Background Notes:

In Luke’s account of Jesus’ baptism by John (3:21), we read that he received this baptism along with “all the people” who were being baptized at the same time.  Among other messages, the sermon noted that this was Jesus’ way of saying that we are all connected by a common, deep love, one that is symbolized by water.  Further, in so many ways, water connects all of creation: all of life is dependent upon water and, by extension, implies that there exists an important interdependency and interconnection between all forms of creation (verse 1).  Humans, however, often fail to acknowledge such connection, placing themselves on a higher plane and separating themselves from creation’s whole (verse 2).  As with other manifestations of human brokenness, the power to heal this destructive orientation comes from God (verse 3).