The Son in the Water

Scripture

John 1:14
“And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.”

Reflection

At the baptism of Jesus, the Son stands in the water. That is a simple image, but it carries enormous meaning. Jesus does not remain at a distance from humanity. He steps into the river with us. He enters the waters of repentance, not because he needs to be cleansed from sin, but because he has come to identify with the people he will redeem.

This is part of why the church had to speak carefully about Jesus. If Jesus is only a great teacher, then he can give us wisdom. If Jesus is only a prophet, then he can speak God’s word to us. If Jesus is only a moral example, then he can show us a better way to live. But the Christian claim is deeper than that.

In Jesus Christ, God has come to us. The Word became flesh. God did not send love from a safe distance. God came near in the Son. God entered our weakness, our pain, our temptation, our sorrow, and our death. The Son standing in the water is a picture of divine nearness.

That is why the early church rejected the idea that Jesus was a created being, even a very exalted one. If Jesus is not truly God, then God has not truly come to us in Christ. But if Jesus is truly God, then the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus reveal the very heart of God.

When we look at Jesus, we do not see a lesser version of God. We see God’s grace and truth made flesh. We see the love of God with a human face. We see the Son in the water with us.

Application

Read one story from the Gospels today and ask this question: What does this show me about the heart of God? Pay attention to how Jesus treats people, especially those who are vulnerable, ashamed, sick, or excluded.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, Word made flesh, thank you for coming near. Thank you for stepping into the waters of human life and meeting us where we are. Help me to see the heart of God in you, and help me to follow you with trust and love. Amen.

Song – “What a Beautiful Name”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5L6QlAH3L4