January 11 2026 Meditation

This powerful meditation invites us to sit with the concept of 'unrest'—not as chaos to be avoided, but as a sacred doorway through which spiritual transformation occurs. Drawing from Jesus' baptism in the muddy Jordan River, we're reminded that Christ didn't arrive on a throne but walked directly into the messy, unsettled waters where ordinary people were gathering with their questions and doubts. The central message revolves around Matthew's account of Jesus' baptism, where heaven opened and a voice proclaimed Him beloved. But here's the profound truth: Jesus wasn't baptized because He needed cleansing—He was baptized so we could understand our own identity. His act of humility in the Jordan was His way of forever identifying with all of humanity, choosing to wade into our struggles rather than remain distant from them. This sermon challenges us to see baptism not as a one-time ritual we've completed, but as a living identity that propels us into the troubled waters of life where people are hurting, where justice is needed, where our courage is required. We stand daily at intersections—will we choose convenience or conviction? The path of least resistance or the road toward God's kingdom? In a world that feels increasingly unmoored, our baptismal identity anchors us, reminding us that we are beloved children of God called to walk alongside others in their pain.