Message: Affirmation as the Beloved/ Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. […] Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

 

         Today is “The Baptism of the Lord” Sunday, a time for us to reflect on Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Through this reflection, we are invited to return to that moment when God declared to Jesus, “You are my beloved child, with you I am well pleased.”

Rivers are not just physical bodies of water in the Bible; they symbolize the source of life and the starting point for new hope. In Genesis, rivers are described as the lifeblood from the Garden of Eden, nourishing the earth. In Exodus, the Nile River is the site of the first plague against Pharaoh, reminding us how creation can be corrupted by human desire when it opposes God. In the book of Joshua, the Jordan River marks the boundary the people of Israel cross into the Promised Land after their long journey through the wilderness. In these stories, rivers embody both challenge and hope.

One of the most poignant references to rivers is found in Psalm 137, a hymn sung during the Babylonian exile. It begins as follows: “By the rivers of Babylon—there we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion” (Psalm 137:1). This psalm expresses a deep sorrow, a longing for their homeland and a sense of humiliation.

About 600 years before Jesus was born, the Babylonian Empire conquered Jerusalem, the capital of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Many people were taken to Babylon, where they faced discrimination, mockery, and exploitation. This situation is similar to the oppression that Koreans faced under Japanese occupation from 1910 to 1945. The Japanese justified their invasion by claiming they would bring peace and development to East Asia. However, their true goal was to expand their empire. They exploited Koreans, forcing young women into sexual slavery as "comfort women" for soldiers and making young men work in harsh conditions. The Japanese took large amounts of rice, bronze artifacts for weapons, and many cultural treasures. Even during the 1923 earthquake in Japan, Koreans were blamed and massacred in the chaos.

In Babylon, the Israelites experienced similar discrimination and hatred from the people of the empire. By the rivers of Babylon, they wept, feeling the sting of despair and helplessness. At that moment, the Babylonians mocked them, demanding, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” (Ps 137:3). This humiliation crushed the spirits of the oppressed.

In moments of oppression, it can be tempting to assimilate, give in to those in charge, and look for safety by going along with them. During Jesus' time, some Jewish leaders, like King Herod, worked with the Roman Empire to keep their power. Similarly, during the Japanese occupation of Korea, some Koreans supported the regime, hoping to get something out of it. But in the end, they were never treated as equals and were just used to persecute their own people.

These examples remind us to take the words of powerful leaders seriously. When the leader of an empire talks about taking over other countries, it should not be brushed off as a joke even if it sounds crazy. In the Garden of Eden, the serpent likely did not convince Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit with just a single suggestion. At first, they probably took the serpent’s words lightly. But over time, it eroded their perspective. In the same way, ignoring harmful rhetoric as mere jokes can lead to serious consequences.

During Jesus' time, the Roman Empire controlled Palestine, taking advantage of its people. Roman citizenship was a special privilege that not everyone had. If Jesus had been a Roman citizen, he would not have been crucified after just one night of trial. Crucifixion was reserved for non-citizens and the lowest classes.

Just as the Israelites in Babylon longed for their homeland, Jesus longed for something greater. He sought hope, renewal, and affirmation at the Jordan River, where John the Baptist boldly preached the gospel and baptized people to wash away their sins, despair, powerlessness, and self-hate.

At the Jordan River, Jesus had a powerful spiritual experience. As he was baptized, the heavens opened, the Spirit descended like a dove, and a voice from heaven declared, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” This moment affirmed his identity as God's beloved child. It was a significant moment for Jesus. The baptism with water and the Spirit marked the beginning of Jesus' public ministry.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life who shows us who we truly are. The Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts, reminding us that we are beloved by God, not because of anything we’ve done, but simply because of who we are. The Holy Spirit leads us to realize that God loved us even before we knew God. The Holy Spirit reminds us that we are God’s masterpiece, created by His hands. The Holy Spirit directs our attention to God who is like a mother bird sheltering us under Her wings when we face storms. When we walk through the wilderness, the Holy Spirit allows us to experience God, who leads us with a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night.

In our world today, there are still forces that try to control us by devaluing us and manipulating us with fear and powerlessness. These forces, called “Satan” in the Scriptures, are not just spiritual beings, but real-world enemies that create division and injustice. The good news is that Jesus overcame these forces through the power of the Holy Spirit and through his unshakable identity as God’s beloved Son.

Today, this place is our Jordan River. As we remember the baptism of Jesus, we affirm that we are God’s beloved children. The baptism with water and the Spirit reveals our true identity. This affirmation empowers us to love ourselves genuinely and enables us to love others courageously. Through the Holy Spirit, we are able to overcome the hatred, manipulation, and anxiety that often surround us.

So, let us listen to the voice from heaven, the voice that says to us, “You are my beloved child, with you I am well pleased.” In this affirmation, we discover our true identity and our true being. And in this identity, we find the strength to face the challenges of the world, to love others as God has loved us, and to stand firm in our faith and hope.

Thanks be to God. Amen.


Rev. Min Hwang

The Baptism of the Lord Sunday, 2025

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