January 14, 2025
The Baptism of Our Lord - Part 2
Matthew 3:14-15
01/14/2025
14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to
be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for
thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all
righteousness." Then he consented. (ESV)
John, the forerunner of the Messiah, was in the wilderness
by the Jordan River baptizing those who heard his message.
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Those who came
to John did so because they recognized their own sin and desired
the proof of repentance and the mercy of God.
Jesus traveled into the wilderness for the express purpose
of being baptized by John. Saint Matthew recorded:
John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be
baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus
answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting
for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he
consented.
Did John have a point? John's baptism was a baptism of
repentance, for conversion from unbelief to faith in light of the
coming kingdom of heaven. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, had no
need to repent, no need of conversion from unbelief to faith, no
need of restoration into the fellowship of the Church.
John, himself, confessed his own sinfulness, "I need to be
baptized by you." How could a sinner baptize the One who knew no
sin? He was unworthy, unqualified, and would be performing a
disservice to Jesus, if human reason had anything to say. "Do
you come to me?"
Yet Jesus did, in full knowledge of His sinless state, come
to John for this express purpose. Jesus came to be anointed as
king, and prophet, and priestly victim as foretold by the Magi
and their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
May our Lord bless us with His grace, to use our sinful
hands in His service. Amen.