From the Pulpit...

Immediately following Jesus' baptism and coming up from the water He saw the Spirit of God descending from heaven like a dove and alighting upon Him. All three Persons of the Trinity are also clearly defined; The Father is speaking, the Son being Baptized, and the Spirit descending. We conclude in Matthew chapter three that Jesus identified with John the Baptist, John's message with John's people, and with us! We therefore identify with him through repentance. We also see how Jesus is well pleasing to the Father and similarly, how us Christians are accepted by God because we are in Christ through His sacrifice, love, and mercy for us. Finally historically, John's baptism of Jesus is the public inauguration of Christ Jesus in His ministry, and public acknowledgement from the Father that Jesus is the Son of God.