John the Baptist was preaching by the Jordan River, calling people to repent and be baptized as a sign that they wanted to turn back to God. Jesus, who had no sin, came to be baptized too. He stood in the water alongside sinners, showing that He came to carry our sins.
As Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens opened. The Spirit came down on Him like a dove, and the Father's voice said: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” The whole Trinity was revealed. At our Baptism, the Father says the same to us: you are My beloved child.
Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert, where He fasted for forty days and was tempted by the devil:
- To turn stones into bread: to put comfort first.
- To throw Himself down from the Temple: to test God and make a show.
- To worship Satan in return for all the kingdoms of the world: to grab power the wrong way.
Each time, Jesus answered with Scripture: “One does not live by bread alone.” Adam gave in, and Israel grumbled for forty years in the desert, but Jesus stayed faithful for forty days. Temptation itself is not a sin; giving in to it is. With God's word and God's help, we can say no.
Jesus understands our struggles because He was tempted too. When we are tempted, we can pray, remember God's word, stay away from situations that lead us into sin, and ask for help. In the Our Father we pray: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Back in Galilee, Jesus began to preach and called His first disciples, the fishermen Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed Him.