, or how tall he was. No one painted a portrait of Jesus or sculptured Him. No one wrote a biography in the strict sense because the Gospels are not primarily biographies. In fact two of the Gospels do not even begin with Jesus' birth.

The Gospels were not written to prove that Jesus was the Messiah or the Son of God, because when the Gospels were written the Gospels were written for people who already believed that Jesus was the Son of God, and the long awaited Messiah. The Gospels were written for believing people who already had the faith. The were written as we say — to the choir who already believed. As we look at the different events in Jesus' life such as the Baptism of Jesus which we celebrate today — there are deeper questions to ask.

What meaning do the events in the life of Jesus have for our lives today?

What do they tell us about God and ourselves?

The Gospels tell us many stories about Jesus and these stories and parables are for us to unravel so that our faith in Jesus may grow deeper. In the Gospels Jesus did not usually answer questions about Himself. There was one example whereby a Rabbi once asked Jesus, "Rabbi, where do you live?"

"Come & see," Jesus told him. No more, we are told.

It is more important to know that Jesus lives in us, than to know what home Jesus lived in.

In most of his conversations Jesus turned the discussion to announce that the kingdom of God was at hand. It is as if Jesus knew that the words of Isaiah in today's first reading were meant for Him. Isaiah writes to us today, "I have grasped you by the hand. I, the Lord, have called you for the victory of Justice."

The Gospel today tells us that Jesus was Baptized — That is a fact. But in today's Gospel, Jesus is the master, and John the Baptist is the disciple. John the Baptist wanted Jesus to baptize him, but Jesus takes right over and has John baptize Him. This was to fulfill the words of the Prophet. "Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus fulfills what Isaiah wrote in the first reading. "Here is my servant, whom I uphold. My chosen one in whom I am pleased. He shall bring forth justice to the nations. He will establish justice on the earth. The coast lands will wait for his teaching. He will release people from bondage."

It is not the release that Moses did when he brought his people out of Egypt and set them free. It will be a release from sin and death. The whole meaning of Jesus' life, death and resurrection is that He has finally secured justice for us and put an end to the darkness of sin that covered the earth.

God's spirit hovered over Jesus at His Baptism in the form of a dove. That same spirit hovered over us at our own Baptism. Thus we became sons and daughter of the Most High because of our Baptism. God now resides in us. Now what do you do?

We do what Jesus did. We try to love and to serve.

It is not easily done because we are often selfish. To seek another person's good does not come easily at times. A French Philosopher has written, "In living and in seeing other men, the heart must break or become bronze." We have too many people whose hearts are made of bronze or stone.

Jesus said, "I am in the midst of you as one who serves."

Thus was Jesus who began His mission after his Baptism. On the move, doing good, setting people free for whatever threatened to destroy the, His story should be our story. We too should be on the move, setting people free for whatever threatened to destroy them.

In this way we too can proclaim the kingdom of God to all the world.