Word to the Wise
Sunday, January 13, 2008 - The Baptism of the Lord
[Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17]Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?" Jesus said to him in reply, "Allow it not, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."
There DOES seem to be something strange going on at the beginning of this incident between Jesus and John the Baptist. John's baptism is a baptism of repentance. Why would Jesus have need to repent? Matthew's way of presenting this interesting incident is to have Jesus undergoing the baptism because it is a fulfillment of prophecy. Righteousness in this instance means that Jesus is presenting himself as an obedient servant of God. This makes him the beloved servant identified in Isaiah whose words are echoed by the voice accompanying the Spirit of God! All that he does from this point on is to be seen in the light of the fulfillment of God's plan. When St.Thomas More went to the headsman's block, he is quoted as saying, "I die the King's good servant, but God's first." Jesus identifies himself as God's servant. It is a good question to ask ourselves. Whom do we really serve? We learn from the incident of the temptation in the desert that Jesus will not be deflected from his mission nor will he be "phony" with his power. What integrity of purpose do we show? Jesus' baptism is an up front declaration of his life to come. Our own baptism is that declaration. Whose servant are we? AMEN
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