God protects Jesus by leading Mary and Joseph to take him to Egypt. God even provides the finances for the trip through the gifts the Wiseman brought to Jesus.
As Jesus begins His ministry He goes to John the Baptist and is baptized. Jesus steps down into the water and claims our sin as his own. God the Father speaks and declares “This is My Son.” In His Baptism, Jesus unites us with himself. We are adopted into God’s family.
St. Paul says in Romans 6
“Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
We see Jesus perform His first miracle changing water into wine. When the Scribes and Pharisees questioned Jesus about telling those He healed their sins were forgiven, He asked, “What is easier? To say your sins are forgiven or to say get up and walk?” The implication is if Jesus has the power to make the lame walk he can also forgive sin. I would say, “If Jesus can make water into wine He can make the sinner Holy.”
Jesus identifies himself as the one sent by God to, “Proclaim good news, free prisoners, give sight to the blind, and release the oppressed.”
We hear Jesus command the demons to release their captives.
Finally we join Peter, James and John as they see Jesus reveal the true glory of His Deity in the Transfiguration and God the Father says, “This is my Son. Listen to him.”
Now as we move into Lent, nowhere is Jesus message clearer then on the Cross as He proclaims, “Father forgive them.”
My friends, the true living Son of God says to you, “You are forgiven. You are my beloved brother”.
Pastor Mark