Day 3: Read Matthew 3
The story of Jesus jumps decades ahead in Matthew 3. Jesus isn’t a baby anymore, or even a toddler. His teenage years are skipped altogether! Instead, the story picks up with his baptism, so we read a spiritual birth immediately after his physical birth. But we tend to talk about his baptism more at Easter. I wonder if it would make more sense to celebrate these births together.
So let’s look at Jesus’ baptism simply, as it may be the best gift we could ever receive.
Just as his parents traveled a great distance for his birth, Jesus went on another long journey to reach John the Baptist and step into the waters. And at this point in the story, his ministry hadn’t even begun yet! This was before he made the lame walk, the mute talk, or the blind see. He didn’t yet multiply five loaves and two fish. The water was still water, not wine. He wasn’t preaching or teaching about the kingdom of God yet, even though he was ushering it in.
And as he came out of the water, dripping wet from head to toe, the voice of God rang through the ears of all who were present. “This is my much-loved Son, who makes my heart glad!”
Matthew 3 reminds us that Christmas offers us the same simple invitation, to receive his kingdom without earning it.
For some, this simple truth can be really difficult to understand: God is pleased with you.
It is a mystery that the same God who invites us to a life without sin or brokenness is also the One who loves us even with it.
John the Baptist didn’t feel worthy of God’s love either. In fact, as Jesus entered the water, John tried to stop him! In his mind, baptism came after confession and repentance, and since Jesus lived a perfect life, he didn’t feel worthy enough to even carry Jesus’ shoes, let alone usher in the kingdom in which all people would receive God’s promise of blessing that was first given to Abraham and fulfilled by the one who stood in front of him!
And yet this kingdom walked toward him.
Perhaps it’s easier for us to inherit John’s faith here than the invitation God offers. As you read Matthew 3, simply receive God’s invitation through John, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” For many people the word “repent” is harsh, but as we read about Jesus’ baptism, it’s clear that the kingdom of God–one of blessing, justice, and love–would be the result of repentance. The glory of God was revealed in John’s simple step of obedience to receive Jesus when he didn’t feel worthy to. You, too, can receive Jesus’ love even when you don’t feel worthy.
One Response
I love the fact that we go from Jesus birth to baptism so close together. As many times as I have read Matthew I didn’t think about that…I think my mind just automatically filled in the blanks and this fact didn’t hit me as much as it did today!