我們由今天開始查考四卷福音書的經文，藉此認識我們的救主，耶穌基督的生平。今天的經文是祂第一次公開行動，記述耶穌離開他成長的地方拿撒勒，下到施洗約翰傳道和為人施洗的約旦河，兩地相距有一百多公里。

有關施洗約翰傳道的消息，一定已經傳到拿撒勒這個小鎮；基督顯然意識到，這表示是祂開始工作的時間了。當約翰在河畔認出下一個等待接受洗禮的人是誰時，你可以想像當時的情景嗎？約翰說了甚麼呢？「我曾經說過，你要用聖靈和火來給我們施洗，現在你竟然要我給你施洗。」留意基督的回應是如何得體：「你暫且許我，因為我們理當這樣盡諸般的義。」

耶穌為何要受洗呢？約翰呼籲人受洗，是為了表明自己認罪和悔改。基督是無罪的，那麼，祂為甚麼認為祂要受這樣的洗呢？這是一個與百姓認同的行動，祂想表明自己是他們當中的一份子。摩西、尼希米、但以理等人，在他們的日子。也以相類似的方式與神的百姓認同。

除此之外，這也是祂開始事奉之前的一個獻身行動。當祂受洗以後，父神在天上對祂說：「這就是我的愛子，我所喜悅的。」我們藉此便知道神喜悅這個行動。不少人曾經指出，三位一體神的每一個位格都在這一幕出現：父神在天上說話；神的兒子在接受施洗；聖靈降臨在基督身上。

基督得到父神與聖靈的印證，便開始祂在地上的事奉。我們也是一樣：除非我們得到神的印證和加力，我們的事奉才蒙神的祝福。讓我們每天都尋求神的心意和印證。

We commence today with a number of readings from the four Gospels which depict the earthly life of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Here is His first public action, having left Nazareth where He had been brought up and walked down the Jordan Valley to the place where John the Baptist was preaching and baptizing. The distance would have been more than 60 miles, 100 kilometers.

No doubt the news of John’s ministry had reached the little town of Nazareth and Christ must have recognized that this was an indication that the time had come to begin His work. Can you imagine the scene by the river bank as John in some way recognized who the next one was in the line of those coming to be baptized? What did John say? “I’ve been saying you will baptize us with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Now you want me to baptize you.” Notice the gracious words of Christ, “I want you to do this, because we must do everything that is right.”

But why did Jesus need to be baptized? John called for men and women to be baptized as an act of confession of sin and to show their repentance. Christ was sinless, so why did He think He should be baptized in this way? It was an act of identification with His people. He wanted to show He was one of them. In a rather similar way, Moses, Nehemiah, Daniel and others identified themselves with God’s people in their day.

It was also an act of dedication at the beginning of His ministry. That God saw it that way was clearly seen in what followed. God the Father spoke from heaven saying, “I recognize this one as my own Son and I am fully pleased with Him - and what He has done.” It is often pointed out that the Trinity is involved in this scene. God the Father spoke from heaven, God the Son was baptized and God the Holy Spirit descended on Christ.

With this endorsement by the Father and the Spirit, Christ moved on to the beginning of His earthly ministry. It is the same for us - we can only be blessed in our work for God if we have His endorsement and His empowerment. Let us seek that day by day.