Posted on 01/08/2005 9:33:55 AM PST by Knitting A Conundrum
From the waters you rose
and Heaven bent down
to note the moment.
Your being there blessed the waters
with your perfect presence,
O you who had no need to wash away life's stains,
As you gave the waters their life-giving task
of giving men new birth
into your kingdom.
Thank you Lord,
for the channels of grace
you open to us here on Earth.
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 fulfil all righteousness." Then he consented.
And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
Matthew 3:13-17
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
This is he of whom I said, `After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.' I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel."
And John bore witness, "I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, `He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."
John 1:29-34
Prayer ping!
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Jesus, walking into the water, fully needing no baptism, marks that ritual as THE sign of initiation into the Christian walk, sanctifying and blessing the waters as the tool for his promise of salvation.
Soon, he will begin to teach the good news about God's kingdom, and then the long dark walk to Calvary.
Let us listen to the voice of the Father, sending down his Spirit in the form of a dove - This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased - and hearing it, be like John, knowing that we behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Then like Andrew, let us arise follow him!
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To Jordan's water, to Jordan's water
Christ comes to be baptized.
John the Forerunner, John the Forerunner,
Now humbly steps aside.
Christ Our Lord is baptized.
Salvation is now realized.
Skies of heaven open,
God the Father spoken,
O'er the Jordan a Dove,
Holy Spirit of Love -
Revelation from above.
Three Persons in God, Three Persons in God,
Are now revealed to us.
Father and Son, Father and Son,
Holy Spirit - One God.
Christ Our Lord is baptized.
Salvation is now realized.
Skies of heaven open,
God the Father spoken,
O'er the Jordan a Dove,
Holy Spirit of Love -
Revelation from above.
Saint John the Baptist, Saint John the Baptist,
Foretells release today.
The Lamb of God, the Lamb of God,
Will wash our sins away.
Christ Our Lord is baptized.
Salvation is now realized.
Skies of heaven open,
God the Father spoken,
O'er the Jordan a Dove,
Holy Spirit of Love -
Revelation from above.
BTTT on the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord, 01-09-06!
BTTT on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, January 8, 2007!
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