“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.  And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’” (Mark 1:9-11)  We are in the season of Epiphany wherein we focus upon the revealing of Jesus’ glory.  At his baptism (which is John’s baptism for the forgiveness of sins), the Father testifies to his pleasure with his Son.  It is interesting to me that this glorious manifestation is made when Jesus humbles himself and identifies with us in all our brokenness and weakness; in our deep need for healing and salvation.  He humbles himself and identifies with us, not when we are at our best, but when we are at our neediest.  The Father expresses his pleasure in Christ, even as he expresses his pleasure in us: his willingness to enter into our deep needs.  This week, remember your baptism, remember your identification with Jesus.  Remember that in Christ, God is pleased with you and that in Christ, we are also called to inhabit the places of great human need!