Epiphany #6 of 14 : baptism #2 of 5.

Behold the heavens were opened.

(Matthew 3:16)

John consents to baptize Jesus. At first, nothing particularly notable—just Jesus and John discussing things while entering the waters of Jordan. But, when Jesus comes up out of the water, epiphany happens:

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."

When the heavens opened up, Jesus receives the Father’s “Yes”, while the Holy Spirit, empowers him for what lies ahead. Our whole eternal triune God appears that day when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River.

Jesus assures us that in every baptism the whole of our triune God is present—God the Son who forgives and redeems us; God the Father who says “Yes” to us and calls us his own; and God the Holy Spirit who empowers us, in unseen ways, to follow Jesus even when Jesus can no longer be seen going before us. That’s why, at our baptism, we say the words, just as Jesus instructed: “I baptize you Elizabeth, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”