Remembrance of Baptism: Jesus With Us in the Water

Remembrance of baptism centers the narrative on Jesus stepping into the Jordan—not as a distant, untouchable figure but as one who willingly enters the same waters as sinners. That act undoes attempts to sanitize his holiness and instead insists that God's first movement is toward human frailty, scandal, and repentance. The imagery of thin places and epiphany reframes baptism as a moment when heaven opens: Spirit descends, a voice affirms identity, and the ordinary becomes a corridor to the divine. Personal testimonies—from children who counted pages in a Bible to adults who found faith late in life—illustrate that baptism marks many kinds of journeys, not a single scripted pathway. Each story demonstrates that the outward rite names an inward reality: a turning, a public embrace of belonging, and a reminder that grace often arrives through ordinary, even messy, lives.

Baptism is presented not chiefly as a badge of purity but as solidarity: Jesus joins the line of the repentant to show God’s willingness to be present in the very places people feel most ashamed. That solidarity reframes theological defenses that try to protect Jesus’ perfection; instead, vulnerability becomes the way God reveals presence. The narrative also insists on invitation—whether already baptized or not, everyone is named as welcome to remember, to receive blessing, or simply to be held in prayer. Ultimately, the high point is the divine affirmation—“Beloved, with whom I am well pleased”—which both commissions and comforts: identity is spoken over the baptized, and that spoken identity calls people into lives shaped by God’s rapprochement rather than by human judgment. The closing charge is simple and daring: fall into grace, choose remembrance, and live as those who have been claimed by a God who moves toward rather than away.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Jesus stands in the river Jesus’ baptism is less about his need and more about his solidarity with the repentant. By entering the water, Jesus models divine proximity—God refuses to remain aloof from human shame and struggle. This act reframes holiness not as separation but as presence alongside those who are wounded, inviting a faith that seeks proximity over prestige. [39:46]
• 2. God moves toward brokenness Baptism reveals a God who advances into human messiness, not away from it. The “thin place” imagery emphasizes that God’s kingdom intersects the everyday and the scandalous, making grace accessible in the very places people expect condemnation. This posture reorients discernment: look for where God has already leaned in, and join there in care and restoration. [41:02]
• 3. All are invited to remember Remembrance of baptism is offered as an inclusive act—baptized, unbaptized, guests alike may come forward for blessing. The ceremony is practice in communal memory, a ritual that reclaims identity and reaffirms belonging beyond religious pedigree. Participating is less about credentials and more about entering a rhythm of being claimed and sent. [09:00]
• 4. Faith journeys look diverse Testimonies shared range from childhood songs to late conversions, proving that baptism fits many stories. These varied narratives resist the notion of a single “proper” pathway to faith and instead honor conversion as an ongoing, often unconventional process. Each testimony becomes a pastoral reminder: spiritual formation is particular, communal, and surprising. [25:31]
• 5. Divine affirmation breaks through The voice from heaven—“This is my Son, the beloved”—frames baptism as both identity and commissioning. That pronouncement locates worth not in achievement but in relation: the baptized are spoken into belonging and purpose. Hearing that voice reframes vocation as reception first—people act out of being claimed, not to earn claim. [24:42]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [07:53] - Orthodox Epiphany Tradition
• [09:00] - Invitation to Remember Baptism
• [10:11] - Warm Welcome & Announcements
• [18:06] - Prayers and Congregational Needs
• [24:01] - Gospel Reading: Matthew 3:13–17
• [25:31] - Stories of Personal Baptism
• [34:45] - Why Jesus Was Baptized
• [41:02] - God Moves Toward Us
• [43:09] - Call to Fall into Grace

Bible reading

Matthew 3:13–17 (ESV)
"Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, 'I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?' But Jesus answered him, 'Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.' Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.'"

Observation questions

1. According to Matthew 3:14, what was John the Baptist’s initial reaction when Jesus approached him to be baptized?
2. What specific words did the voice from heaven speak immediately after Jesus came up out of the water? [24:42]
3. In the various personal stories shared, what were some of the different ways people approached their baptism (for example, what they wore, how they calculated their age, or what they brought in their "briefcase")? [26:00], [27:00], [29:17]
4. What does the text say happened to the heavens at the moment Jesus was baptized? [24:42]

Interpretation questions

1. John’s baptism was known as a baptism for the "repentance of sins" [34:45]. Why might the gospel writers have felt a sense of "unease" or embarrassment about recording the sinless Jesus standing in that specific line? [36:20]
2. Jesus tells John that his baptism is necessary to "fulfill all righteousness." If Jesus did not need to repent, how does his choice to enter the muddy Jordan River with everyone else redefine our understanding of God’s holiness? [38:46]
3. A "thin place" is described as a moment where the boundary between the mundane and the eternal becomes permeable [41:45]. How does the imagery of the opening heavens and the descending Spirit suggest that the ordinary act of baptism is actually a corridor to the divine? [42:08]
4. The voice from heaven affirms Jesus’ identity before he has performed any miracles or started his public ministry. What does this suggest about the timing of God’s favor and the basis of our own identity in Him? [24:42]

Application questions

1. Jesus did not stay safe on the shore but chose to step into the water with the repentant [40:24]. In what areas of your life do you feel "muddy" or weighed down by shame, and how does it change your perspective to know that God is standing in that same water with you? [40:47]
2. Faith journeys are diverse—some begin with childhood songs like "Jesus Loves Me," while others involve adult conversions with no church background at all [32:18], [33:50]. Looking back at your own story, what were the "unconventional" or surprising ways God used to draw you toward Him?
3. We often perform mental gymnastics to protect a sense of "purity," yet God moves toward our messiness rather than away from it [39:04]. Is there a "scandal" or a struggle in your life you’ve been trying to hide? What would it look like for you to simply "fall into grace" and trust God with that mess today? [31:15]
4. The divine affirmation—"You are my beloved"—is a gift of belonging that comes before any achievement. Do you find it difficult to believe you are "well-pleasing" to God apart from your work or your "success" in the Christian life? How can you practice hearing that voice this week? [42:42]
5. Remembrance of baptism is an invitation to reclaim who you are in God’s eyes [09:00]. What is one practical way you can "remember your baptism" (or your commitment to follow Christ) when you feel judged by the world or by yourself?
6. If God’s first movement is always toward human frailty, how can we as a group move toward the "thin places" in our community where people are hurting or feeling ashamed? [41:28]