An Aquifer and a Gentle Man

All baptized Christians have something in common with Jesus through baptism and in baptism. We have all been baptized with water that was first in the form of rain. How did it make it to our baptism?  The ground absorbs  rainwater and it is captured in places called aquifers. 
                        

These aquifers are underground layers of water contained porous rock, gravel, sand or silt. This water can be accessed by use of a well and it may naturally flow to streams and rivers.  A portion of rainwater, of course, stays mostly on the earth’s surface and makes its way via ditches to larger streams and rivers. At some point man retrieves the water for personal, business or baptismal use.

The Jordan River, in which Jesus was baptized, is fed by rains falling on the neighboring plateaus and into aquifers. The waters then flow downward to streams. The Jordan River is quite shallow and eventually disappears into the Dead Sea.

The water in which John baptized Jesus was probably a bit saltier than our water of baptism. It came from thermal springs and contained gypsum, which gave the water a high degree of salinity, leaving a salty residue on the land when used for irrigation.

And now we move to the “Gentle Man”, Jesus. His cousin John the Baptist, son of Elizabeth, was certainly busy with his followers baptizing them in the waters of the Jordon River. God’s plan was certainly played out in the life of John, as some of his disciples became disciples of Jesus. John seemed to know his role in preparing the way for his cousin Jesus. He lost his life in doing so.

In Matthew 3:1-3, we hear, “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea……For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’”

John even had Sadducees and Pharisees coming out to be baptized in repentance. He scolded them and told them to do something worthy in order to earn repentance. They probably just wanted to see what he was up to and cover their bases.

John made it clear to all as we are told in Matthew 3:11; “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

The gentle Jesus, Son of Man, finally came to John to be baptized by him. John was very reluctant and told Jesus that he had it backwards. John said that Jesus should be baptizing him not the other way around. Jesus then reminded John that he should do the baptizing in order to fulfill God’s plan.

God’s plan was fulfilled as Matthew 3:16-17  continues and tells us: “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.  And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Through His baptism, Jesus continued to live into God’s plan for Him as the Son of Man and the Son of God. Let us live into our water of baptism and the righteousness that God has chosen for us.