Jesus and the Baptizer

Matthew chapters 1-2 are all about telling us who Jesus is. The writer pulls out all the stops to show continuity between the Old Testament and Jesus--everything from a 42-generation pedigree to five prophecies fulfilled in Christ. And that word fulfilled is very important when we come to the third chapter.

Here Jesus comes to John to be baptized. There are multiple occasions listed in the gospels where the disciples argued about who was Jesus' favorite, reminiscent of the Smothers Brothers classic Mom always liked you best!

However, when Jesus came for baptism there was no vying for first place. ...John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fufill all righteousness."

There's that word fulfill. There is no Old Testament prophecy about the Messiah needing to be baptized, so what did Jesus mean? Douglas Hare (New Testament scholar from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary) says we would understand this encounter better if we rendered it: It is required that you and I fulfill God's will by allowing me to be baptized. Hare asks the question: Why would Matthew regard it as God's will that the Messiah be baptized? [1]

Jesus was identifing with those he came to save. A few short years down the road Jesus would submit to the baptism of crucifixion, but here and now he was committing himself to his mission -- which Luke referred to in this way: For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. (Luke 19:10) Unlike his disciples, Jesus was not on an ego trip. The Creator submitted to baptism leveling himself with those he came to save.

If Jesus thought it right and necessary to identify with those he came to save, shouldn't we the church also find a way to identify with those to whom we've been called to minister? Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians: We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.

The question is not How can I save you? The question is How can I serve you? The question is never How important am I? but How important are you that Christ would pay the highest price to purchase your freedom?

If God loves you that much, then you're someone I'd really like to get to know.

[1] Douglas R. A. Hare, Matthew, "Interpretation-A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching" (Louisville: John Knox, 1993), 21.