Baptism of Jesus

Jesus in Hebrew is Joshua. So, as Joshua long ago lead God's people through the River Jordan to the promised land so now, the new Joshua enters the water of the Jordan to be baptized by John thus beginning his work of leading the people toward the promised land of heaven.

John baptized with water as a sign of repentance for sin. When he saw Jesus he said, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." (Jn 1:29) Obviously, Jesus had no sins to forgive and John was reluctant to baptize Him but Jesus said to him "'Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness'". (Mt. 3:15)

Why then did Jesus see the need to be baptized with water? By this baptism Jesus identified himself with sinful humanity because He was to take upon himself the Sin of the World by his sacrificial death on the cross. "By this death, not only is our guilt imputed to him, but his righteousness is imputed to us as well. In this way, truly all righteousness is fulfilled." (Webpage: Christ's Baptism)

Living Water

We read in St. John that Jesus one day found himself at Jacob's well in Sychar, Samaria where he asked a Samaritan woman for a drink. This site still exists today but is within an Orthodox Church in what is now called Nablus. The source of the water is a spring and this is why even in the days of Jesus it was called "living water".

During the conversation Jesus leads to Samaritan woman to realize that natural water keeps us alive only for a time and that she should have asked Him for "living water" that would bring her into life everlasting.

The Word of God who created water with the Father in the Spirit and which sustains natural life now gives water a symbolical significance which points to Himself as the source of "living water". Jesus by his atoning death/resurrection became the source of life giving grace revealing the loving kindness of our God.

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
was blind, but now I see.

Waters of Baptism