Lutheran Seminary – Moved by the Promise – God Pause – Thursday, 9 January 2014 – Matthew 3

Lutheran Seminary – Moved by the Promise – God Pause – Thursday, 9 January 2014 – Matthew 3: The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 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 it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved,[a] with whom I am well pleased.”

Footnotes:

a. Matthew 3:17 Or my beloved Son

"Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him." That is, the Savior of the world, one with the Creator of the cosmos, he who was before all things, as Paul wrote, and in whom "all things hold together," now stood in line with the farmers, small business owners, the homeless, the children, the widows, the tax collectors—as well as the religious leaders of the day—to be baptized by John. It does not appear that there was a trumpet fanfare announcing his arrival or that, for Jesus, a red carpet was rolled out on the river bank. Jesus simply came and waited with everyone else for his turn to be baptized.

Had he not come for baptism, Jesus would not be the one who knows human life completely. Had he not come for baptism, we would doubt that he understands how difficult and amazing, how confusing and delightful human life is. But Jesus—just as he had come fully into Mary's womb—came fully into the waters of the Jordan, and then continued on his way to show the world the very heart of God.

We thank you, Loving God, for knowing us and still loving us completely. Grant us faith in your promises and joy in your service. Amen.

Rachel Thorson Mithelman

Pastor, St. John's Lutheran Church, Des Moines, Iowa

Master of Divinity , 1983

Matthew 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.

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 it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.

16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."

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