Luke 3:15-22

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[b] water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

Footnotes: 
[b] Luke 3:16 Or in
[c] Luke 3:16 Or in

While this story from Luke is a short one regarding the baptism of Jesus, it also speaks about a baptism of John the Baptist and our eventual baptism too (parallels in Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11).

There is talk of water baptism, Holy Spirit baptism, and baptism with fire; there is good fire and not-good-at-all fire. The church has taken many diverse positions on the place of baptism in relation to these ideas, but don’t let that keep you from embracing the joy of the basics here.

Baptism unites you to Jesus (Romans 6:1-5), works forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38) and brings salvation (1 Peter 3:18). Though your baptism may have been years ago, it still has a vital role in your life.

Martin Luther would remind himself of his baptism when he washed his face. What role can baptism (and its blessings) play in your life? Thank God for your baptismal blessings (if you have been baptized; otherwise talk with a pastor to consider doing so) and celebrate your unity, forgiveness and life with Jesus.