03/10 – Matthew 3:13-17 – What is Holy Baptism

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9

Here is my servant, whom I support. Here is my chosen one, with whom I am pleased. I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations. He will not cry out or raise his voice. He will not make his voice heard in the streets. He will not break off a damaged reed. He will not even put out a smoking wick. He will faithfully bring about justice. He will not be discouraged or crushed until he has set up justice on the earth. The nations will wait for his teachings.

The Lord God created the heavens and stretched them out. He shaped the earth and all that comes from it. He gave life to the people who are on it and breath to those who walk on it.

This is what the Lord God says, “I, the Lord, have called you to do what is right. I will take hold of your hand. I will protect you. I will appoint you as my promise to the people, as my light to the nations. You will give sight to the blind, bring prisoners out of prisons, and bring those who live in darkness out of dungeons.

I am the Lord; that is my name. I will not give my glory to anyone else or the praise I deserve to idols. What I said in the past has come true.

Epistle Reading: Romans 6:1-11

What should we say? Should we continue to sin so that God’s kindness will increase? That is unthinkable! As far as sin is concerned we have died. So how can we still live under sin’s influence? Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? When we were baptized into his death we were placed into the tomb with him. As Christ was brought back from death to life, by the glorious power of the Father, so we too should live a new kind of life.

If we’ve become united with him in a death like his, certainly we will also be united with him when we come back to life just like he did. We know that the person we used to be was crucified with him to put an end to sin in our bodies. Because of this we are no longer slaves to sin. The person who has died has been freed from sin.

If we have died with Christ we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, who was brought back to life, will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died he died once and for all to sin’s power, but now he lives and he lives for God. So consider yourselves dead to sin’s power but living for God in the power Christ Jesus gives you.

Holy Gospel Reading: Matthew 3:13-17

Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. John tried to stop him and said, “I need to be baptized by you. Why are you coming to me?”

Jesus answered him, “This is the way it has to be now. This is the proper way to do everything that God requires of us.” Then John consented.

After Jesus was baptized he immediately came up from the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God coming down as a dove to him. A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son whom I love. My Son with whom I am pleased.”