Jesus Is the Son of God
John the Baptist told His disciples: “I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God” (John 1:33–34).
The Epiphany message is that Jesus is true God and true man. God does not ask us to believe this without evidence. Jesus’ many miracles affirm the truth that He is God. John the Baptist also became an eye-witness to this truth when he baptized Jesus. He saw the heavens open and the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus and remaining there. He heard God the Father speak from heaven, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
John the Baptist’s conclusion is a confession: “This is the Son of God.” It is a statement that we are to believe based on God’s Word and the evidence it gives us.
Why is this an essential article of faith? Why does the Athanasian Creed state, “It is necessary for everlasting salvation that one also believe faithfully the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ…that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man”? First, because the Bible teaches it. Second, because Jesus must be true God in order to keep God’s Law perfectly and to suffer and die for the sins of all people. Third, because only Jesus as God can forgive sins and promise that believers have everlasting life.
The baptism of Jesus is important for other reasons. It taught us about the triune nature of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry where He proclaimed, “The kingdom of God is here.” It also moved John to point to Jesus and say, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
We should thank God for providing the evidence of Jesus’ divine nature so that we may trust in Him to be our Savior from sin and our Deliverer to eternal life.