“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
This verse is from the Gospel of Matthew, one of the three synoptic gospels in the New Testament of the Bible, and is about the baptism of Jesus Christ – celebrated in the Catholic faith on January 12.
Jesus’ baptism “is one of the most important moments in His life, revealing His divine mission, identity and relationship with the Father,” David Rives, a Tennessee-based Christian author and columnist, told Fox News Digital.
During the baptism, “The Spirit descended like a dove and the voice of the Father announced, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,'” Rives said.
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That line, he said, is “a powerful statement that resonates over time.” It serves to highlight “four key truths about Christ’s baptism essential to understanding His identity and mission.”
The first of these key truths, Rives said, is Jesus’ “identity as the Son of God and the Messiah.”
The baptism of Christ is depicted in this painting, showing God the Father at the head, the Holy Spirit depicted by a dove, and Jesus Christ. (VCG Wilson/Corbis via Getty Images)
“This statement not only proves the identity of Jesus, but also announces to the world that He is the long-awaited Messiah, the Anointed One sent to redeem mankind,” he said.
With the baptism of Jesus Christ, He is “revealed as the fulfillment of prophecy,” Rives said.
The second key truth is the “profound humility” of Jesus Christ, Rives said.
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“Despite being the sinless Son of God, He chooses to be baptized – an act which, according to the Book of Acts, is symbolic of the washing away of sins,” he said. “This event too was symbolic and prophetic of the indwelling Holy Spirit who is available to believers in Christ.”
Jesus was not baptized because of any sin — “but to fulfill all righteousness,” Rives said.
“This act sets the tone for His ministry, showing that He did not come to be served, but to serve and identify with those He came to save,” he said.
Christ’s baptism is a symbol of His humility, said one Christian author. (Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images)
Rives said that Jesus “is the King who comes not with majesty, but with meekness, offering His life for the redemption of all mankind.”
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Christ’s baptism also marked the beginning of His public ministry, Rives said—the third key truth.
Before that, “Jesus lived a relatively quiet life in Nazareth.”
“However, his baptism signals the beginning of His mission. At this time, He begins to reveal Himself as Savior through His teachings, healings and, ultimately, His sacrifice for the sins of the world,” Rives told Fox News Digital. .
Jesus’ baptism was more than a ritual, Rives said. It was “a pivotal point where His redemptive work begins, leading to His death and resurrection.”
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The fourth of these key truths revealed in Christ’s baptism, Rives said, is “the fullness of the Godhead presented: the Son is baptized in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descends as a dove, and the Father’s voice speaks from heaven.”
The place where Jesus is believed to have been baptized is seen above in present-day Jordan. (Adri Salido/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
This, he said, is “a powerful scene, revealing God’s plan of salvation, as the Father affirms the Son, the Spirit empowers the Son for His mission, and the Son humbly submits to the Father’s will.”
The baptism of Jesus is “a beautiful reminder” also for Christians that they should “work together to present the Good News of the Gospel to the world”.
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The story of Christ’s baptism is a glimpse not only at “the heart of Jesus’ ministry, but also at the heart of the Gospel itself,” Rives said.
“God’s incredible love, His redemptive plan and His invitation for us to boldly proclaim our faith in Him – symbolized through the act of baptism,” he said.
