In Acts 2:37–41, the crowd is pierced to the heart by Peter’s proclamation of the crucified and risen Jesus and asks the most urgent question of faith: “What shall we do?” Peter’s answer—repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins—reveals that the gospel calls for a concrete response that brings forgiveness, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and entry into God’s renewed people. That day, about three thousand are baptized, showing that the church is born as a repentant, forgiven, Spirit-filled community shaped by the saving work of Christ.

1 Peter 3:18–22 teaches us that God saves by bringing His people through death into life.
Just as the flood carried Noah into a new world, baptism carries believers into union with the risen Christ.
And the One who meets us in the water now reigns at God’s right hand, guaranteeing that our suffering will give way to glory.

Jesus’ baptism in Luke 3:21–22 is not about repentance, but about identification and union—the sinless Son steps into the waters with His people to fulfill all righteousness. As heaven opens and the Spirit descends, we see the beginning of a new creation, where God no longer saves from a distance but joins Himself to humanity in Christ. Jesus enters the waters so that when we enter them, we are not performing a ritual, but participating in His life as beloved sons and daughters.

Psalm 54 is a prayer born out of betrayal, as David cries to God for help after being turned in by his own people. Surrounded by danger, David anchors his faith not in circumstances, but in the conviction that “God is my helper” and the upholder of his life. This psalm reminds us that when loyalty fails and justice feels distant, God remains faithful, present, and worthy of our trust.

Luke 3:1–18 introduces John the Baptist as God’s prophetic voice in a time of political power and spiritual corruption, calling Israel to repentance in preparation for the Lord’s coming. John announces that true repentance bears fruit in concrete acts of justice, generosity, and faithfulness, confronting both complacency and religious pride. His message climaxes in hope: the coming One will bring both judgment and salvation, baptizing not merely with water but with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Gospel of Mark 1:1–8 opens with a bold declaration that the good news of Jesus Christ is the long-awaited fulfillment of God’s promises, introduced through the prophetic voice of Isaiah and embodied in the ministry of John the Baptist. John appears in the wilderness calling Israel to repentance and baptism, preparing the way for the Lord by summoning hearts to renewal rather than mere ritual. The passage sets the tone for the entire Gospel: God is on the move, the kingdom is at hand, and the One who is coming is far greater than any prophet who announces Him.

Isaiah 40:1–5 opens with a stunning word of hope: God speaks comfort to a weary people and announces that their sin has been forgiven and their exile is coming to an end. The prophet describes a voice crying in the wilderness, calling for the way of the Lord to be prepared—language the Gospels apply directly to John the Baptist as he prepares Israel for God’s arrival. This passage reminds us that repentance is not despair but hope, for when the way is made ready, the glory of the Lord is revealed for all to see.

John 1:19–34 shows us how God reveals who Jesus truly is through faithful witness rather than spectacle. John the Baptist refuses misplaced glory and points to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, identifying him as the one on whom the Spirit remains. Faith begins when we stop centering on ourselves and learn, like John, to behold and testify that Jesus is the Son of God.