This week in SC Kids we learned about the baptism of Jesus which began his ministry here on earth. When John saw Jesus, he realized that Jesus was the promised Messiah. John proclaimed that Jesus is the Lamb of God, the one who will take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Long before John’s ministry, Abraham told his son Isaac that God himself would provide a lamb for the sacrifice. That day, God did not allow Abraham to sacrifice his son but provided a ram. Here John tells us God has provided a sacrifice for sins—Jesus, the Lamb of God. Abraham’s ram was a foreshadowing of Jesus, the Lamb of God.

By his baptism, Jesus instituted a new sacrament for believers. Our baptism is a symbol of Christ’s burial in the tomb (when we go under the water) and a symbol of the resurrection (when we come up out of the water).

Paul writes, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

Jesus identified with sinful man when he was baptized. That is why he said, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15, see also 2 Corinthians 5:21). Now today when we are baptized, we identify with Jesus’ death and resurrection.

This week's Family Worship Guide

Morning Star Catechism