Baptism of the Lord: Reclaiming Your New Identity in 2026 | jacobsimham.com

“And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” — Matthew 3:17 (KJV)

As we enter this second Lord’s Day of 2026, many of us across the United States, Canada, the UK, Europe, and Australia are already feeling the familiar weight of the “New Year pressure.” By mid-January, the world demands to know: What have you achieved? Have you kept your resolutions? Are you moving up the ladder?

But today, as we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, the Gospel of Matthew offers a radical, life-altering interruption to the Western cycle of performance. Before Jesus had healed a single leper, before He had preached the Sermon on the Mount, and before He had turned water into wine, the Father spoke over Him.

This declaration of identity was not a reward for His work; it was the foundation for His life. For the community at jacobsimham.com, this truth is the anchor we need to navigate the year ahead.

The Western Crisis of Identity

In our modern Western societies, we are taught from a young age that identity is something we construct.

• In New York and Toronto, identity is often tied to the “hustle”—our job titles and the zeros in our bank accounts.
• In London and Paris, it may be tied to our intellectual standing or our cultural sophistication.
• In Sydney and Melbourne, it is frequently found in our lifestyle, our fitness, or our social circles.

We have become a “Human Doing” culture rather than a “Human Being” culture. We wake up every morning feeling like we have to earn our right to exist, to be loved, and to be noticed. We live under the crushing law of “I am what I do.”

But look at the Jordan River. When Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens opened. The Father did not say, “This is my Son, who has finally started His ministry.” He said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus was “pleasing” to the Father simply because of whose He was, not because of what He had done.

Identity Before Activity

This is the most counter-cultural message for a 2026 audience. In a world of social media algorithms that measure our worth in likes and “reach,” God measures our worth in Relationship.

1. You are Beloved

In North America, the pursuit of being “the best” creates an epidemic of “not enough-ness.” We feel we are only as good as our last success. But the Baptism of the Lord tells us that you are “beloved” before you even start your workday on Monday morning. Your identity is a gift to be received, not a trophy to be won.

2. You are “Well Pleasing”

Amidst the secular shifts in Europe, many feel a sense of spiritual displacement. We wonder if we “fit” or if God is even interested in us. The voice from heaven echoes across the centuries to tell you that in Christ, the Father looks at you and sees the righteousness of His Son. You don’t have to fix yourself to be pleasing; you are pleasing because you are in the Family.

3. You are a Child of God

In the “laid-back” but increasingly self-reliant culture of Australia, the temptation is to be the “self-made man or woman.” But the water of baptism reminds us that we are “Spirit-made.” We belong to a Kingdom that doesn’t care about our status, but cares deeply about our soul.

Walking in Confidence: The 2026 Mindset

How do we practically carry this “New Identity” into our offices, schools, and homes this week?

Stop the “Paycheck” Validation

Your paycheck is a tool for your needs, but it is not a mirror of your worth. Whether you are experiencing financial abundance or facing the rising costs of living in London or Vancouver, your value in Heaven remains unchanged. You are a child of the King.

Silence the Inner Critic

The enemy’s first move after Jesus’ baptism was to tempt Him in the wilderness by saying, “If thou be the Son of God…” (Matthew 4:3). The enemy always attacks the identity God has just affirmed. When you hear the voice saying you are a failure or a fraud, return to the water. Return to the Father’s declaration.

Rest in Christ’s Finished Work

We celebrate the Baptism of the Lord because it marks the beginning of His journey to the Cross. He took on our identity of sin so that we could take on His identity of “Beloved.”

A Prayer for Your Week

Father, I thank Thee that I belong to Thee. I confess that I have often looked to my work, my bank account, and the opinions of others to tell me who I am. Today, I listen only to Thy voice. Thank Thee for calling me ‘beloved.’ Help me to walk this week in the quiet confidence of a child who is fully known and deeply loved. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Reflection for jacobsimham.com Readers:

Identify one area of your life where you feel you have to “perform” for love. How does the truth of Matthew 3:17 change your perspective on that situation today?