Isaiah 43.1–7

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1 But now thus says the Lord ,
    he who created you, O Jacob,
    he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
    Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.
4 Because you are precious in my sight,
    and honoured, and I love you,
I give people in return for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.
5 Do not fear, for I am with you;
    I will bring your offspring from the east,
    and from the west I will gather you;
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up’,
    and to the south, ‘Do not withhold;
bring my sons from far away
    and my daughters from the end of the earth—
7 everyone who is called by my name,
    whom I created for my glory,
    whom I formed and made.’

 

 

REFLECTION

The Prophecy of Isaiah talks of God's act to redeem Israel. God talks of how much God loves Israel and all who God calls. This means that Isaiah talks to us and of our redemption by God, loved and treasured. Jesus' baptism talks about Jesus divine nature, but no one truly understood the sacrificial nature he chose by being baptized. What did your baptism mean to you?                           

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Psalm 29

1 Ascribe to the Lord, you powers of heaven:

ascribe to the Lord glory and might.

2 Ascribe to the Lord the honour due to his name:

O worship the Lord in the beauty of his holiness.

3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters:

the God of glory thunders,

the Lord upon the great waters.

4 The voice of the Lord is mighty in operation:

the voice of the Lord is a glorious voice.

5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar-trees:

the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

6 He makes them skip like a calf:

Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the Lord divides the lightning-flash:

the voice of the Lord whirls the sands of the desert,

the Lord whirls the desert of Kadesh.

8 The voice of the Lord rends the terebinth trees,

and strips bare the forests:

in his temple all cry ‘Glory.’

9 The Lord sits enthroned above the water-flood:

the Lord sits enthroned as a king for ever.

10 The Lord will give strength to his people:

the Lord will give to his people the blessing of peace.

 

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Acts 8.14–17

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14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16 (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

 

REFLECTION

We see here a movement from the baptism of Jesus to the baptism of Samaritans. Jesus' baptism was whole with water and the Spirit, but here we see that the Samaritans were only baptized in water. They had accepted the forgiveness of sin, the renewal of their life. Interestingly, this is not enough though. The Holy Spirit comes to give direction and power to this new life. I believe the coming of the Holy Spirit at Jesus' baptism was for the same purpose, to walk with Jesus and empower Jesus. Have you been baptized with the Holy Spirit?

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Luke 3.15–22

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15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing-fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ 18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. 19 But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added to them all by shutting up John in prison. 21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’

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REFLECTION

Why do we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord? For me it is about understanding Jesus' journey. This point of union between Jesus, Father and Holy Spirit. God in three forms. Jesus taking on the ministry the Father called Jesus to. The Holy Spirit comes to be Jesus' guide and support. Jesus giving even at this time, his life for ours. Jesus baptism wasn't just for Jesus and neither was ours.