Why It Matters

Created using ChatGPT

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, 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, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:13-17)

When Jesus approached his slightly older cousin, John, for baptism, John initially protested (only Matthew's gospel records his hesitation). Surely, having no sin, Jesus had no need for the ritual cleansing and purification of baptism. But Jesus insisted that it was necessary "to fulfill all righteousness". Whose righteousness? Jesus was already right with God because Jesus is one with God. But Jesus is also one with us - humanity - and we are not right with God. So it was in solidarity with us, with all who present themselves before God, confessing our sins and striving for repentance, that Jesus submitted to baptism.

We can only imagine John's amazement at the heavenly display and declaration as Jesus came out of the water. As stories of that moment surely spread - likely combined with the stories of the shepherds who would never have forgotten the angelic proclamation of Jesus' birth thirty years earlier - it's no wonder that religious leaders and political leaders alike would watch Jesus closely. We don't have much information on Jesus' childhood or young adult life prior to his baptism. Only Luke's gospel recounts the story of a 12 year old Jesus staying behind in Jerusalem in the temple, after Passover, when his parents began the journey home. Upon realizing he wasn't with them, Mary and Joseph had to walk back one day's journey, and then it took them 3 more days to find Jesus in the temple. His only explanation was that he had been about his father's business. Jesus spent his whole life being about his father's business - reconciling the world to God.

God is still calling us to reconciliation. As we settle into this new year with all of its possibilities, may we begin as Jesus began his ministry - in solidarity with one another, baptized for the mission of service to all for

the salvation of the world.

5 Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: 6 I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, 7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 8 I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. 9 See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them. (Isaiah 42:5-9)