“I need to be baptized by you,
and yet you are coming to me?”
Jesus said to him in reply,
"Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us
to fulfill all righteousness.”
Then he allowed him.
Where the Gospel of Mark says, Jesus "was baptized in the Jordan by John" Saint Matthew elides over it. Clearly it happened, but Saint Matthew seems aware of a problem. The pilgrims coming to John "were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins." Why should the sinless Son of God be baptized? What sins could he acknowledge?
Matthew's answer: "to fulfill all righteousness." It is good and necessary. It is God's intention. Jesus is as aware of the controversy as the Baptist but he is always the obedient Son who does the Father's will. No further explanation is necessary.
With his Baptism Jesus sanctifies this ancient Jewish ritual of atonement and purification. It is now the Christian's entrance to eternal life. It is not just a ritual cleansing; it is drowning and revival, dying and rising.
It was necessary that Jesus should "die" with us in the River Jordan so that we might die with him on Calvary. As we die to our sinful past through Baptism (and the continuing practice of Penance), so does Jesus die to the privileges and luxuries of divine sonship. He has thrown his lot in with us.
...though he was in the form of God, (he) did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. (Philippians 2: 6)Jesus could acknowledge all the sins of Israel as he was baptized, and all the sins of the world. He took upon himself the guilt of humankind.
He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers and sister....” (Hebrews 2:11)The mystery of Christmas keeps getting deeper. First we have seen the fulfillment of ancient prophecies in the birth of Jesus. He is the Son of David, a king destined to rule the nation. Then the world pays him homage in the gift-bearing magi.
His baptism rushes us from astonished wonder to astonished gladness. He takes our sins upon himself. He insists we are his sisters and brothers. He will stand with us before his heavenly Father.
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendant, heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:27-29)
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.