Alighting

"Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan," Mark 1:9.

He got baptized. That's what I reported to my Mom about 6 or 7 decades ago after someone's baptism into Christ. She corrected gently and firmly: No, he didn't get baptized; he was baptized. That's what she said. So, now that I'm more than 3/4 century of age, her brief lesson still teaches me to pay close attention to the Bible's grammar. (Back to the passage, now.) Though he felt himself totally unworthy of it, John baptized Jesus in the river. As Jesus came up out of the water (that's the grammar - came up out of; he had been dunked by John in the water), he saw the skies tearing apart and the Spirit coming down to him. (It was like a dove alighting.) Then, out of the skies, a voice happened: You are my beloved son, I am delighted in you. That's what God said. To Jesus.

When we meet a brother or sister today, we remember our own coming up out of the water when the one Spirit baptized us all into the one body of Christ. And, together, we give thanks that God chose us in Christ.