1/5/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Matthew 3:13-17, we find Jesus coming to John for baptism. It’s especially important that Jesus submits himself to baptism. In this, he is associating publicly with the rest of humanity. Though John is right and Jesus doesn’t need the washing of baptism, Jesus wishes to tie himself very tightly to humanity.
This act of submission to God is recognized by the presence of the Father and the Spirit. The Trinity is presented to the reader here. God’s voice comes. He acknowledges Jesus as his beloved son.
It is well pleasing to God when God the Son acts to fulfill the Father’s will. We remember that the Father’s will includes the Son coming to give his life as a ransom for sin. Jesus, the one who needs no baptism, associates with us, even taking on the sign of baptism. He later becomes sin on our behalf so that we might be his righteousness.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Matthew 3:13-17, we find Jesus coming to John for baptism. It’s especially important that Jesus submits himself to baptism. In this, he is associating publicly with the rest of humanity. Though John is right and Jesus doesn’t need the washing of baptism, Jesus wishes to tie himself very tightly to humanity.
This act of submission to God is recognized by the presence of the Father and the Spirit. The Trinity is presented to the reader here. God’s voice comes. He acknowledges Jesus as his beloved son.
It is well pleasing to God when God the Son acts to fulfill the Father’s will. We remember that the Father’s will includes the Son coming to give his life as a ransom for sin. Jesus, the one who needs no baptism, associates with us, even taking on the sign of baptism. He later becomes sin on our behalf so that we might be his righteousness.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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