Like Jonah Cast Into The Sea
from Pope Benedict’s Jesus of Nazareth, volume one: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration:
Luke tells us that Jesus was praying while he received baptism (cf. Lk 3:21). Looking at the events in light of the Cross and Resurrection, the Christian people realized what happened: Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind’s guilt upon his shoulders; he bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. He inaugurated his public activity by stepping into the place of sinners. His inaugural gesture is an anticipation of the Cross. He is, at it were, the true Jonah who said to the crew of the ship, “Take me and throw me into the sea” (Jon 1:12). The whole significance of Jesus’ Baptism, the fact that he bears “all righteousness,” first comes to light on the Cross. The Baptism is an acceptance of death for the sins of humanity, and the voice that calls out, “This is my beloved Son,” over the baptismal waters is an anticipatory reference to the Resurrection. This also explains why, in his own discourse, Jesus uses the word baptism to refer to his death (cf. Mk 10:38; Lk 12:50). (p. 18)
Luke does not place his genealogy of Jesus at the beginning of the Gospel, but connects it with the story of Jesus’ Baptism, to which it forms a conclusion….In contrast to Matthew, Luke uses his genealogy to journey from Jesus back into past history. Abraham and David make their appearance, but without any particular emphasis. The family tree goes back to Adam, and so to creation, for once Luke comes to the name Adam, he adds: “of God.” This is a way of underscoring the universal scope of Jesus’ mission. He is the son of Adam — the son of man. Because he is man, all of us belong to him and he to us; in him humanity starts anew and reaches its destiny. (p.10)
Giovanni Bellini’s great altarpiece of the Baptism of Jesus:
Man seems to be schizophrenic when it comes to water. Life giving, yet the sea is associated with evil and scary things. I had always thought the water of baptism had a renewal significance, but I read Benedict to say it’s where our sins go to simmer.
I’m intrigued by the anticipatory relationship between Jesus’ baptism and death. Benedict says the significance of the Baptism “comes to light” on the Cross. I wonder if it’s stronger than that—the Baptism doesn’t exist without the cross. Coaches are often asked what the turning point in a come from behind victory was. But, if it didn’t end the way it did, the turning point would not have existed. It only comes into being because of the ending. Without that, it’s merely, uh, nourishment to wind.
Water is life -for the body.But because we are alive we also die.i.e. our body dies. Hence water is also symbolic of death. Hence baptism is a prefiguration of death-for Jesus [and for us] and at the same time a prefiguration of the resurrection [because the father is pleased with His son and will accept his sacrifice[death] on behalf of all humankind].Jesus who was like us as a human and therefore who had to die- out of his love for us-is united with us in our human life[baptism which anticipates death] and in our destiny[as spiritual beings-destined for heaven.]Jesus desended into the water of death[baptism] like he desended into the human realm
[became a mortal human himself] .But because he is also united with God[father] he has the power to overcome death; so he resurrected and through his love via his atoning death on the cross-grants us the same.[eternal life united with God].So we’re united with him in life and death and baptism is the outward expression of both. [jesus at the beginning of our human [bodily]life and at the end of our human[bodily] life[our cross].