Jesus' baptism was the start of His public ministry. He had identified Himself with sinners and prophetically demonstrated that He would bear their sins. But His baptism was also a focus point for Jesus to be announced as God the Son - in company with God the Holy Spirit who took the form of a dove and was seen on Jesus, and the audible words were from God the Father.

It was a unique moment of Divine commissioning in which John the Baptist discovered the true identity of his cousin, Jesus: "I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptising with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." Then John gave this testimony: ‘I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptise with water told me, "The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptise with the Holy Spirit." I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.' (John 1:31-34).

It is difficult for us to understand how God might be in three persons, but God demonstrated that was the truth. Some people, in their eagerness to understand the humanity of Christ, may ignore the fact that He is fully God. Matthew understood that from Isaiah’s prophecy, "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel (which means 'God with us')" (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14). His identity matters: which is why the Gospel writers leave us in no doubt that Jesus is God (Luke 2:11). To be called by Him is the greatest privilege and to resist Him is the greatest folly. To welcome Him is the greatest wisdom. To commit to love and serve Him is the essence of worshipping the King of kings and Lord of Lords.